Igor Sokolovsky - Ukrainian football player and coach. As part of the Chernomorets club, he successfully played in several championships of the USSR. Sokolovsky was recognized as one of the best football players in Ukraine.
Childhood, youth
Igor Sokolovsky was born on February 21, 1955 in the city of Odessa (Ukraine). None of his family members were involved in football or professional sports. Parents of Igor Vladimirovich dreamed that their son learned, received a good education, found his place in life. At first, not everyone took his passion for football seriously. When it became clear that the game occupies one of the main places in the life of a young man, his relatives began to worry. They did not want his son to spend all his time on football, they said that the career of a football player was quickly ending.
Igor Vladimirovich studied well at school, but often missed classes. At first he was fond of games in the yard. In organized football, Sokolovsky began playing DYuSSh-6 under the leadership of Yu. M. Linda. To get the necessary playing skills, Igor Vladimirovich graduated from the Chernomorets school. This is the oldest football school in Odessa. Sokolovsky trained all year round and already in 1972 he made his debut in the main team of Odessa.
Sports career
Igor Sokolovsky served in the army. At the end of the service, he clearly knew what he wanted. His first clubs were:
- “Locomotive” (Kherson, 1973);
- The Star (Tiraspol, 1974-1975);
- "Crystal" (Kherson, 1976).
Igor Vladimirovich showed excellent results, was in good standing with the coaches, who noted the ability of Sokolovsky to blunt the opponent’s vigilance. Soccer player played as a striker and defender. The defender's role was much better for him.
After several years Igor Vladimirovich tried his hand at different teams, he returned to his hometown and the familiar Chernomorets. For three seasons (1977-1979), he played in a blue T-shirt “sailors” under the leadership of Akhmed Aleskerov, and then Anatoly Zubritsky became his coach.
Sokolovsky was remembered by his teammates and coaches as a very reliable player in defense. If Igor went on the field, the opponents were in suspense. I had to make even greater efforts so as not to lose to the “sailors”. At the same time, Sokolovsky was considerate, polite, never crossed certain boundaries of what was permitted both on the football field and in life. If he had to choose between principles and achieving results at any cost, he always chose principles.
After the seasons played in the “Chernomorets” Igor Vladimirovich tried his hand at other clubs:
- Neftichi (Baku, 1980);
- SKA (Odessa, 1981).
In 1982, Sokolovsky again returned to the Chernomorets team and played in it until 1984. In total, in the USSR championships for a native club, a football player spent 138 matches and scored 5 goals. Club players admit that for the entire period of the games there were many interesting episodes with the participation of Igor Vladimirovich, which they remember from time to time. The meeting between Chernomorets and the Dnipro team was memorable. It was the last minute of the match and the “sailors” got the right to score a free kick. Sokolovsky went to the center of the field and scored a goal against the opponent. But during the flight of the ball Kharkov referee Yuri Sergienko raised his hands up, which means the expiration of time. The goal was not counted, and a little later it turned out that this particular goal was not enough to ensure that the team won a bronze medal at the USSR Championship.
In 1985, Sokolovsky played in the Kharkov club Metalist, and in 1986 went on the field for Nikopol Kolos. He ended his football career in 1992 with clubs in Finland, which were part of the minor league. In total, in the major league of the USSR championship, Sokolovsky spent 166 matches and scored 5 goals. In 1984, he was included in the list of "33 best football players of Ukraine." In this rating, he was put in third place.
From 1993 to 1996, Igor Vladimirovich worked as a selection breeder at the Chernomorets club. A little later, he coached the youth in the club SDYUSHOR, and in 2008-2009 Sokolovsky worked as a trainer for the youth of the Chernomorets. Young footballers remember the coach with warmth and respect. Under his leadership, the youth team won several prestigious awards at that time, winning important matches.
Igor Vladimirovich was a strict but fair mentor. He never allowed himself to become personal, insult students or shout at them. But the team had strict discipline. Young footballers considered it a great honor that they had the opportunity to train under the guidance of such a respected athlete, and complied with his requirements implicitly.
The last success in his life, Igor Vladimirovich achieved in May 2009, when, together with the double “Chernomorets”, he became the third prize-winner of the competition of youth teams of the Premier League of Ukraine.
