For many, the coming year is associated with bright hopes and expectations of changes for the better in life and work. The famous football coach is no exception. Vladimir SharanShared with the reporter Spor.ua Statements about the New Year theme.
– Until what age did you believe in Santa Claus?
– I don’t even remember. Probably up to age six. No more. Until I went to school.
– What is the most unusual New Year celebration in your life?
– The most unusual and extraordinary was the New Year, which I spent in Israel during my stay as a player in the USSR youth team. An international tournament was organized in this country, in which our team participated. It’s plus twenty outside and we’re celebrating the new year in shorts and T-shirts.
The next day we had to play against the Swedish national team in the final. The Swedes sat next to our table on New Year’s Eve, they saw how we relaxed, and how we relaxed. Believe me, we rested much better and played much better (smiles). As it turned out, the Swedes were very weak at the festive table. We won the final match 2-0.
– As a Ukrainian citizen and a football coach, what do you expect from the new year 2026?
– To be honest, everyone is waiting for one thing; peace. And I’m not the only one who can say that. If there is peace, everything will return to normal. I really want the war to end as soon as possible, for people to be free, for parents not to bury their children. This is the most important thing. And as a coach, I expect changes for the better in our football.
I would like the Ukrainian championship to be full-fledged and finally achieve some kind of stability. And also for the Ukrainian national team to successfully pass the World Cup play-off tests and please the fans as often as possible. I also really want the football players in our club to have a good future, to become real football masters, to gain recognition and to be invited to various national teams.
