Mold and Funding Shortages Plague Kyiv Museum Dedicated to Legendary Coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi

Growing Concerns Over the Condition of the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Museum

According to Главком: Margarita Sichkar, a restaurateur and former wife of Ukrainian footballer Vladyslav Vashchuk, has raised alarm about the state of the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Museum. Located within School No. 319 in Kyiv, the museum occupies a cramped 10-square-meter room plagued by mold. Having worked at the school for a year, Sichkar argues that such conditions are unworthy of a coach who left an indelible mark on Ukrainian football history.

Lobanovskyi’s Legacy

Born on January 6, 1939, in Kyiv, Valeriy Lobanovskyi graduated from school with a silver medal. He was not only a Master of Sports of the USSR but also a Honored Coach of both the USSR and Ukraine. He passed away on May 13, 2002, in Zaporizhzhia and is buried at Kyiv’s Baikove Cemetery. Over his career, he managed the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Dynamo Kyiv clubs, as well as the national teams of the USSR and Ukraine.

Commenting on the museum’s state, Sichkar stated:

“A coach like that... I don’t know if Ukraine will ever see another. This is a personal pain of mine. It’s in a tiny, moldy space. A small room, about ten square meters... School No. 319. It houses children expelled from every other school.”

She also noted that she reached out to prominent Ukrainian footballers Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov for assistance. Shevchenko contributed $1,000 to the museum, but Sichkar believes this is insufficient to properly honor Lobanovskyi’s memory.

Lobanovskyi left a profound impact on global football, achieving:

• multiple USSR championships;
• the USSR Cup;
• the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup;
• the UEFA Super Cup;
• a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympic tournament;
• a runner-up finish at Euro 1988.

His contributions to Ukrainian football are immense, making the need for a fitting tribute ever more urgent. Sichkar expressed hope that the museum will be improved, stating,

“We have not fully paid our respects to this man.”

The condition of the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Museum underscores the broader challenge of preserving cultural heritage and honoring key figures in Ukraine’s history. As one of the most celebrated coaches, Lobanovskyi deserves proper recognition and support to ensure his legacy endures. Addressing funding and museum organization could prove vital for the future of Ukrainian football and for inspiring new generations of fans to learn about and value the achievements of their predecessors.