Konstantin Eremenko and his "Cup of Legends"

Honored Master of Sports, the best player in the mini-football of the twentieth century - forward of the Russian national team and the Moscow "Dina" Konstantin Eremenko. He owns a phenomenal indicator. Eremenko struck the gate of opponents 1132 times. One of the most prestigious mini-football veteran tournaments is his name - "Cup of Legends" by Konstantin Eremenko.

At the beginning of the journey

Konstantin Eremenko was born in Ukraine, in Dnepropetrovsk, in 1970. I graduated from school with a silver medal. He began his sports career in big football. For the local "Dnepr" at 18 years spent one match in the USSR Championship, but did not score any results. I also tried my hand at Selenga from Ulan-Ude, Pavlodar Tractor and even the Kirghiz Alga team. In total, for two seasons in these clubs held 28 matches, scoring 4 goals. In 1991 he returned to Ukraine and tried his hand at mini-football, while in the USSR it was still not very popular. The first team was the Dnepropetrovsk "Mechanizer".

First experience

Together with the "Mechanizer" takes part in the first USSR mini-football championship. The final part takes place in Chisinau, Ukrainians finish the season in 8th place. In August, Constantine goes to the newly formed Moscow "Dina". In this club decided to collect the best players of the country. But ironically, the Mechanizer had to cross again in the very near future.

In the ¼ finals of the USSR Cup, the Dnepropetrovsk people met just with "Dina". The game ended in a draw, so fate decided the fate. On the Muscovites side, a piece of paper was drawn by Konstantin Eremenko. Footballer pulled the "minus" and the next round went to the "Mechanizer", ultimately winning the trophy.

Career in "Dean"

Moscow "Dina" began to move quickly on the standings. In the first season, even in the CIS championship, she won in 4 of 5 preliminary stage matches. And in the final stage he won 8 games out of 10. Eremenko became the top scorer. The following year was a little more difficult. In the preliminary and final stages, "Dina" suffered one defeat, and Constantine - again the main sniper with 74 goals.

For 9 seasons between 1992 and 2000, Konstantin Eremenko, along with Dina, became the champion of Russia. In total, having spent 235 matches in the national championship, managed 519 times to disappoint the goalkeepers of rivals. The most shock was the 1993-94 season. In 33 matches Konstantin Eremenko scored 91 goals.

The first medals in the national team

At the first major tournament with the team Eremenko went to the 1992 World Championships in Hong Kong. The first match was unsuccessful - the defeat of 3: 8 from the US team. Then a confident victory over China 10: 1. In the last game with the leader of the group Spain, we were satisfied only with victory. However, one of the strongest teams was not beaten at that time, although the Russians were close to it. The match ended in a draw 7: 7.

At the next World Cup the team arrived already an experienced and united team. True, in the group tournament everything was not easy again. First draws with the Dutch and the Argentines - 2: 2. In the last match again, China. This time, an important victory was won - 11: 1.

Russia went into the second group round, starting in it with a defeat from the same Spaniards 0: 2. However, after demonstrating a bright and attacking game, she won 3: 0 Italians and 6: 2 Belgians. The team for the first time in history reached the semifinals.

The opponents got the current holders of the cup - the Brazilians. The Russians missed 2 unanswered goals for the break. The second half turned out more effective. First double designed Marcio. Then our, finally, recouped. Eremenko and Bely for one minute reduced the score to 2: 4. The team rushed to recoup, but more experienced Brazilians caught on the counterattack. The result is 2: 6.

In the match for third place Russians beat Ukrainians 3: 2. Eremenko at that World Championship again became the best team sniper with 8 goals.

"Gold" in Granada

The main success of the Russian team in the 90's was the European Championships in Granada. The captain was traditionally Eremenko Constantine. Footballer brought to Spain a strong and united team.

In the group, Russians initially had a problem. To defeat the Italians in the first match failed - 3: 3. But then Belgium 5: 1 was defeated and Portugal 3: 1 defeated.

In the semi-final team came from the first place, hitting the Dutch. Already in the second minute, the account was opened by Dmitry Gorin, and soon Eremenko doubled the advantage. At the beginning of the second half, Markin, Alekberov and Verizhnikov put on the scoreboard 6: 2. From the crushing defeat of the Dutch rescued only Langeheyzen, who made poker. However, in our team there was a player who scored 4 goals. They became Eremenko. The result of the semifinal is 9: 6.

In the final, the Russians met with the hosts of the tournament, and the Spanish spared 0: 1 for a break. In the second half, Arkady Bely hammers, then Alekberov and Eremenko differ, and 3: 1 in our favor 5 minutes before the final whistle. But to keep the victorious score was not possible, the hosts recouped. The fate of the trophy was decided in a penalty shootout. The Spaniards missed twice, the Russians made no mistakes, Constantine Eremenko delivered a decisive blow. As a result of the tournament, he was also the best scorer with 11 goals.

Completion of career

Konstantin left the sport early enough - in 2001 - because of congenital heart disease. Very soon, in honor of the football player, the Konstantin Eremenko Cup was established, and he himself became a sports functionary - the first president of the Super League, and since 2002 - the president of the mini-football Dynamo.

True, work for the benefit of sports did not last long. Health problems still affected. March 18, 2010 Eremenko died of heart failure. In his honor was organized "Cup of Legends" named after Konstantin Eremenko.