Sergei Pavlovich Baltacha
Encyclopedia
Sergei Pavlovich Baltacha (born 17 February 1958 in Mariupol
) is a former professional football player who won 45 full caps for the Soviet Union
and made nearly 300 appearances for Dynamo Kiev
.
Baltacha was on the winning side in the Cup Winners' Cup
in 1986, the Soviet Top League
and Soviet Cup
four times, and the Soviet Super Cup on three occasions. He also appeared in the FIFA World Cup
in 1982
, was a finalist in the European Championships
in 1988 and won Olympic Bronze
in 1980. His later career was spent in England
and Scotland
, playing for Ipswich Town
and St. Johnstone. His debut for Ipswich (in which he scored) was the first time a Soviet international had played in the Football League
. He also had a brief spell as manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle
.
His former wife, Olga, master of sports in athletics, could have been on the Soviet
olympic
pentathlon
team in 1980 Summer Olympics
, but instead opted to remain at home to care for her one year old son.
Baltacha is currently married to Oksana.
His and Olga's son, Sergei Jr
, is also a footballer, who played for St. Mirren
and has been capped at U-21 level for Scotland
. He currently plays with junior
outfit Petershill
. Sergei's and Olga's daughter Elena
is a professional tennis player.
Baltacha is currently a physical education
teacher and tutor at Bacon's College
in South East London
, having formerly been a physical education teacher at Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College (Old Kent Road
, London) and a coach at the Charlton Athletic
academy.
Although he was born in the Ukrainian part of the Soviet Union, Baltacha regards himself to be Russia
n.
Mariupol
Mariupol , formerly known as Zhdanov , is a port city in southeastern Ukraine. It is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. Mariupol is the largest city in Priazovye - a geographical region around Azov Sea, divided by Russia and Ukraine - and is also a popular sea...
) is a former professional football player who won 45 full caps for the Soviet Union
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...
and made nearly 300 appearances for Dynamo Kiev
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
.
Baltacha was on the winning side in the Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in 1986, the Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
and Soviet Cup
Soviet Cup
The Soviet Cup, or USSR Cup , was the premier football cup competition in the Soviet Union.-Finals:-Performance by club:-Performance by republic:-References:*, rsssf.com. Accessed on 16 May 2006....
four times, and the Soviet Super Cup on three occasions. He also appeared in the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, was a finalist in the European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
in 1988 and won Olympic Bronze
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in 1980. His later career was spent in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, playing for Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and St. Johnstone. His debut for Ipswich (in which he scored) was the first time a Soviet international had played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He also had a brief spell as manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
.
His former wife, Olga, master of sports in athletics, could have been on the Soviet
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....
olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
pentathlon
Pentathlon
A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente and -athlon . The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games...
team in 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, but instead opted to remain at home to care for her one year old son.
Baltacha is currently married to Oksana.
His and Olga's son, Sergei Jr
Sergei Baltacha Jr.
Sergei Baltacha is a Scottish-Ukrainian former footballer.-Career:He first played football in the Dynamo Kiev academy, but began his professional career in Scotland, at St. Mirren, where he gained 3 caps for the Scotland U-21 side...
, is also a footballer, who played for St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
and has been capped at U-21 level for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He currently plays with junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
outfit Petershill
Petershill F.C.
Petershill Football Club are a Scottish football club from Springburn in the north of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Peasy, they were formed in 1897 and are traditionally one of the stronger clubs at their level, although they have not been as successful in recent years as they have historically.The play...
. Sergei's and Olga's daughter Elena
Elena Baltacha
Elena Baltacha is a British professional tennis player of Ukrainian background. Being a four-time winner of the AEGON Award, she is also the long standing British number 1, a position she has held intermittently since 2002. As of 24 November 2011 she holds a current world ranking of No. 50. Her...
is a professional tennis player.
Baltacha is currently a physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher and tutor at Bacon's College
Bacon's College
Bacon's College is a secondary school and sixth form college in England, located in Rotherhithe, London. Bacon's College was one of the handful of CTCs, however it officially changed to Academy status in 2007.-History:...
in South East London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, having formerly been a physical education teacher at Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College (Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road
The Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman road which ran from Dover to Holyhead. The street is famous as the equal cheapest property on the London Monopoly board and as the only one in South London....
, London) and a coach at the Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
academy.
Although he was born in the Ukrainian part of the Soviet Union, Baltacha regards himself to be Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n.