Stars of UEFA EURO 2016: Andriy Yarmolenko
Friday, March 4, 2016
Article summary
"The man with two hearts," Andriy Yarmolenko has become increasingly integral to Ukraine in recent years and will be a talismanic figure for them come UEFA EURO 2016.
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At a glance
Yarmolenko left the Dynamo Kyiv academy as a youngster but returned four years later and made his first-team debut in 2008. He was a mainstay barely 12 months on – as either a central striker or left winger – and is now a regular on the right. Yarmolenko was voted Ukraine's best player in 2012 and 2014 and is widely perceived as the successor to Andriy Shevchenko in terms of being his country's talisman.
EURO pedigree
Born in St. Petersburg, Yarmolenko was raised in Chernihiv and marked his first cap for Ukraine in September 2009 with a goal against Andorra. He is still frequently among the goals, scoring six in 12 during UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying – including one in each of the play-off legs – and featured in all three games for the co-hosts at UEFA EURO 2012.
What he offers
Importance for Ukraine
Yarmolenko, along with Sevilla's Yevhen Konoplyanka, is Ukraine’s undoubted leader. Though deployed on the right of attack, he will often have more of a free role and can be effective at both ends of the pitch. His veracious work ethic has earned him the moniker of 'The man with two hearts'. As of October 2014, he now assists for his country than anyone else in history.
International career
Debut: Ukraine 5-0 Andorra (5 September 2009; FIFA World Cup qualifying)
Appearances: 55
Goals: 22
EURO final tournament (Ukraine record)
Appearances: 3 (Oleh Kuznetsov, 7*)
Goals: 0 (Andriy Shevchenko, 2)
Record: W1 D0 L2
*Includes for Soviet Union and CIS
