Dmitry Pietrman
Encyclopedia
Dmitry Piterman is an Ukrainian
-American
businessman.
, Ukraine
, Soviet Union
. At the age of 12, his family emigrated to the United States
, settling in California
, where he attended college at Berkeley
, excelling in sports - namely triple jump
, later narrowly failing qualification for the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
.
in 1991, immediately buying two football clubs: amateurs Tossa Sport and fourth division
side Palamós CF
, with the latter promoting to the third level
under his ownership in 2002. Three years earlier, he had been elected club president, and had his first hand at coaching, in spite of not being qualified to do so.
In January 2003, while still president at Palamós, Piterman bought 24% of Racing de Santander
's shares, thus reaching La Liga
. He insisted on being his team's manager, which granted him disciplinary action from the Royal Spanish Football Federation for being in the technical area, which he sometimes eluded by being accredited as a journalist or photographer. Chuchi Cos, whom had worked with him in Palamós, was also appointed manager during the Cantabria
period. Former club coach Manuel Preciado said of the experience with the businessman: "I moved into my dream home but a pigeon flew by and shat on my roof".
After a brief spell in handball
, also in Cantabria, Piterman bought Deportivo Alavés
, helping it return to the topflight in his first season, with Cos now acting as director of football
. The American's spell in the Basque Country
was also a rocky one, with three coaches being used during the 2005–06 campaign
, which ended in relegation, the dismissals occurring when the managers refused to accept his interferences and impositions. Clashes also occurred with the club's players and fans alike.
The pair Cos/Piterman appeared in 126 matches in Spanish football
, winning 63, drawing 29 and losing 34. In 2006, Pietrman purchased a USL First Division
franchise in San Francisco, California
, the California Victory
; it folded in one year, after he had already sold 51% of Alavés.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman.
Early years
Piterman was born in OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. At the age of 12, his family emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he attended college at Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, excelling in sports - namely triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
, later narrowly failing qualification for the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
Football career
Having already quit sports, Piterman, now a real estate agent, relocated to SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1991, immediately buying two football clubs: amateurs Tossa Sport and fourth division
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
side Palamós CF
Palamós CF
Palamós Club de Futbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Palamós, a town and commercial port in the Costa Brava, in the autonomous community of Catalonia...
, with the latter promoting to the third level
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
under his ownership in 2002. Three years earlier, he had been elected club president, and had his first hand at coaching, in spite of not being qualified to do so.
In January 2003, while still president at Palamós, Piterman bought 24% of Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
's shares, thus reaching La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. He insisted on being his team's manager, which granted him disciplinary action from the Royal Spanish Football Federation for being in the technical area, which he sometimes eluded by being accredited as a journalist or photographer. Chuchi Cos, whom had worked with him in Palamós, was also appointed manager during the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
period. Former club coach Manuel Preciado said of the experience with the businessman: "I moved into my dream home but a pigeon flew by and shat on my roof".
After a brief spell in handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, also in Cantabria, Piterman bought Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, helping it return to the topflight in his first season, with Cos now acting as director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
. The American's spell in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
was also a rocky one, with three coaches being used during the 2005–06 campaign
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, which ended in relegation, the dismissals occurring when the managers refused to accept his interferences and impositions. Clashes also occurred with the club's players and fans alike.
The pair Cos/Piterman appeared in 126 matches in Spanish football
Football in Spain
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation is the national governing body and it organizes La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain national football team, current champion of the FIFA World Cup...
, winning 63, drawing 29 and losing 34. In 2006, Pietrman purchased a USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
franchise in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, the California Victory
California Victory
The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support....
; it folded in one year, after he had already sold 51% of Alavés.