Pavlo Yakovenko

Pavlo Oleksandrovych Yakovenko (Павло Олександрович Яковенко) – or Pavel Aleksandrovich Yakovenko (Павел Александрович Яковенко; born 19 December 1964), is a Ukrainian former footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented the USSR national team at international level.

Playing career
Yakovenko was born in Nikopol, Ukrainian SSR. His superb build-up play during the mid-1980s made him the starting player for both Dynamo Kyiv and the USSR national team during their respective successful campaigns of winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and advancing to the top 16 in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. However, recurrent injuries had limited Yakovenko's playing time after 1987 and Yakovenko never returned to his earlier form, becoming a bench player at best.

In 1983, Yakovenko took part in the Summer Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in the team of Ukrainian SSR.

Coaching career
Yakovenko is a trusted Ukrainian coach who headed the Ukraine under-21 team on several occasions as well as other teams representing the country on the international arena. Yakovenko also coached several teams from the southern regions of the neighbouring Russian Federation such as Kuban Krasnodar and FC Rostov.

Personal life
He is the father of the Ukrainian footballers Oleksandr Yakovenko and Yuriy Yakovenko.

Honours

 * Ballon d'Or: 21st 1986