Shevchenko, Andriy (2006-2009)

[loz]

Andriy Shevchenko (2006-2009)

Written by Yogic and last updated August 2009

Probably the only Chelsea player to come close to one of the million Scouser related diseases, Andriy Shevchenko was once awarded a pair of Ian Rush's boots when he finished top scorer for the Dynamo Kyiv under 14 team in the Ian Rush Cup. Many believe those boots were cursed, as it was foretold that Sheva would grow up to become one of the world's most lethal strikers and would then sign for the mighty Chelsea FC - a pathetic voodoo trick by the red scum to jump ahead of Chelsea; quite comical however as they are struggling to look past Pillsbury's stomach.

Sheva's top scoring continued and his 12 goals for Dinamo-B earned him a run in the first team, whom he helped win their second successive league title. In the next two years Sheva scored more than 50 goals with some memorable performances like his hat-trick against Barcelona. He was awarded top scorer in the league and helped Dinamo Kiev get to the semi-final stage of the Champions League. Shevchenko's goals earned him a move that would introduce him to the world and pen his name down in the history of football as one of the greatest strikers to have graced the game.

AC Milan paid £18 million for the Ukrainians signature and the Milan faithful were treated with 24 goals in 32 games, in his first season which saw him recognized as the first non-Italian player to be named top scorer in his first season. Sheva helped Milan win a Champions League and Coppa Italia double in 2002-03 and that embedded his name in the history books as the first Ukrainian to win the Champions League. It was deja-vu in 2003-04 when Sheva repeated his 24 goals in 32 games and led Milan to the Scudeto after a 4 year gap.

From then on, Sheva achieved many great things with AC Milan till his departure in 2006. He scored the winning goal against Porto to bring the UEFA Super Cup to Milan, he scored a hat-trick against Lazio in the final of the Italian Super Cup. He was named European player of the year in 2004, only the third Ukrainian to win the Golden Ball. Although he didn't score in it, Sheva was part of the Milan side that lost a dramatic European final to Liverpool in 2005. In his last year at the Rossoneri club, Shevchenko created history as he scored 9 goals in the Champions League.

He was also only the 5th player in history to score 4 goals in a single European game. Sheva ended the season as the 4th highest goal scorer in Europe and 2nd highest in Milan's history.

It took a British record move of £30 million to secure Shevchenko's signature, and English Champions Chelsea were ecstatic to reveal him to the media after the 2006 World Cup. Shevchenko was allowed to continue with the number 7 jersey and Chelsea fans expected a lethal goal scoring machine that would destroy teams at the Bridge.

Shevchenko scored on his debut for Chelsea in the Community Shield and many believed it was a positive sign of things to come. Chelsea finished the season, runners up to United in the title race and winners of the FA Cup and Carling Cup. On a personal note, Sheva finished the season with 14 goals from 41 appearances in all competitions, of course much more was expected of him. Some of those goals, however, were breath taking, like his goal against Spurs where he ran up the flank and then curled a sweet left footer in.

Sheva also set up a lot of goals for Premiership top scorer Drogba. Jose Mourinho, at times criticized his contribution to the team and the media butchered him, labeling him as a flop signing.

Chelsea fans were disappointed too, but everyone knows Shevchenko is of high European pedigree and has always scored goals wherever he has played. The English league is never an easy one to settle into, and if it took Drogba two seasons to become the best striker in England, with Shevchenko's history he should be a goal scoring machine next season.

Having missed the European Semi-finals and FA cup final the previous season, due to a hernia operation; many believed and perhaps hoped, that Shevchenko would return to the side with a point to prove. Much to everyone's dismay, his first start came at home to Blackburn, where he was only covering for Drogba who was injured, and the game finished goalless. It was the beginning of the story of his season.

Ironically, his first goal came at home in a 1-1 draw with loopy Rosenborg, the game which sealed Jose Mourinho's tenure as Chelsea coach. It was well documented that Jose didn't approve of Sheva's signing and any hope of Sheva opening his account for the new season as a sign of things to come, was lost, and rightly so, with the news of Jose's departure. With Avram Grant at the helm, some thought Shevchenko would finally get his chance. The thoughts ran parallel with a certain Raul, a favourite of the Madrid boss` and how he was an 'untouchable' during their 40 odd coaches in 3 seasons - could the appointment of a Roman 'yes man' have the same effect?

Contrary to predictions, Shevchenko ended up playing second fiddle to Drogba, and then fell further down the pecking order with the purchase of Nicolas Anelka. He finished the season with a career low 5 goals.

It is uncertain what the future holds for this £130,000+ weekly wage earner. If ever there was an athlete who didn't deserve a pay cheque, its Shevchenko. His demise as one of the deadliest European strikers was quick and steep. He failed to live up to his £30m purchase and perhaps lost his self confidence. His third season handed him an opportunity to work under his third Chelsea manager, Filipe Scolari. Scolari had voiced his admiration for Drogba and it looked likely that the Ivorian would remain the first choice striker.

Updated by Loz

AC Milan confirmed that they would like Shevchenko back and Chelsea agreed to a return. On August 23rd Chelsea announced that a deal had been struck with AC Milan which saw Shevchenko returning to the club that still adored him. The terns of the deal (i.e. fee!) were not disclosed. This seemed to bring an end to what must surely be the worst transfer in the history of football!

However it soon transpired that it was only a loan rather than a permanent move and after a shocking return season in Italy, AC Milan decided not to make the move permanent. Shevchenko returned to Stamford Bridge to play for his fourth Chelsea manager - this time Carlo Ancelotti, the man who had guided him through his finest years at AC Milan but also the man who couldn't get him back to his best in the prior season on loan.

About as inevitable as a scouser eyeballing your belongings was the end of Sheva's disastrous Chelsea career. On August 29th, 2009 Chelsea he signed a two year contract with former club Dynamo Kiev - we would never mourn his loss of pace again.