Former Soviet striker Valentin Ivanov died following a long illness on Tuesday, the Russian FA said. He was 76.Ivanov helped the Soviet Union to their first major international title at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics after edging out Yugoslavia 1-0 in the final.He was also a member of the team that won the first European championship in 1960 when they again beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in extra time in Paris, and finished runners-up in 1964, losing to Spain in the final.The Moscow native, who would have turned 77 in two weeks, played in two World Cups and was the joint top scorer at the 1962 finals in Chile with four goals. He scored twice at the 1958 tournament in Sweden."He was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He had been sick for a long time," Nikita Siminyan, Ivanov's team mate on the 1956 Olympic team, told reporters.Ivanov, who was awarded the UEFA Order of Merit, spent his entire playing career with one club, Torpedo Moscow, winning two Soviet league titles in 1960 and 1965 and Soviet Cup in 1960. He is still the club's all-time leading scorer with 124 goals.He later coached Torpedo to the league title in 1976.Ivanov was married to famous gymnast Lidiya Kalinina after they first met during the 1956 Melbourne Games, where she also won gold as part of the Soviet women's team. She repeated that feat at the Rome Olympics four years later.His son, Valentin Ivanov Jr, was a FIFA referee, officiating at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he was heavily criticised for handing out four red cards in a second-round match between Portugal and the Netherlands.
GMT 16:18 2018 Tuesday ,04 December
Germany's Dressen undergoes knee surgeryGMT 09:41 2018 Tuesday ,04 December
Leverkusen frustrated in sodden NurembergGMT 15:13 2018 Saturday ,27 October
Russia's Medvedeva in 7th place after fall at Skate CanadaGMT 17:37 2018 Thursday ,04 October
Liverpool sunk by late Lorenzo Insigne strikeGMT 09:54 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Gymnastics champ Raisman rips Olympic CommitteeGMT 08:22 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Russian speed skater An 'banned from Olympics for doping'GMT 08:52 2018 Friday ,19 January
Stokes available for England selection despite chargeGMT 09:06 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
Injury-hit figure skating champ Hanyu resumes trainingMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor