Igor Dobrovolski
Encyclopedia
Igor Ivanovich Dobrovolski is retired footballer in the wide attacking midfielder role. He is currently the manager of Dacia Chişinău
.
He started his career at Moldavian SSR
, then played in Russian SFSR, Spain, Italy, France, Germany before retired in Moldova. He never played in Ukrainian SSR
or independent Ukraine
.
, Odessa Oblast
, Ukrainian SSR, Dobrovolski trained at Tiraspol
Children and Youth Sport School N4 in Moldavian SSR in early years (now in Transnistria
). During his extensive career he played for Nistru Chişinău
, Dynamo Moscow
, Castellón
, Servette
, Genoa
, Olympique de Marseille
, Atlético Madrid, Fortuna Düsseldorf
and Tiligul Tiraspol
. In 1990, Igor Dobrovolski was thought of as one of the best young players in the world.
at 1988 Olympic Games
were he was a gold medal winner and finished second top goal scorer with six goals (including one in the Gold Medal game itself); Romário
scored seven but Brazil
lost in the final to USSR
. He was also part, with the same team, of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, representing afterwards the CIS
at UEFA Euro 1992 and Russia
at Euro 1996. He scored CIS's only goal in UEFA Euro 1992, in a 1–1 draw against Germany.
Five players had the honour of scoring a goal in five successive games – Igor Dobrovolski (USSR in 1988), Ottmar Hitzfeld
(FR Germany in 1972), Milan Galić
(Yugoslavia in 1960) and Adolfo Baloncieri (Italy in 1928). Only Dobrovolski actually claimed gold.
in the 2005–06 season, and then took over the Moldova national football team
for the qualification to UEFA Euro 2008, with a view to a two-year extension to his contract if he was successful.
In December 2007, he signed a new contract with Moldova. He was allowed to coach any club until the start of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
. On 16 October 2009, Dobrovolski announced his resignation.
FC Dacia Chisinau
FC Dacia Chişinău is a Moldovan football club, playing in the city of Chişinău, the capital of Moldova. They play in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football.- History :1999...
.
He started his career at Moldavian SSR
Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
, then played in Russian SFSR, Spain, Italy, France, Germany before retired in Moldova. He never played in Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
or independent 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...
.
Club career
Born in Markove, Rozdilnianskyi RaionRozdilnianskyi Raion
The Rozdilna Raion is located in the Odessa Oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Rozdilna. The population of the district was 56,897 in 2001...
, Odessa Oblast
Odessa Oblast
Odesa Oblast, also written as Odessa Oblast , is the southernmost and largest oblast of south-western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Odessa.-History:...
, Ukrainian SSR, Dobrovolski trained at Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
Children and Youth Sport School N4 in Moldavian SSR in early years (now in Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
). During his extensive career he played for Nistru Chişinău
FC Zimbru Chisinau
FC Zimbru Chişinău is a Moldovan football club based in Chişinău, Moldova. They play in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football.-History:...
, Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...
, Castellón
CD Castellón
Club Deportivo Castellón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Castellón de la Plana, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Nou Estadi Castalia, which has a capacity of 16,000.-History:Football first appeared in...
, Servette
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
, Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
, Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, Atlético Madrid, Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
and Tiligul Tiraspol
CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol
CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol was a Moldovan football club based in Tiraspol. They played in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football. Their home stadium was Stadionul Municipal....
. In 1990, Igor Dobrovolski was thought of as one of the best young players in the world.
International career
He played for three different national teams: USSRUSSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
at 1988 Olympic Games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
were he was a gold medal winner and finished second top goal scorer with six goals (including one in the Gold Medal game itself); Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
scored seven but Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
lost in the final to USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. He was also part, with the same team, of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, representing afterwards the CIS
CIS national football team
The CIS national football team represented the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional confederation formed by 12 of the 15 newly formed sovereign states that emerged out of the break-up of the Soviet Union between 1990 and early 1992...
at UEFA Euro 1992 and Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
at Euro 1996. He scored CIS's only goal in UEFA Euro 1992, in a 1–1 draw against Germany.
Five players had the honour of scoring a goal in five successive games – Igor Dobrovolski (USSR in 1988), Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
(FR Germany in 1972), Milan Galić
Milan Galic
Milan Galić is a former Serbian footballer.He scored 37 international goals in 51 matches for the Yugoslavia national football team. He participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal, the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship, where Yugoslavia finished second , and the 1962...
(Yugoslavia in 1960) and Adolfo Baloncieri (Italy in 1928). Only Dobrovolski actually claimed gold.
Honours
- Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympics
- Silver Boot at the 1988 Olympics (6 goals)
- Soviet Footballer of the YearSoviet Footballer of the YearThe award Soviet Footballer of the Year had been awarded to the best footballer of the former Soviet Union from 1964 until 1991. The poll was conducted by the weekly sport newspaper Football .-List of winners:-Most Wins by Club:...
: 1990 - 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner
- French League Title 1991–92
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1992–93 Winner
Coaching career
At 39 years old he was coaching Tiligul TiraspolCS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol
CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol was a Moldovan football club based in Tiraspol. They played in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football. Their home stadium was Stadionul Municipal....
in the 2005–06 season, and then took over the Moldova national football team
Moldova national football team
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...
for the qualification to UEFA Euro 2008, with a view to a two-year extension to his contract if he was successful.
In December 2007, he signed a new contract with Moldova. He was allowed to coach any club until the start of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
. On 16 October 2009, Dobrovolski announced his resignation.