The famous Ukrainian football coach Valentin Lutsenko, who worked with Ukrainian youth teams of different age categories from 1994 to 2004, has died.. Valentin Trofimovich was 75 years old.

Under the leadership of Lutsenko, many future stars of Ukrainian football were formed, including Andriy Voronin, Maxim Kalinichenko, Dmytro Chygrynsky and Vitaly Lisitsky. The farewell ceremony for the mentor took place at the Baikovo cemetery on Tuesday, December 9, writes UAF.

Valentin Lutsenko was born on November 28, 1950. As a defender, he played for a number of Ukrainian second league clubs, including Dynamo Kyiv's double, SKA Lvov, SK Lutsk, Shakhtar Kadievka, Lokomotiv Vinnytsia and Avangard Rivne.

Having completed his playing career, Lutsenko devoted himself to coaching, leading the youth teams of Ukraine under 16 and under 18 years old.. Under his leadership, the under-16 team reached the final of the 1996 European Championship, and he also discovered the talents of players such as Darijo Srna and Dmitro Chigrinsky.

In his personal life, Lutsenko was married, his son Evgen also became a professional football player and played for Ukrainian and foreign clubs, as well as for the Ukrainian national team.