Andriy Shevchenko is back to Ukraine; he plays in the home land looking for success at Euro 2012, where his country will be the host. 2005 Golden Foot winner, "Sheva", as everybody knows him, is still fond of A.C.Milan, according to him, ready to challenge Inter Milan in Europe and Italy. He talks about his career and something more…

Andriy you are the Golden Foot 2005. What does it means for you to be among the legend of football?
It’s an incredible acknowledgement. I’m really happy for that and I wish to thank the man who created it, Antonio Caliendo. Among the others players in his fantastic career, he represented champions like Baggio and Dunga, driving them to the highest level of football.

David Beckham, Gianluigi Buffon, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Carles Puyol, Raúl González Blanco, Clarence Seedorf, Francesco Totti. Here are the nominees. Who is the best?
No, no, it’s a very difficult answer. Everybody of these champions deserves to win. It’s better to leave supporters decide. (voting through www.goldenfoot.com )

During your career you surely met many champions like the 10 nominees for the Golden Foot 2010. Tell us who you loved playing against most?
Ronaldo e Messi are the best strikers I met. Zidane was the best man in the midfield. He was able to do things like no other player in the world.

History of Football is full of legends. Who is the best ever?
Maradona, Pelé and all the other legends are impossibile to compare. During their time they made great things. And we will remember them forever.

You played alongside with many champions. Who is the one you liked to play with the most?
Kakà for sure, and Rebrov too. It is easy to play with them.

Who gave you the best assist?
Andrea Pirlo, Kakà and Rui Costa gave me incredibile assists. I have no doubts.

Which team you played against gave you the strongest feeling?
Talking about Champions League I say F.C. Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid. They are able to create incredible atmospheres. In Italy, with A.C.Milan, I loved to face Juventus.

Let’s go back to the beginning of your career. During a friendly in Hungary you have been in touch with a local club to become professional in their league. Is it true?
No, no, I was 16 and with Dynamo Kyiv 2 we were playing a couple friendly in Hungary. Absolutely I had no contacts to play there. I remember it as a very nice period but there is nothing more.

You have always been fond of your country. Valeriy Lobanovskyi is a massive part of the story of football in Ukraine. After the Champions League you won with A.C.Milan against Juventus you wanted to take the Cup to his tomb. What did you feel in those moments?
I had to do that. Mister Lobanovskyi has been very important for my career. That trophy was also possible because of him. It’s been incredible and a massive emotion and satisfaction to “show” him the Champions League trophy.

Because of Lobanovskyi, Andryi Shevchenko will be a manager?
No, actually I say no. I want to play. In the future we will see. But now it’s really too soon to say that.

A.C.Milan is still in your thoughts. What do you think about the team who bought Ibrahimovic and Robinho. Are they at the same level of Inter Milan in Europe and Italy?
Well, I have to say I am A.C.Milan supporter. Buying Ibra and Robinho with some time we can say we are at same level of Inter. It’s time to get the title back.

Probably not as a manager, but there is any chance for you to get a position in A.C.Milan in the future?
At the moment I’m a football player. I play for Dynamo and I’m happy for that. Sometimes it happens we talk on the phone with Mr Galliani and President Berlusconi too, but we never talked about the chance to work in the club. As I said I’m a supporter of A.C.Milan.

Dynamo Kyiv is your team. What your ambition for this season?
Our target was the Champions League but we are forced to play Europa League. At this stage we will try to win the league and the cup in Ukraine, looking for playing as much as we can in Europe.

Your country, Ukraine is organizing Euro 2012. Are you ready for such a big challenge?
We know we got a huge chance. I’m sure we will be ready. Many people are working hard because they are aware everybody got many expectations from Ukraine.

Ukraine National team got two years to prepare the European championship. Any young hope in the team?
Two years is good time to prepare the team. We will play a series of friendlies to be ready for 2012. The World Cup we played in Germany has been a great experience and now we have the urepeatable chance to play home against the best teams. Andriy Yarmolenko e Jevhen Konopljanka are just two of the players I can recommend. Someone else is improving day by day…

Back to Dynamo and the Europe League. The best team in the competition are?
I like Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester City. They have a strong structure and a very good organization with skilful players. To win you have to be ready now and after the winter break. It’s a very tough challenge.

You quoted Juventus. Sampdoria, Palermo and Napoli are the other Italian teams in the Europe League. What is your opinion about them?
They all are good teams. Palermo is the one I know less. Honestly I can’t say what they can get. Sampdoria got Cassano, and he can change every game. Napoli put a very good striker like Cavani in a team already use to play together. They can be with the best in Europe and just after A.C.Milan and Inter Milan in the league.

From Europe League to Champions League, passing through Chelsea. After Milan, an old passion of Shevchenko.
Chelsea is complete team. Strong players in a strong group with a manager, Carlo Ancelotti, able to find a place for everything, and ready to talk to everyone in every moment. Chelsea is ready to compete with A.C. Milan, Real Madrid, F.C. Barcellona and Manchester United for the Champions League 2011.

Inter Milan is the Champions League holder. Any chance for them?
They are a top team for sure, but I don’t think they can win again. It’s too difficult to defend the Cup.

From A.C.Milan to Chelsea: any regrets?
I moved to Chelsea from A.C.Milan because of a private life decision. No, I have no regrets.

With Chelsea and Milan you were with Mourinho and Ancelotti. Are they so different?
Mourinho and Ancellotti are two special managers. Both top managers. The way they show their work to players and people makes them extremely different. I’m not making any comparison. It is not right.

Talking about specials, tell us what is the best moment of your career? The happiest day of your life as a player.
Maybe two moments are the best: The 2003 Champions League Final we won against Juventus, and the FIFA World Cup with Ukraine. The very first time for my country; we played against Italy, the best team in that competition!

Italy failed the 2010 World Cup. Now they started a new cycle with new manager Cesare Prandelli.
As i said, to win again after a trimph is really difficult. Prandelli got a huge work to do because he arrives after Lippi who took the team on top of the world. I did not see the team playing but I’m sure they will be strong once again. One of the reason is Antonio Cassano. Now he is mature and ready to lead the team. His quality is unquestionable. And don’t forget Balotelly. He just need some more time to grow up.

Somebody says you can be a professional golfer for Ukraine. The 2016 Olympics should be your target. Is it true?
No, it’s a very far thing. I like playing golf but there is nothing to do with being a professional. I’m already a professional in football, and that’s it.

Have you ever thought about your sons playing football as professionals?
They are just kids. They play football and watch games with me, but it’s really too soon to think about a career for them. I don’t want to give them pressure.

Last curiosity from China where you left many fans. Are you going back there sometime?
With Chelsea we played some games there. It was a very interesting time. People loved me and the team so much. I got a nice memory of that time. Who knows, maybe I’ll be there again in the future.

Salvatore Siviero for www.goldenfoot.com