View source for Oleh Kuznetsov

{{Short description|Ukrainian footballer (born 1963)}}
{{redirect|Oleg Kuznetsov|the Soviet-Russian serial killer and rapist|Oleg Kuznetsov (serial killer)|the Russian geophysicist|Oleg Kuznetsov (geophysicist)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Oleh Kuznetsov<br>Олег Кузнєцов
| image = Oleh Kuznetsov 3.JPG
| upright = 1.1
| fullname = Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow -<br />Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov
| height = 1.84 m
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|3|22}}
| birth_place = [[Magdeburg]], [[East Germany]]
| position = [[Central defender]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1971–1980
| youthclubs1 = [[SDYuShOR Desna]]
| years1 = 1981–1982
| clubs1 = [[FC Desna Chernihiv|Desna Chernihiv]]
| caps1 = 86
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1983–1990
| clubs2 = [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]
| caps2 = 181
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 1990–1994
| clubs3 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 1994–1995
| clubs4 = [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]]
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1995–1997
| clubs5 = [[FC CSKA Kyiv|CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv]]
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 1
| totalcaps = 247
| totalgoals = 7
| nationalyears1 = 1986–1991
| nationalteam1 = [[USSR national football team|USSR]]
| nationalcaps1 = 58
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1992
| nationalteam2 = [[CIS national football team|CIS]]
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1992–1994
| nationalteam3 = [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1998–2001
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Arsenal Kyiv|CSKA Kyiv]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2001–2002
| managerclubs2 = [[FC Arsenal Kyiv|Arsenal Kyiv]]
| manageryears3 = 2002–2004
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2002–2007
| managerclubs4 = [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2008
| managerclubs5 = [[FC Moscow|Moscow]] (assistant)
| manageryears6 = 2010
| managerclubs6 = [[Ukraine national under-17 football team|Ukraine U17]]
| manageryears7 = 2011
| managerclubs7 = [[Ukraine national under-18 football team|Ukraine U18]]
| manageryears8 = 2012
| managerclubs8 = [[Ukraine national under-19 football team|Ukraine U19]]
| manageryears9 = 2013
| managerclubs9 = [[Ukraine national under-16 football team|Ukraine U16]]
| manageryears10 = 2014
| managerclubs10 = [[Ukraine national under-17 football team|Ukraine U17]]
| manageryears11 = 2015
| managerclubs11 = [[Ukraine national under-18 football team|Ukraine U18]]
| manageryears12 = 2016
| managerclubs12 = [[Ukraine national under-19 football team|Ukraine U19]]
| manageryears13 = 2017
| managerclubs13 = [[Ukraine national under-16 football team|Ukraine U16]]
| manageryears14 = 2018
| managerclubs14 = [[Ukraine national under-17 football team|Ukraine U17]]
| manageryears15 = 2019
| managerclubs15 = [[Ukraine national under-18 football team|Ukraine U18]]
| manageryears16 = 2020
| managerclubs16 = [[Ukraine national under-19 football team|Ukraine U19]]
| manageryears17 = 2021–2023
| managerclubs17 = [[Ukraine national under-16 football team|Ukraine U16]]
| manageryears18 = 2023
| managerclubs18 = [[Ukraine national under-19 football team|Ukraine U19]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|URS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 West Germany]]|}}
}}

'''Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov''' (born as '''Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow''' in Germany) ({{langx|uk|Олег Володимирович Кузнєцов}}) (born 22 March 1963) is a Ukrainian [[Association football|football]] coach and former professional player. He won domestic honours in the Soviet Union with [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] (as well as the [[UEFA Cup Winners Cup]] in 1986), in Scotland with [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], in Israel with [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]] and in Ukraine with [[FC CSKA Kyiv|CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv]]. Kuznetsov won 58 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for the [[USSR national football team|USSR national team]] between 1986 and 1991, being suspended for the final of [[UEFA Euro 1988]] then was also selected for its successors, the [[CIS national football team|CIS]] (five caps) and [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] (three caps).

==Club career==
===Desna Chernihiv===
Kuznetsov was born in [[Magdeburg]], [[East Germany]] into a military family stationed in East Germany. His family returned to their native Ukraine and the town of [[Chernihiv]] when his father retired from the army and got a job as an engineer at a local radio plant. His mother worked as an engineer in a construction and design institute, from where she retired. Kuznetsov started playing when he was eight years old with local football schools before signing for the city's professional club [[FC Desna Chernihiv|Desna Chernihiv]] in 1980, continuing to improve his technique and tactics under the guidance of coach [[Yukhym Shkolnykov]]. He made 86 appearances for Desna and helped the team to finish twelfth in the [[Soviet Second League]] (Zone 5) in the [[1981 Soviet Second League, Zone 5|1981 season]],<ref>{{cite web | url = https://footballfacts.ru/tournament/4227-v |title=Чемпионат СССР 1981 | website = www.footballfacts.ru/ | access-date = 18 December 2020}}</ref> improving to second place in the [[1982 Soviet Second League, Zone 6|1982 season]] (Zone 6).<ref name=dynamo>{{cite web | url = http://www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua/ru/allnews/news/z_desni_do_dinamo_gravtsi_yaki_stali_legendami/| title = From Desna to Dynamo. Players who have become legends | website = www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua | access-date = 14 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.desna.football/1990-2000/ |title=1983-1991 | website = www.desna.football/ | access-date = 2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cnopm.ru/football/footballers/1986/may/oleg_kuznetsov |title=Oleg Kuznetsov, central defender of Dynamo Kiev | website = www.www.cnopm.ru/ | access-date = 2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://footballfacts.ru/tournament/4228-v |title=Чемпионат СССР 1982 | website = www.footballfacts.ru/ | access-date = 18 December 2020}}</ref>

===Dynamo Kyiv===
After a successful 1982 season, Kuznetsov moved to [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]<ref name=dynamo/> where he remained until September 1990. He won the [[Soviet Top League]] in [[1985 Soviet Top League|1985]], [[1986 Soviet Top League|1986]] and [[1990 Soviet Top League|1990]], the [[Soviet Cup]] in [[Soviet Cup#Finals|1985]], [[Soviet Cup#Finals|1987]] and [[1990 Soviet Cup Final|1990]], and the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] in [[1986 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1985–86]]. He became regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe in the second half of the 1980s, known for his strong ball-winning skills and long-range shooting power.

===Rangers===
[[File:Oleg Kuznetsov.jpg|thumb|150px|left| during a coaching session at [[FC Moscow]] in 2008]]Kuznetsov transferred to Scottish club [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in 1990. He injured his [[cruciate ligament]] in his second game (against [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]])<ref name=workhard>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12420628.alexei-takes-the-mikhailichenko-the-reluctant-rangers-runner-predicts-his-former-club-will-have-to-work-hard-for-success/ Alexei takes the Mikhailichenko {{!}} The reluctant Rangers runner predicts his former club will have to work hard for success], The Herald, 21 August 2004</ref> and did not play again for a full year. New defensive players were brought in during his layoff such as [[Dave McPherson (footballer)|Dave McPherson]], and he was never a first choice again.<ref name=fsrfc>[https://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1342 (Rangers player) Oleg Kuznetsov], FitbaStats</ref> A year after his arrival another Ukrainian, his former Dynamo Kyiv teammate [[Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko]], joined the club, but they only played in 20 matches together across three seasons.<ref>[https://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player3.php?playerid=1342 (Rangers player) Kuznetsov, Oleg: Managers & Teammates], FitbaStats</ref> He moved on in 1994 after a four-year stint badly hampered by injuries, with [[Basile Boli]] coming to [[Glasgow]] to take his place in the squad.

===Maccabi Haifa===
After being released by Rangers, Kuznetsov played for one season in Israel with [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]], winning the [[1994–95 Israel State Cup]] and finishing runners-up in the [[1994–95 Liga Leumit]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/isra95.html |title=Israel State Cup 1994-95 | website = [[RSSSF]] | access-date = 2 September 2020}}</ref>

===CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv===
Kuznetsov returned to Ukraine to finish his career with [[FC Arsenal Kyiv|CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv]]. In [[1995–96 Ukrainian Second League|1995–96]] he won the [[Ukrainian Second League]] to achieve promotion to the [[Ukrainian First League]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ukranianfootball.narod.ru/1996/1995_96_vt.html |title=Чемпионат Украины 1995/96 | website = www.ukranianfootball.narod.ru | access-date = 2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://uafootball.net.ua/2chemp_1995-96.htm |title=Сезон 1995-1996 | website = www.uafootball.net.ua | access-date = 18 December 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
He appeared in 58 games for the [[USSR national football team|USSR national team]] (one goal), five times for the interim [[CIS national football team|CIS]] after the fall of the [[Soviet Union]] and three times for the independent [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] side. He claimed a silver medal with the USSR at [[1988 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 1988]],and also appeared for them at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]] and [[1990 FIFA World Cup]]s;<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=166396/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228025108/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=166396/index.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 February 2008 | title = Oleh Kuznetsov | website = [[FIFA]].com | access-date = 7 September 2015}}</ref> On 9 September 1990, he scored his only goal for the USSR in a 2–0 win against [[Norway national football team|Norway]] in [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 3|UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]] at the [[Luzhniki Stadium|Central Lenin Stadium]] in [[Moscow]];<ref name=rsssf>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/okuznetsov-intl.html|title=Oleg kuznetsov - International Appearances|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> subsequently he played for the CIS at [[1992 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 1992 Finals]].

==Coaching career==
Kuznetsov began coaching in 1998 at the last club he played for professionally, [[CSKA Kyiv]]. Starting out as an assistant coach, he became head coach for the 2001–2002 season (with [[CSKA Kyiv]] becoming [[Arsenal Kyiv]] in the meantime).

He moved to the coaching staff at [[Dynamo Kyiv]] and later had several roles with the [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine national team]], including as a member of the staff with the senior squad that reached the quarter-finals of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] in Germany, and taking charge of various youth age group teams over the next decade.

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |title=Кузнецов Олег Владимирович |url=https://footballfacts.ru/person/26049-kuznecovolegvladimirovich |website=www.footballfacts.ru |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[FC Desna Chernihiv|Desna Chernihiv]]
|[[1981 Soviet Second League, Zone 5|1981]]
|[[Soviet First League]]
|42||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||42||0
|-
|[[1982 Soviet Second League, Zone 6|1982]]
|Soviet First League
|44||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||44||0
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]
|[[1983 Soviet Top League|1983]]
|[[Soviet Top League]]
|11||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|[[1984 Soviet Top League|1984]]
|Soviet Top League
|15||2||3||0||0||0||0||0||18||2
|-
|[[1985 Soviet Top League|1985]]
|Soviet Top League
|29||1||5||0||0||0||0||0||34||1
|-
|[[1986 Soviet Top League|1986]]
|Soviet Top League
|27||2||2||0||0||0||0||0||29||2
|-
|[[1987 Soviet Top League|1987]]
|Soviet Top League
|24||3||5||1||6||0||0||0||35||4
|-
|[[1988 Soviet Top League|1988]]
|Soviet Top League
|26||1||4||1||0||0||0||0||30||2
|-
|[[1989 Soviet Top League|1989]]
|Soviet Top League
|29||4||5||0||6||0||0||0||40||4
|-
|[[1990 Soviet Top League|1990]]
|Soviet Top League
|20||2||5||1||0||0||0||0||25||3
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
|[[1990–91 Scottish Football League|1990–91]]
|[[Scottish Football League]]
|2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Scottish Football League|1991–92]]
|Scottish Football League
|18||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||19||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Scottish Football League|1992–93]]
|Scottish Football League
|9||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|[[1993–94 Scottish Football League|1993–94]]
|Scottish Football League
|6||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||1
|-
|[[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]]
|[[1994–95 Liga Leumit|1994–95]]
|[[Liga Leumit]]
|6||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||8||0
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[FC Arsenal Kyiv|CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv]]
|[[1995–96 Ukrainian Second League|1995–96]]
|[[Ukrainian Second League]]
|18||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||18||3
|-
|[[1996–97 Ukrainian First League|1996–97]]
|[[Ukrainian First League]]
|11||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||12||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!337!!20!!29!!3!!17!!0!!0!!0!!374!!23
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==

===Player===
;FC Desna Chernihiv
*[[Championship of the Ukrainian SSR]]: Runner-up [[1982 Soviet Second League, Zone 6|1982]]

;Dynamo Kyiv
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1986 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1985–86]]
*[[Soviet Top League]]: [[1985 Soviet Top League|1985]], [[1986 Soviet Top League|1986]], [[1990 Soviet Top League|1990]]
*[[Soviet Cup]]: [[Soviet Cup#Finals|1985]], [[Soviet Cup#Finals|1987]], [[1990 Soviet Cup Final|1990]]

;Rangers
*[[Scottish Premier League|Scottish Premier Division]]: [[1990–91 in Scottish football|1990–91]], [[1991–92 in Scottish football|1991–92]], [[1992–93 in Scottish football|1992–93]], [[1993–94 in Scottish football|1993–94]]
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[1991 Scottish League Cup Final|1990–91]], [[1993 Scottish League Cup Final|1992–93]], [[1994 Scottish League Cup Final|1993–94]]
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1992 Scottish Cup Final|1991–92]]

;CSKA Kyiv
* [[Ukrainian Second League]]: [[1995–96 Ukrainian Second League|1995–96]]

;Soviet Union
*[[UEFA European Championship|European Football Championship]]: Runner-up [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]

'''Individual'''
;Ballon d'Or
*[[1988 Ballon d'Or|1988]] – 11th
*[[1989 Ballon d'Or|1989]] – 17th

;Others
*[[Onze d'Or|Onze Mondial]]: 1987, 1988<ref>{{Cite web|title="Onze Mondial" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704020132/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Soviet Union squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{CIS squad UEFA Euro 1992 }}
{{FC Arsenal Kyiv managers}}
{{FC Desna Chernihiv}}
{{FC Yunist Chernihiv}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuznetsov, Oleh}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Magdeburg]]
[[Category:Soviet men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ukrainian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Soviet Union men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Ukraine men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)]]
[[Category:SDYuShOR Desna players]]
[[Category:FC Desna Chernihiv players]]
[[Category:FC Dynamo Kyiv players]]
[[Category:FC CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv players]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Maccabi Haifa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Soviet Top League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players]]
[[Category:Ukrainian football managers]]
[[Category:FC Arsenal Kyiv managers]]
[[Category:Soviet expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ukrainian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Soviet expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:Ukrainian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland]]
[[Category:Ukrainian expatriate sportspeople in Israel]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel]]
[[Category:Ukrainian expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Footballers from Chernihiv]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 1st class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 2nd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class]]
[[Category:20th-century Ukrainian sportsmen]]