Shevchuk is back at Shakhtar

The legendary defender played at Shakhtar for 13 seasons, making 239 appearances and scoring 4 goals, also winning 20 trophies with Shakhtar. Last December, he completed his playing career rising to another challenge.

 

- I am very glad to have the opportunity to make my first coaching steps at the home club. We can say that I didn’t leave anywhere. After my retirement, I have been close to Shakhtar all the time: I constantly communicated with the players, coaches, the management, I attended games not only of the first team, but also those of the Academy sides. Shakhtar is my home and my family.

 

- It was a mutual desire – mine and that of the club. Back in December, announcing my retirement, I said that I wanted to stay at Shakhtar and benefit the club as a coach. The management met me halfway, and a few days ago the Academy director Jorge Raffo offered me to coach the U17 team. I have already finished the coaching course, got a diploma and now I want to share my experience and knowledge with the young players. To start a coaching career at Shakhtar is a great honour for me.

 

- First of all, that's not Shevchuk's team, but the team of Shakhtar. Accordingly, we will base it around the club philosophy, the style currently introduced by Jorge Raffo to the Academy. Everyone got used to watching some spectacular, attacking and prolific football by Shakhtar. We will work in this direction. We also closely follow the senior team and will try to play in a similar way, for the guys to be ready for the requirements of Paulo Fonseca. It is worth considering that U17 is a special age, a very important stage. The guys undergo the transition from children’s football to adult football. Over a year they should improve every component: physical strength, tactics, technique, the understanding of the game. Then will start their professional career, and our objective is to prepare them.

- Results wise, that’s winning only: both every match and the league. Shakhtar always sets the topmost goals, which everyone knows and sees. But there is an objective, in my opinion, much more important: to prepare as many players as possible for the first team. I already talked to the guys and said that everything depends on their hands, feet and heads. It is necessary to approach each game and training session with maximum dedication. You can’t allow yourself to relax and underperform. I can assure you that I, Jorge and our coaching staff will also give their all. My goal is to see these players in the Shakhtar senior team.

 

Shakhtar U17 will play their first meeting under the guidance of Vyacheslav Shevchuk in Schaslyve next Saturday, September 23, vs DUSSh 15 (Kyiv).