Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch (Russian: Валерий Александрович Попович; born 18 May 1970) is a Russian former football forward.[1] Popovitch is the all-time scoring leader of FC Haka. After his contract ended with HJK in 2010, he joined Ilves Tampere playing in Kakkonen, as a player-coach, signing a two-year contract. Currently he is a youth coach at FC Haka. Popovitch also holds the Finnish citizenship.
 Popovitch with Ilves in a charity match in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch | ||
| Date of birth | 18 May 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Gorky, USSR | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, Attacking midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986 | Khimik Dzerzhinsk | 3 | (1) |
| 1987 | Lokomotiv Gorky | 3 | (0) |
| 1988–1989 | CSKA Moscow | 25 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Spartak Moscow | 10 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | TPV | 48 | (26) |
| 1994 | Ilves | 12 | (3) |
| 1994–2008 | Haka | 323 | (170) |
| 1995–1996 | → Ikast (loan) | 6 | (3) |
| 1999–2000 | → Heerenveen (loan) | 18 | (6) |
| 2009 | HJK | 16 | (3) |
| 2010–2012 | Ilves | ? | (?) |
| International career | |||
| USSR U-17 | |||
| USSR U-19 | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010–2012 | Ilves (player-coach) | ||
| 2012 | Haka (youth coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He has also capped several times for Soviet U-17 and U-19 National football teams. U-17 finished third in the 1986 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, and U-19 won the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in 1988. Popovitch played in both tournaments.
Popovitch played for FC CSKA Moscow in Soviet First League and FC Spartak Moscow in the Soviet Top League.[citation needed][2]
Legacy
editPopovitch holds a legendary status in Finland and especially in Valkeakoski, where his regarded as one of the best players ever to play for FC Haka. FC Haka retired his number, 14. During his career, he made 395 appearances and scored 166 goals in Finnish top-tier, making him the top scorer in the Veikkausliiga history.
His son Anton Popovitch is also a professional footballer, currently playing for Ilves.
References
edit- ^ Interview with Valeri Popovitch eurosport.ru
- ^ "Popovich Valeriy Aleksandrovich". KLISF. Retrieved 30 March 2010.[dead link]