Valeri Popovitch
Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch (Russian: Валерий Александрович Попович; born 18 May 1970) is a Russian former football forward. Popovitch is the all-time scoring leader of FC Haka. After his contract ended with HJK in 2010, he joined Ilves Tampere playing in Kakkonen, as a player-coach, signing a two-year contract. Currently he is a youth coach at FC Haka.
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch | ||
Date of birth | 18 May 1970 | ||
Place of birth | Gorky, USSR | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Striker, Attacking midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Retired | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1986 | Khimik Dzerzhinsk | 3 | (1) |
1987 | Lokomotiv Gorky | 3 | (0) |
1988–1989 | CSKA Moscow | 25 | (0) |
1990–1991 | FC Spartak Moscow | 10 | (0) |
1992–1993 | TPV | 48 | (26) |
1994 | Ilves | 12 | (3) |
1994–2008 | FC Haka | 323 | (170) |
1995–1996 | → Ikast FS (loan) | 6 | (3) |
1999–2000 | → SC Heerenveen (loan) | 18 | (6) |
2009 | HJK Helsinki | 16 | (3) |
2010–2012 | Ilves Tampere | ||
National team | |||
USSR U-17 | |||
USSR U-19 | |||
Teams managed | |||
2010−2012 | Ilves Tampere (player-coach) | ||
2012 | FC Haka (youth coach) | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
He has also capped several times for Soviet U-17 and U-19 National football teams. U-17 finished third in the 1986 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, and U-19 won the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in 1988. Popovitch played in both tournaments.
Popovitch played for FC CSKA Moscow in Soviet First League and FC Spartak Moscow in the Soviet Top League.[1]
Legacy
Popovitch holds a legendary status in Finland and especially in Valkeakoski, where his regarded as one of the best players ever to play for FC Haka. FC Haka retired his number, 14.
References
- "Popovich Valeriy Aleksandrovich". KLISF. Retrieved 30 March 2010.