Former Arsenal defender Oleg Luzhny has put his coaching career on hold in order to remain in his homeland and fight to defend Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
The 53-year-old made 60 international appearances over the course of a distinguished career, 37 of which came for USSR before the break up of the old Soviet Union.
After impressing against the Gunners for Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League, the versatile defender was snapped up by Arsene Wenger in the summer of 1999.
Luzhny played a bit-part role in the 2001/02 double winning campaign and made his last appearance for the north London club deputising for Sol Campbell in the 2003 FA Cup final win over Southampton.
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After hanging up his boots having finished his career with Venta after a short spell at Wolves, Luzhny has carved out a successful coaching career and had designs on returning to England before war broke out.
Those plans have been put on the back burner, however, given the ‘horrific’ scenes which followed Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine earlier this week.
The situation is horrific,’ Luzhny told Sky Sports. ‘I want to come to coach in the UK but before anything I will stand firmly and fight for my people, for my country and for democracy.
‘We all hope this will be over soon as innocent lives are being lost and families are being torn apart. A country being invaded and destroyed is all for what?
‘We need to stand together as one and bring to an end this criminal warfare.’
Luzhny was the first Ukrainian to win a Premier League title and has since been followed by Manchester City’sOleksandr Zinchenko who came face-to-face with his compatriot, Vitalii Mykolenko, during Saturday’s emotional match at Goodison Park.
On the support of the crowd for the pr messages portrayed by the players, City boss Pep Guardiola said: ‘What a moment. Thank you so much for all the people. Zinchenko was very pleased. He was warming up. It means [a lot] what the people want to say.
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‘That is why thank you so much for reaction. It was so emotional.’
Everton boss Frank Lampard added: ‘The power of sport, we’ve seen in the last few days in many ways.
‘I know how much heart is in this club from owner, to chairman, to fans, to players and we wanted to show that. We have a player with Vitaliy on our side and Zinchenko on their side, and our fans and their fans [came] together
‘That is the unity of sport and a lot of people on the outside could learn from that as well.’
MORE: Chelsea say ‘situation in Ukraine is horrific’ in first statement after Russia invasion
MORE: Andriy Yarmolenko granted time off from West Ham during war in Ukraine
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