Ukraine's all-time leading goal scorer Andriy Shevchenko has announced his retirement from football in order to begin a career in politics.
Ahead of the October parliamentary election, the 35-year-old is to join a pro-business party called "Ukraine Forward!", whose leader, Natalia Korolevska, has broken away from the opposition party of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Probably, I will shock all of you," Shevchenko wrote in a statement on the Dynamo website.
"My future will no longer be in football. I will be going into politics. I hope for your support.
"It is certain, Dynamo Kiev is now my former club. This club, which I love with all my heart and I will always support."
Shevchenko follows in the footsteps of former AC Milan teammate Kakha Kaladze, who hung up his boots this summer to become a politician in his native Georgia.
"I want to fulfill myself in politics and share the experience I gained in Europe, to do something for my country," said Shevchenko, while visiting a children's summer school with Korolevska.
"I decided to join the team of Natalia Korolevska because 'Ukraine Forward!' is a party of the future, it is a party of young leaders.
"In politics, I plan to support the social sector and sport. After all, my main slogan is a healthy mind in a healthy body."
Shevchenko, who scored 48 goals in 111 matches with the national team, earned his reputation as one of Europe's most prolific strikers during his spells with Milan.
With the Rossoneri he won a Scudetto, Champions League, European Super Cup, Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup and the Ballon d'Or.
His career highlights will probably not feature his three year stint at Chelsea, where he was brought in by Roman Abramovich but struggled to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
You can check the tribute video below for a compilation for some of the goals scored by Shevchenko.
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| Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko has quit football for a future in the political realm Photo: Reuters |
Ahead of the October parliamentary election, the 35-year-old is to join a pro-business party called "Ukraine Forward!", whose leader, Natalia Korolevska, has broken away from the opposition party of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Probably, I will shock all of you," Shevchenko wrote in a statement on the Dynamo website.
"My future will no longer be in football. I will be going into politics. I hope for your support.
"It is certain, Dynamo Kiev is now my former club. This club, which I love with all my heart and I will always support."
Shevchenko follows in the footsteps of former AC Milan teammate Kakha Kaladze, who hung up his boots this summer to become a politician in his native Georgia.
"I want to fulfill myself in politics and share the experience I gained in Europe, to do something for my country," said Shevchenko, while visiting a children's summer school with Korolevska.
"I decided to join the team of Natalia Korolevska because 'Ukraine Forward!' is a party of the future, it is a party of young leaders.
"In politics, I plan to support the social sector and sport. After all, my main slogan is a healthy mind in a healthy body."
Shevchenko, who scored 48 goals in 111 matches with the national team, earned his reputation as one of Europe's most prolific strikers during his spells with Milan.
With the Rossoneri he won a Scudetto, Champions League, European Super Cup, Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup and the Ballon d'Or.
His career highlights will probably not feature his three year stint at Chelsea, where he was brought in by Roman Abramovich but struggled to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
You can check the tribute video below for a compilation for some of the goals scored by Shevchenko.
Related links:
Personal
Also see:
