Career
In 1986 he was named the best football player in the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and Ukraine and the 6th best football player in Europe according to France Football. Zavarov is widely regarded to be among the greatest football players in the history of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and Ukraine, and in 2000 he was included in the Ukrainian Team of The Century according to a poll by the Ukrainsky Futbol weekly. In 2015 he refused to support Ukrainian military action in the Donbass conflict.
Club Dynamo Kyiv Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Premier League (2): 1985, 1986 Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Cup (3): 1981, 1985, 1987 Winners Cup: 1985-1986 Juventus Coppa Italia: 1989-1990: 1989-1990 National Soviet Union runner-up Union of European Football Associations European Football Championship final: 1988 Coaching Zavarov began his coaching career with Saint Dizier Colorado as a player-coach.
He had a short spell as a head coach of Football Club Wil in 2003-2004, however because he lacked the necessary Union of European Football Associations licence, he was given the position of director of football with the club He is currently manager of Ukrainian team Arsenal Kyiv.
A creative, quick, agile and skilful midfielder, Zavarov was primarily known for his excellent technical ability, two-footedness, stamina, and tactical intelligence, and was usually deployed as an attacking midfielder or as a supporting striker, although he was also capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker, due to his versatility, vision, and long passing accuracy. Zavarov played a key role in Valeri Lobanovski"s successes with Dynamo Kyiv, and his dribbling skills and playmaking ability led his Dynamo Kyiv coach to compare him to Diego Maradona.
Despite the talent he demonstrated with Dynamo Kyiv and at Euro 1988, and his reputation as one of the greatest players to ever come out of the Soviet Union, his time with Juventus was less successful, and he failed to live up to initial expectations in Serie A. Due to his inconsistent displays and his lack of accuracy in front of goal, he drew criticism from the press, who also singled out his surprisingly poor work-rate and movement off the ball.
He was also accused of lacking confidence, and of not being an effective assist-provider for the team Because of his timid character, it was also argued that he lacked the necessary leadership skills to carry the team, and fill the void left by Michel Platini in the advanced midfield playmaking role during the post-Trapattoni crisis. Individual Ballon d"Or.
