Anatoly Ilyin

Anatoly Ilyin won the gold medal with the Soviet Russian football team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and was eliminated in the group stage four years earlier, when he was injured during the first match against Bulgaria and could not play in the remaining matches. Ilyin was married to former Olympic gymnast Galina Shamray, gold medalist in the 1952 Team All-Around. He played his entire career with Spartak Moskva, winning the national title in 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1962, and was the top scorer in the Soviet League in 1954 and 1958. Ilyin earned 31 international caps and participated in the 1958 World Cup. He became historic as he scored the Soviet side’s first ever World Cup playoff goal, as he secured the victory against England. Nevertheless, the team lost the quarterfinal against Sweden, 2-0. After he finished playing Ilyin coached Spartak Moskva for many years.