Fyodor Cherenkov

A midfielder, Fyodor Cherenkov was an incredible passer who was also known as a top goalscorer. Playing most of his career with Spartak Moskva, Cherenkov is considered as Spartak’s best player ever. A product of the Spartak youth system, Cherenkov took up football at age 10 and made his senior début with them at the 1977 Soviet Championships. Playing with Spartak until 1990, Cherenkov had 344 appearances with them, scored 86 goals, won Soviet titles in 1979, 1987 and 1989, and was named as the best Soviet footballer of the year in 1983 and 1989. He was also awarded the Attack Organizer award in 1988 and 1989, as the most useful attack player and the Club Loyalty Award in 1989, an award given by the newspaper Prapor Communizma to the player who played more games for his club then any other player in the Soviet League.

In 1990 Cherenkov decided to try his hand abroad and played one season in France with Red Star Saint-Ouen, but was not very successful, playing only 15 matches and scoring one goal. In 1991 Cherenkov returned to Spartak and played there until his retirement in 1993. From 1991-93 he had a further 54 appearances with Spartak, scored nine goals, and won the Soviet Cup in 1992, the last time it was awarded. Internationally Cherenkov was capped 34 times with the Soviet national team and scored 12 goals. Cherenkov also played at the 1980 Olympics, where he played in all six matches, scoring four goals, and winning a bronze medal. After finishing his sporting career, Cherenkov remained with Spartak Moskva as a coach. From 1994-95 he was the assistant coach of the Spartak senior team and won the Russian Cup with them in 1994. He later coached Spartak’s reserve and youth teams. On 22 September 2014 Cherenkov collapsed at his home and was rushed to hospital where he died on 4 October without regaining consciousness. It was later revealed that the cause of death was a previously undiagnosed brain tumor.