Valeri Popovitch

Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch (Russian: Валерий Александрович Попович; born 18 May 1970) is a Russian former football forward. 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.

Valeri Popovitch
Personal information
Full name Valeri Aleksandrovich Popovitch
Date of birth (1970-05-18) 18 May 1970
Place of birth Gorky, USSR
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Striker, Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Retired
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986 Khimik Dzerzhinsk 3 (1)
1987 Lokomotiv Gorky 3 (0)
1988–1989 CSKA Moscow 25 (0)
1990–1991 FC Spartak Moscow 10 (0)
1992–1993 TPV 48 (26)
1994 Ilves 12 (3)
1994–2008 FC Haka 323 (170)
1995–1996 → Ikast FS (loan) 6 (3)
1999–2000 → SC Heerenveen (loan) 18 (6)
2009 HJK Helsinki 16 (3)
2010–2012 Ilves Tampere
National team
USSR U-17
USSR U-19
Teams managed
2010−2012 Ilves Tampere (player-coach)
2012 FC Haka (youth coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[1]

Legacy

Popovitch 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.

References
  1. "Popovich Valeriy Aleksandrovich". KLISF. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
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