Andriy Nesmachnyi

Andriy Mykolaovich Nesmachniy

Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-02-28) 28 February 1979
Place of birth	Bryansk, Russian SFSR, USSR
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Youth career
	Tavriya Simferopol
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–1999	Dynamo-3 Kyiv	30	(4)
1997–2004	Dynamo-2 Kyiv	56	(3)
1997–2011	Dynamo Kyiv	226	(11)
Total		312	(18)
International career‡
2000–2009	Ukraine	67	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 June 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 August 2009

Andriy Mykolayovych Nesmachniy (Ukrainian: Андрій Миколайович Несмачний, born 28 February 1979) is a retired Ukrainian footballer. He has spent his entire career at FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League. He is a skillful, attacking left-back who can also play central defense and left midfield. Nesmachnyi also played for the Ukrainian national football team. Nesmachniy is the most capped foreign born player for Ukraine.

Club career

Nesmachniy started as a graduate of the Tavriya Simferopol school. He then joined Dynamo Kyiv for the 1997–98 season. He was originally intended for the main team, but he spent the next two seasons in Dynamo-2 Kyiv. Beginning in the 2000–01 season, Nesmachniy appeared much more often on the main team, where he has stayed until 2011. Nesmachniy retired in 2011 to concentrate on his religious beliefs as he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Nesmachniy almost joined Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League during the January 2007 transfer window. Manager Mark Hughes had confirmed his interest saying that he had "good football intelligence" and "a great international experience". He also confirmed that the defender was training with the squad in late December 2006. However, he did not make a promise that a move was going to be a possibility. Nesmachniy in the end, did not join Blackburn.

International career

Nesmachnyi was first called up to the Ukraine national football team in 2000. Since then he has been capped 63 times. His career was highlighted in 2006, when Ukraine made it to their first ever FIFA World Cup. Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals, getting out to eventual champions Italy.

During the World Cup in Germany, Nesmachnyi noticeably did not sing Ukraine's national anthem and place his hand on his heart. When asked about this in an interview, Nesmachnyi announced that "My parents and I are Jehovah's Witnesses for a long time. Our Bible-based beliefs does not allow us to idolize anyone and anything, such as a flag and an anthem, and to put my hand on my heart. All glory and praise belongs to God, Jehovah."

On March 17, Nesmachnyi announced that he personally decided to retire from the Ukraine national football team, and that he continues to have good relations with head coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko. He explained his decision by saying that he wants to concentrate on his club career in Dynamo as well as on his spiritual and family life. Upon retiring, Nesmachniy has played 67 games for Ukraine, the first being against Bulgaria on 26 April 2000, and the last being on 10 February 2009 against Slovakia.

Accomplishments

From Official website of Dynamo Kyiv.

Ukrainian Premier League

2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007

Ukrainian Cup

2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007

Other

"Nesmachniy" is a homonym for the Ukrainian "not tasting good".

References

• Profile on website Football Ukraine