Andriy Mykolayovych Nesmachnyi ( uk, Андрій Миколайович Несмачний, born 28 February 1979) is a retired Russian-born Ukraine, Ukrainian Association football, footballer. He has spent his entire career at FC Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League. He was a skillful, attacking Defender (association football)#Full-back and Goalkeeper, left-back who could also play as central defender and left midfielder. Nesmachniy also played for the Ukraine national football team and is the most capped foreign-born player for Ukraine with 67 matches.

Club career

Andriy Mykolayovych Nesmachniy was born on 28 February 1979 in Bryansk, Soviet Union. He started as a graduate of the SC Tavriya Simferopol, Tavriya Simferopol school. He then joined FC Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Kyiv for the Ukrainian Premier League 1997-98, 1997–98 season. He was originally intended for the main team, but spent the next two seasons at the reserve team Dynamo-2 Kyiv. Beginning in the 2000–01 Vyshcha Liha, 2000–01 season, Nesmachniy appeared much more often on the main team, where he has stayed until 2011.Profile on official website of Dynamo Kyiv
Nesmachniy retired in 2011 to concentrate on his religious beliefs as he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Nesmachniy almost joined Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League during the January 2007 transfer window. Manager Mark Hughes had confirmed his interest saying that he had "good football intelligence" and "a great international experience". He also confirmed that the defender was training with the squad in late December 2006. However, he did not make a promise that a move was going to be a possibility. Nesmachniy in the end, did not join Blackburn.

International career

Nesmachnyi was first called up to the Ukraine national football team in 2000. Since then he has been capped 63 times. His career was highlighted in FIFA World Cup 2006, 2006, when Ukraine made it to their first ever FIFA World Cup. Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals, getting out to eventual champions Italy national football team, Italy. During the World Cup in Germany, Nesmachnyi noticeably did not sing the Ukraine national anthem and place his hand on his heart. When asked about this in an interview, Nesmachnyi announced that "My parents and I are Jehovah's Witnesses for a long time. Our Bible-based beliefs does not allow us to idolize anyone and anything, such as a flag and an anthem, and to put my hand on my heart. All glory and praise belongs to God, Jehovah." On 17 March, Nesmachnyi announced that he personally decided to retire from the Ukraine national football team, and that he continues to have good relations with head coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko. He explained his decision by saying that he wants to concentrate on his club career in Dynamo as well as on his spiritual and family life. Upon retiring, Nesmachniy has played 67 games for Ukraine, the first being against Bulgaria national football team, Bulgaria on 26 April 2000, and the last being on 10 February 2009 against Slovakia national football team, Slovakia.Андрій Несмачний: "Зосереджуся на виступах за клуб"
– Official Dynamo Kyiv website

Career statistics

Club

Honours

Dynamo-2 Kyiv * Ukrainian First League (2): 1998-99 Ukrainian First League, 1998–99, 1999-2000 Ukrainian First League, 1999–2000 Dynamo Kyiv * Ukrainian Premier League (7): 1997–98 Vyshcha Liha, 1997–98, 1999–2000 Vyshcha Liha, 1999–2000, 2000–01 Vyshcha Liha, 2000–01, 2002–03 Vyshcha Liha, 2002–03, 2003–04 Vyshcha Liha, 2003–04, 2006–07 Vyshcha Liha, 2006–07, 2008–09 Ukrainian Premier League, 2008–09 * Ukrainian Cup (5): 1999–2000 Ukrainian Cup, 1999–2000, 2002–03 Ukrainian Cup, 2002–2003, 2004–05 Ukrainian Cup, 2004–05, 2005–06 Ukrainian Cup, 2005–06, 2006–07 Ukrainian Cup, 2006–07 *Ukrainian Super Cup (1): 2004 Ukrainian Super Cup, 2004

References

Profile on website Football Ukraine

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nesmachniy, Andriy 1979 births 2006 FIFA World Cup players FC Dynamo Kyiv players FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv players FC Dynamo-3 Kyiv players Living people Sportspeople from Bryansk Ukraine international footballers Ukrainian footballers Ukrainian Jehovah's Witnesses Russian emigrants to Ukraine Ukrainian Premier League players Ukrainian First League players Ukrainian Second League players Ukrainian Amateur Football Championship players Association football fullbacks