10 fun facts about Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko, a Ukrainian footballer, currently serves as a left-back for Arsenal in the Premier League and represents the Ukraine national team. Born on December 15, 1996, in Radomyshl, Ukraine, Zinchenko’s passion for football began at a tender age. At the age of six, he joined the youth academy of Shakhtar Donetsk. In 2014, Zinchenko…
Oleksandr Zinchenko, a Ukrainian footballer, currently serves as a left-back for Arsenal in the Premier League and represents the Ukraine national team. Born on December 15, 1996, in Radomyshl, Ukraine, Zinchenko’s passion for football began at a tender age. At the age of six, he joined the youth academy of Shakhtar Donetsk. In 2014, Zinchenko made a move to Russia to play for FC Ufa.
He made his professional debut for the club in July of the same year and showcased his skills in 31 appearances over two seasons. In 2016, Manchester City acquired him for a reported fee of £1.7m. However, he was initially loaned out to PSV Eindhoven, a Dutch club, for the 2016-17 season. Zinchenko played a pivotal role in helping PSV secure the Eredivisie title that season, featuring in 20 matches and scoring two goals.
Zinchenko made his comeback to Manchester City in 2017, leaving a lasting impression on Pep Guardiola with his exceptional versatility and skills on the ball. Throughout his time with the Manchester giants, he accumulated an impressive 128 appearances across various competitions.
While predominantly deployed as a left-back, he also showcased his adaptability by occasionally stepping in as a midfielder. However, in the summer of 2022, Zinchenko decided to depart from the Sky Blues in search of regular playing opportunities. Arsenal, recognizing his vast experience, technical prowess, and versatility, wasted no time in securing his services for a hefty £35m fee, successfully enticing him away from the Etihad Stadium.
1.Idolises Ronaldinho
Zinchenko has openly shared in multiple interviews that Ronaldinho was his childhood hero. During his early years, the 26-year-old admired the Barcelona legend and aimed to imitate him as he began his career as a forward.
However, he eventually transitioned to a different role on the field and currently excels as an inverted left-back or midfielder. Despite not being able to replicate the mesmerizing skills of the Brazilian maestro, it is not due to a lack of talent but rather a strategic positional change.
2. A super mom
Zinchenko has openly discussed the significance of family in his life, particularly his close bond with his mother, Irina, who has played a pivotal role in his football journey. From a young age, Zinchenko encountered obstacles in his pursuit of the sport.
At the age of six, he faced rejection after attending a trial for his local team Carpathia, being deemed “too small”. Undeterred, he returned a year later, only to face exclusion from his teammates who refused to pass him the ball. Throughout these challenges, Zinchenko attributes his mother for instilling in him the core values of hard work, determination, and resilience, which have propelled him to success both on and off the field.
He expresses deep gratitude towards his mother for the sacrifices she has made to support his football career, including traveling long distances to watch him play, taking on housekeeping jobs to provide for their needs when they relocated, and offering unwavering emotional and moral support during difficult times.
3. Family man
Vlada, the wife of Zinchenko, is a renowned sports journalist and television presenter in Ukraine. In June 2019, after a victorious 5-0 match against Serbia, Oleksandr publicly kissed her on the cheek, confirming the speculations about their relationship. Four months later, following Ukraine’s qualification for Euro 2020, he proposed to her on the pitch at Kyiv’s national stadium. Their wedding ceremony was held in August 2020. Last year, they joyfully welcomed their first child into their lives.
4. Was taught English
While he was playing for Ufa in Russia, Zinchenko relied on his teammate, former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, to assist him in learning English. However, Frimpong expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement, humorously stating to Sport24, ““He never paid me for my work. We agreed with him that he would pay me when he left. I usually charge $2,000 an hour but he is my friend, so there is only $1,000 for him. I spent so much time on him!.”
5. Has a winning record
Zinchenko’s inclusion in the City first-team not only marked his debut but also brought about a fortunate streak, as he emerged victorious in all of his initial 23 Premier League matches under Pep Guardiola’s guidance. This remarkable run, spanning from December 2017 to August 2019, allowed him to equal the divisional record set by his teammate at the time, David Silva. However, his perfect start came to an end with a draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
6. Won a lot of trophies with City
During his tenure at Manchester City, Zinchenko experienced remarkable triumphs, amassing an impressive array of trophies. Notably, he clinched four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and four League Cups. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to the UEFA Champions League final in the 2021-22 season, despite their unfortunate loss to Chelsea. Towards the conclusion of his City career, Zinchenko’s involvement within the team became more restricted.
7. Eclipsing a legend
In addition to being the youngest captain in Ukraine’s history, Zinchenko’s inaugural goal for his national team also marked a significant milestone in Ukrainian football. By finding the back of the net in a thrilling 4-3 victory against Romania at the age of 19 years and 165 days, Zinchenko surpassed Andriy Shevchenko’s long-standing record of being the youngest goalscorer for Ukraine, which had stood for two decades.
8. Made a refugee’s day
Zinchenko offered an invitation to a 10-year-old Ukrainian refugee, inviting him to join a friendly kickabout at the Manchester City training ground. The purpose of this kind gesture was to help the young boy regain a sense of normality following his forced displacement from Ukraine.
Zinchenko shared his thoughts on the matter in a caption on Instagram, “This is Andrei… 75 days ago, this boy dreamed of becoming a football player and trained carefree with his team. Today, he dreams of only one thing – about peace in our country. About the calm. About normal life at home.”
9. Captain of the youth academy
Coming from Radomyshl, he honed his skills at the renowned Youth Sportive School Karpatiya under the guidance of his first coach, Serhiy Boretskyi. Moving on to FC Monolit Illichivsk and later Shakhtar Donetsk, he showcased his talent and leadership abilities, eventually earning the captain’s armband for the youth team.
A memorable moment came on 9 December 2013 when he netted a goal in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the prestigious 2013-14 UEFA Youth League.
10. International career debut
Zinchenko’s international journey began on 12 October 2015, when he made his debut in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Spain. It was a memorable moment for him. Later, on 29 May 2016, Zinchenko showcased his skills and scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Romania in Turin. Ukraine emerged victorious with a thrilling 4-3 win.
