Paul Knott pays tribute to the pioneering life and times of Valery Lobanovsky
The image conjured up by Valery Lobanovsky, who died in May aged 63, was of a Slavic cousin of the Lanarkshire coalfields school of managers, glowering from the dugout. An astute and inspirational disciplinarian with a fearsome temper, he had plenty in common with Stein and Shankly. But there was also a great intellect behind the harsh exterior. Lobanovsky pioneered the use of scientific methods in coaching. Unlike many of his cerebral peers, the outcome was neither mechanical nor negative. The aim was always to complement the artistry of his players. His teams’ alliance of power with flair produced a style that significantly raised the game’s technical standards.
