Shevchenko - Here to stay

The Rated [R] Ryan

Shevchenko - Here to stay
Saturday, Jul 29, 2006


Andriy Shevchenko, speaking on his new club’s visit to the United States, has indicated that Chelsea could well be the final destination in his career.

The Ukrainian striker is only hours into his active service as a Chelsea player but never one to move around much during his career, he sees London as a long-term home.

“I have only played for two teams,� 29 year-old Shevchenko said, “and I have been happy at both places. I hope I will be happy here. Right now, in my head, it is my hope that this will be where I end my career.

“I have not been to London that often,� he added as he looks to settle down, “so I have no idea where I am going to live yet. I have to find the right situation for my wife and son and another child that is coming, whether it is near the heart of London or the training site or wherever.�

Shevchenko’s professional debut came in 1994 with Dynamo Kiev, back in his homeland. He won five consecutive league titles there before moving on to Milan. His stay in Italy totalled seven seasons.

His mentor at Dynamo was Valeri Lobanovsky, the legendary manager of Ukrainian football, who also took charge Shevchenko at international level. When his former pupil won the European Footballer of the Year award in 2004, he took the Balon d’Or trophy to Lobanovsky’s grave. His former manager had died two years earlier.

As he begins the third stage of his professional football career, Shevchenko has revealed that is the words of Lobanovsky that inspire him to meet the Chelsea challenge.

“He told me it is very difficult in life to reach a certain level of excellence but it is even more difficult to remain there at that high level of excellence. So I have lived every second of the day of my life with the philosophy that I need to maintain that level. This is the motivation I have.�

God

Super Moderator

gonna be tough for him to get a starting place now that the other two strickers want to leave. so its sheva or no stricker for chelsea this season.

sandman

he should return to Dynamo Kiev for a final game

NWOOO-Joe!

Im sure that he'll return to his first team and play a testimonail or sumthin but hes had a great career and ending it at Chelsea would be a good finish