Background
Ponomarev was born in Horlivka (near Donetsk), Ukrainian People"s Republic.
Ponomarev was born in Horlivka (near Donetsk), Ukrainian People"s Republic.
He was the top scorer of the league in 1946. In 1953 he started his manager career in Shakhtar Stalino. In 1962 he was made the manager of Football Club Dynamo Moscow, which finished 11th in the previous season, and which he led to a victory in the Soviet Top League in 1963.
He was the head coach of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics national football team in 1972, leading the team to second place in Union of European Football Associations Euro 1972, and to a bronze medal at the Olympic Games 1972.
He died at age 55 in Moscow.