Valentin Ivanov

1952/66 Torpedo Moscow (RUS) 311 matches, 139 goals

(USSR Championship: 287 matches, 124 goals)

(USSR Cup: 24 matches, 15 goals)

With the National Team :

59 caps, 26 goals

(Friendly matches: 32 caps, 12 goals)

(World Cup qualifiers: 8 caps, 4 goals)

(World Cup: 9 caps, 5 goals)

(Euro qualifiers: 6 caps, 2 goals)

(Euro: 4 caps, 3 goals)

1st cap: June 26, 1955 against Sweden (6-0)

Last cap: July 4, 1965 against Brazil (0-3)

Valentin Kozmitch Ivanov

Born November 19, 1934 in Moscow (USSR)

Died November 8, 2011 in Moscow (RUS)

Soviet, Striker, Second Striker, 1 m78

Valentin Ivanov was born on November 19, 1934 in Moscow in the USSR, now Russia. First playing football in his neighborhood with other children, he was forced to work from the age of 15, he then joined the football team of his factory where he was a mechanic.

Gifted with incredible speed, he was spotted by George Zharkov, a former player of the 30s and coach, so he signed with Torpedo Moscow where he would become a legend. After a first season in an observer role, he finally took a starting place at the club despite his young age. He marked his era alongside Eduard Streltsov, Valeri Voronin and Guennadi Gusarov.

His first match with the Soviet team will take place on June 26, 1955, he makes his debut at the same time as his club teammate Streltsov, they win 6-0 against Sweden which is nevertheless one of the best teams in the world. His first title with Russia will come in 1956, winning the Olympic Games in Melbourne.

He is also part of the USSR team which participates in Euro 1960. Champion of the USSR and winner of the USSR Cup, he is then perhaps at the top of his art. In a competition which takes the form of two-way qualifiers, before a final phase brings together the last four teams on the soil of the host country, France.

The team led by Ivanov will successively eliminate Hungary, Spain and Czechoslovakia before meeting Yugoslavia in the final. The USSR was quickly led by Yugoslavia, but it was Russia who would have a magnificent second half. First by equalizing, on a shot pushed back by Bubukin which was perfectly taken by Metreveli. Then by scoring the winning goal in the final, with a goal from Ponedelnik with a header in extra time. Victory 2-1.

At 25, Valentin Ivanov already lifted his second major trophy with Russia (the Olympic Games being considered at the time as a major competition by some observers). A prominent figure in his team, he participated in the 1962 World Cup where he finished top scorer of the competition with 4 goals.

In 1964, he reached the final of the Euro again, but this time he could not prevent the USSR from losing to Spain 2-1. In total, he played 59 times for his country, and scored a whopping 26 goals in a second striker role.

His club career was also marked by many successes, with a second USSR championship title in 1965. A prominent figure at Torpedo Moscow, he had a very good record with his club, 14 years in the first team, 311 matches played for 139 goals. He finally retired in 1966 at only 32 years old.

- Top scorer of the World Cup in 1962 (4 goals)

- Top scorer of the Euro in 1960 (2 goals)

- Named in the team of the tournament of the Euro 1960 and 1964

- Named in the team of the USSR championship in 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964

- Named in the 2nd team of the USSR championship in 1956 and 1965

- Member of the Grigori Fedotov Club (166 goals)

- Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in 1957

- Received the UEFA Order of Merit

- Received the Russian Order of Merit in 1997

- Received the Russian Order of the Badge of Honor in 1960

- Received the Medal "Courage of Labor" in 1957

- Received the Medal "Distinction of Labor" in 1989

- Received the Medal "Veteran of Labor" in 1984

- Received the Russian National Sports Prize Slava in 2008 as a "Legend" of Sports

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