Viktor Ponedelnik best striker of EURO 1960

          Viktor Ponedelnik is a former Soviet Union player who scored the winning goal against Yugoslavia in the final of the inaugural edition of European Nations' Cup currently known as EURO Cup in Paris, France in 1960. The 1960 tournament, held in France, had 4 teams competing in the finals, out of 17 that entered the competition. He was one of the top scorer of that tournament with 2 goals in his kitty with four others, he tops the list with his own countrymen Valentin Ivanov, French international Frencouis Heutte & two other fellows from Czechoslovakia named Milan Galic & Drazan Jerkovic.

         The inaugural European Championships in 1960 marked the pinnacle of Soviet footballing achievement led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin. Easily progressing to the quarter-finals, the team were scheduled to face Spain, but due to the tensions of the Cold War, Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union, resulting in a walkover. In the semi-final, the Soviet team defeated Czechoslovakia 3–0 and reached the final, where they faced Yugoslavia.

         Yugoslavia took the lead through Milan Galic just before half time but Slava Metreveli equalised for the Soviet Union in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was level at 1–1 so the match went into extra time. With just seven minutes remaining of the second half of the extra time, Viktor Ponedelnik scored with a header to give the Soviets victory and they were crowned Euro 1960 winners.

          Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik was born on May 22, 1937 in Rostov-on-Don is a former Soviet football player, regarded as one of the best strikers in Soviet football history.

           Ponedelnik first started playing for a local team, Rostselmash, in 1956, played 58 matches for Rostselmash & scored 32 goals. In 1958 he switched to SKA Rostov-on-Don for two years and was invited to join the Soviet national team. In 1961 he started to play with CSKA Moscow. He moved to SKA Rostov-on-Don for four years. In the end of his career he spent one year in CSKA Moscow. He played for his country for six years(1960-1966) only,  in his brief international career he scored a total of 20 goals(according to some accounts, 21) for his country in 29 matches.

         Ponedelnik retired in 1966 after gaining weight and undergoing surgery for appendicitis. In later years, Ponedelnik worked as a coach, a sports journalist, an editor of a sports publication, and an advisor to the President of the Russian Federation. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to Soviet and Russian sport. He is married and has three children and four grandchildren.

SANDIP KARMAKAR_ONLINE FOOTBALL JOURNAL. FACEBOOK . TWITTER. LINKEDIN .