For a player who made his first steps at his local club, Andriy Voronin has had to wait longer than most to run out in his hometown stadium. The 27-year-old was born in Odessa, but it was not until Wednesday, when he returned home with Ukraine for a UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Lithuania, that locals finally saw him play at the Chornomorets stadium.
Germany debt
Voronin began his career with FC Chornomorets Odesa, but since moving to Germany a decade ago his compatriots have had to view his progress from afar. That progress continues apace. In the summer Voronin will leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen for Liverpool FC, a step up the footballing ladder and one he attributes to learning the game the hard way. "I owe Germany my football education, my successful career, my call-up to the Ukraine squad," the striker tells uefa.com.
'Character'
"I arrived at [VfL] Borussia Mönchengladbach as a 16-year-old rookie. I have no idea how I would have adapted if it hadn't been for club president Rolf Rüssmann. He cared for me like a father and then he let me go to [1. FSV] Mainz [05] where Peter Neustädter, who was finishing his career with the club, continued to train me and harden my character. I had a serious football education in one of Europe's top leagues, which is why I wasn't forgotten in Ukraine and also why so much is now asked of me as a foreign-based player."
Demands
Voronin produced again on Wednesday, helping his side to a 1-0 win against Lithuania that leaves Ukraine top of Group B after five games. "Everybody understands that any slip could be fatal so every match is like a play-off for us," he says. "It looks like the battle for the top two spots will go on until the last match." The demands are high for club and country, and Voronin can expect them to rachet up another notch when he gets to Anfield. Compatriot Andriy Shevchenko may have taken time to find his feet in the Premiership, but if the success Voronin's former Leverkusen team-mate Dimitar Berbatov has achieved since joining Tottenham Hotspur FC is anything to go by, the move from Germany to England is one the Ukrainian striker should take in his stride.
'Spanish accent'
"If you talk about the physical factor, self-commitment and the compactness of the game itself, then English football is very much like the German game, though there is less time to control the ball or decide what to do. That means you have to think more quickly, play more of a one-touch game. But Liverpool are not a typical British team. I would say they have a Spanish accent which makes their football more diverse and less predictable. As for individuals being able to show their talents, just look at Cristiano Ronaldo. He has proved what you can achieve if you combine talent with hard work."
New challenge
After ten years in Germany, Voronin is looking forward to the new challenge. "I had thought about changing leagues for quite a long time. I wanted a change of environment, to discover something new, so with my Leverkusen deal coming to an end my agent began to look for options in Italy, Spain or England. There were some interesting offers even before the 2006 [FIFA] World Cup but we decided not to hurry. When we started talking about Liverpool, who I could join on a free transfer, everything clicked into place."
Trophy goal
Voronin says he has spoken to manager Rafa Benítez on the phone, but his new adventure still feels some way away. With Leverkusen through to the last eight of the UEFA Cup, where they face CA Osasuna at home in the first leg on Thursday, Reds fans will forgive him if his thoughts lie elsewhere. "I have not been to Liverpool yet," Voronin concedes. "I will be catching up with that at the end of the season when I intend to study English intensively. But until then all my thoughts are about Leverkusen, the German league and the UEFA Cup. There are no weak opponents at this stage, but we still have quite a good chance to progress. Bayer have not won a major trophy in a long time, so it would be great to please the fans before I leave."
Belanov example
Twelve years before Voronin moved to Germany, another Odessa native left his hometown to pursue his career elsewhere. Igor Belanov, though, initially travelled closer to home. He joined FC Dynamo Kyiv who he helped win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1986, before being crowned European Footballer of the Year. It is quite an example to follow, but as Voronin goes in search of his first piece of European silverware, Odessa - and Liverpool - will be watching his progress with interest.
http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/ki...id=520892.html
Germany debt
Voronin began his career with FC Chornomorets Odesa, but since moving to Germany a decade ago his compatriots have had to view his progress from afar. That progress continues apace. In the summer Voronin will leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen for Liverpool FC, a step up the footballing ladder and one he attributes to learning the game the hard way. "I owe Germany my football education, my successful career, my call-up to the Ukraine squad," the striker tells uefa.com.
'Character'
"I arrived at [VfL] Borussia Mönchengladbach as a 16-year-old rookie. I have no idea how I would have adapted if it hadn't been for club president Rolf Rüssmann. He cared for me like a father and then he let me go to [1. FSV] Mainz [05] where Peter Neustädter, who was finishing his career with the club, continued to train me and harden my character. I had a serious football education in one of Europe's top leagues, which is why I wasn't forgotten in Ukraine and also why so much is now asked of me as a foreign-based player."
Demands
Voronin produced again on Wednesday, helping his side to a 1-0 win against Lithuania that leaves Ukraine top of Group B after five games. "Everybody understands that any slip could be fatal so every match is like a play-off for us," he says. "It looks like the battle for the top two spots will go on until the last match." The demands are high for club and country, and Voronin can expect them to rachet up another notch when he gets to Anfield. Compatriot Andriy Shevchenko may have taken time to find his feet in the Premiership, but if the success Voronin's former Leverkusen team-mate Dimitar Berbatov has achieved since joining Tottenham Hotspur FC is anything to go by, the move from Germany to England is one the Ukrainian striker should take in his stride.
'Spanish accent'
"If you talk about the physical factor, self-commitment and the compactness of the game itself, then English football is very much like the German game, though there is less time to control the ball or decide what to do. That means you have to think more quickly, play more of a one-touch game. But Liverpool are not a typical British team. I would say they have a Spanish accent which makes their football more diverse and less predictable. As for individuals being able to show their talents, just look at Cristiano Ronaldo. He has proved what you can achieve if you combine talent with hard work."
New challenge
After ten years in Germany, Voronin is looking forward to the new challenge. "I had thought about changing leagues for quite a long time. I wanted a change of environment, to discover something new, so with my Leverkusen deal coming to an end my agent began to look for options in Italy, Spain or England. There were some interesting offers even before the 2006 [FIFA] World Cup but we decided not to hurry. When we started talking about Liverpool, who I could join on a free transfer, everything clicked into place."
Trophy goal
Voronin says he has spoken to manager Rafa Benítez on the phone, but his new adventure still feels some way away. With Leverkusen through to the last eight of the UEFA Cup, where they face CA Osasuna at home in the first leg on Thursday, Reds fans will forgive him if his thoughts lie elsewhere. "I have not been to Liverpool yet," Voronin concedes. "I will be catching up with that at the end of the season when I intend to study English intensively. But until then all my thoughts are about Leverkusen, the German league and the UEFA Cup. There are no weak opponents at this stage, but we still have quite a good chance to progress. Bayer have not won a major trophy in a long time, so it would be great to please the fans before I leave."
Belanov example
Twelve years before Voronin moved to Germany, another Odessa native left his hometown to pursue his career elsewhere. Igor Belanov, though, initially travelled closer to home. He joined FC Dynamo Kyiv who he helped win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1986, before being crowned European Footballer of the Year. It is quite an example to follow, but as Voronin goes in search of his first piece of European silverware, Odessa - and Liverpool - will be watching his progress with interest.
http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/ki...id=520892.html
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