Valeri Popovitch
Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch (Russian: Валерий Александрович Попович; born 18 May 1970) is a Russian former football forward.[1] 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch | ||
| Date of birth | 18 May 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Gorky, USSR | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, Attacking midfielder | ||
| 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.[2]
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
- Interview wirh Valeri Popovitch eurosport.ru
- "Popovich Valeriy Aleksandrovich". KLISF. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
