After the UEFA ban to use the Euro 2012 logo next to the logo image of commercial companies, "football flower" has disappeared from advertising areas near the airport and Metalist stadium. It caught the attention of UEFA Euro-2012 director Martin Callen. «Alex - unbelievable (literally, Aleksandr - unbelievable)", - he exclaimed, adding that the president of Metalist club Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy always sticks to his word. And, indeed, the entire modern history of the Kharkiv club - this is a clear adherence to the approved UEFA fairway.
As children we all so gladly believed in miracles. The history of one of the oldest football clubs in Ukraine actually reminds a fairy tale. For five years Metalist from the usual team of the first league turned into one of the most powerful Ukrainian football clubs, whose name is on the lips of the first UEFA persons. What is it if not a miracle? No, this is not a miracle - this is the result of hard work and willingness to have respect for one's promises.
Everyone remembers that even 5 years ago, FC Metalist was a very poor thing to watch. The State had no interest in the football, the budget funding was zero, and the club was holding on plain enthusiasm. The coming of the first "investor" Aleksandr Feldman, who actively sold himself on "Metalist" theme before the elections in 2002 changed nothing. The club received no additional funding, and as a result went to the first league. Broken team, ruined stadium, matches attended by 300-500 people. It seemed that way to the big football was closed forever.
If we compare the club in 2005 with today`s Metalist, the difference is stunning. Four-time bronze medalist of Ukraine, European football battles participant, the pride of Kharkiv, the team with super-modern sports infrastructure. Not to mention the fact that Myron Markevych, now coaches the national team. Miracle? Not at all. We are adults and understand that someone's hard and persistent work stands behind every miraculous transformation and a fabulous take-off, someone's faith in victory and a desire for it, someone's sleepless nights and burned nerve cells. For Metalist this "someone" was the current president (who was also the main investor of Kharkiv's preparations for Euro-2012) Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy, who was able not only to return the club to its former glory, but also open new horizons.
Revival under the UEFA sign
The last five years Metalist spent under the UEFA sign. Originally Yaroslavskyy started to build the club work, taking into account international best practice - with an eye on European Cups. And that means - by the standards of European Football Association. At the same time a new team and new infrastructure was built. The new Metalist president invited to the club a new head coach - Myron Markevych. One could enumerate the achievements of this person for a very long time, but the fact that in February 2010 he has been entrusted the leadership of national football team, speaks for itself.
And as for infrastructure, everything has turned interesting - when Yaroslavskyy has already undertook the stadium renovation and the club training base, Ukraine received the right to host the Euro 2012. However, Kharkiv was a reserve city. Without the stadium: construction work for the RSC Metalist had just begun. Without the airport: airport could not accept either Boeing or Airbuses, the terminal building had no waiting room, no toilet.
Journalists remember the expression of skepticism on the faces of UEFA experts visiting the city a couple of years ago. But Yaroslavskyy brick by brick broke the wall of mistrust, and using the easiest way - he meticulously done everything required by UEFA. Football academy building appeared as if from beneath the ground in record time, works on RSC Metalist reconstruction began, the first stone in the construction of the training base new building was laid. Perseverance, quality and speed with which the work was in progress, have apparently convinced UEFA. Kharkiv city was transferred from the reserve to the "starting line-up". The news pleased, but Yaroslavskyy didn`t slow the pace and continued to build new facilities for the coming European Championship.
Apparently, that’s why, in UEFA eyes Metalist became a living embodiment of fair play: they`ve promised the stadium – they built it, they`ve promised to present a training camp for one of the teams participating in Euro-2012 - done. And if we talk about other Metalist president`s projects, we`ll see the "modest" appendage - the airport and 5-star hotel in which will "UEFA family" live and which is being built on Liberty Square. And even unauthorized UEFA advertising, which was described in this article, was dismantled without unnecessary reminders.
Moment of truth
Today on Aleksandr Yaroslavskyy`s account are not only the stadium and training base of the European level, but now the airport, the new terminal which will be opened on August 28. In addition, by the end of next year the city's first truly five-star hotel will open its doors to guests at the center of Kharkiv.
For people who are constantly watching Yaroslavskyy`s numerous building projects, the results of this work is not surprising - it's impossible to see, for example, that child grows up, if you see it every day. But for those who first saw the three year old child (and this how long it took since the Cardiff) with height 2 meters, the impression will be unforgettable. The analogy is appropriate, if we speak about the visit of a new UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, who first visited Kharkiv last week. According to his statements, he was amazed not only with the extent of work done by Yaroskavskyy, but also with its timing - in fact the construction of the stadium, the terminal, the base and the academy took a little over two years. "How did you decide to do it? Are you crazy? "- asked with astonishment Infantino the president of FC Metalist during an inspection of the stadium.
So, the UEFA delegation flew from Kharkiv completely sure that Metalist president is not only a passionate football fan and "crazy" owner of the club, but also a reliable partner in preparing for Euro 2012. With such a man neither team nor the city will be in trouble. And the realization of the fact that the word RESPECT is not empty sound - neither for UEFA, nor for Metalist feels very nice.
