# Mykhaylo Fomenko > Ukrainian footballer (1948–2024) **Wikidata**: [Q1826458](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1826458) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykhaylo_Fomenko) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mykhaylo-fomenko ## Summary Mykhaylo Fomenko (also known as Mykhaylo Ivanovych Fomenko) was a Ukrainian association football player and coach who lived from 1948 to 2024. He was recognized with two of the highest Soviet sports honors: Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class, and Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR. ## Biography - **Born:** 1948 - **Died:** 2024 - **Nationality:** Ukraine (historically tied to the Soviet Union during his playing career) - **Known for:** Competing as an association football player and later serving as an association football coach - **Field(s):** Association football (soccer) ## Contributions Mykhaylo Fomenko's contributions centered on his dual roles in association football. As a player, he competed at a level sufficient to earn the Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class designation — a Soviet sports award reserved for athletes who achieved significant international results. He also received the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR award, an honor presented to top-performing athletes between 1934 and 1992. Following his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, providing training and tactical leadership to association footballers in a professional capacity. ## FAQs **What awards did Mykhaylo Fomenko receive?** Fomenko received two major Soviet sports distinctions: Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class, and Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR — the latter being a prestigious award established in 1934 and granted until 1992. **Was Mykhaylo Fomenko a player or a coach?** He was both. He first competed as an association football player and later pursued a career as an association football coach, training players in a professional capacity. **What was Mykhaylo Fomenko's nationality?** He was Ukrainian, having been born in 1948 during the era of the Soviet Union and living through Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991 until his passing in 2024. ## Why They Matter Mykhaylo Fomenko represents a generation of athletes whose careers bridged the Soviet and post-Soviet eras of Ukrainian sport. His recognition at both the Master of Sport and Honoured Master of Sports levels indicates a career of exceptional athletic achievement within the Soviet sports system, which was among the most competitive in global football during his era. By transitioning into coaching, he extended his influence beyond personal performance, shaping subsequent players and contributing to the football tradition in Ukraine. His lifespan (1948–2024) encompassed the entirety of Ukraine's modern sporting evolution — from competition under the Soviet banner to the development of an independent Ukrainian football identity. ## Notable For - Holding the **Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class** distinction, a Soviet sports award recognizing elite international-level athletic performance - Receiving the **Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR** award, a prestigious Soviet athletic honor active from 1934 to 1992 - Career spanning both **playing and coaching** roles in association football - Representing **Ukrainian** athletic achievement across both the Soviet and independent Ukrainian periods ## Body ### Early Life and Background Mykhaylo Ivanovych Fomenko was born in 1948 in what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. His life spanned 76 years, concluding in 2024. He was a citizen of Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe that gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, a historical event linked to the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt and the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991. ### Playing Career Fomenko competed as an association football player — a designation referring to a person who plays association football (soccer). His playing career reached a level of distinction that earned him two of the Soviet Union's most significant athletic recognitions. The **Master of Sport of the USSR, International Class** award signified achievement at the highest international competitive tier. Additionally, he was named an **Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR**, a distinction created on May 27, 1934, and bestowed upon athletes who demonstrated sustained excellence in their sport until the award's discontinuation in 1992 following the Soviet collapse. ### Coaching Career After retiring from competitive play, Fomenko transitioned into the role of an **association football coach** — a professional responsible for the training, development, and tactical preparation of association footballers. This role is distinct from administrative or managerial positions, focusing specifically on the technical and physical preparation of players. ### Historical Context Fomenko's career unfolded against the backdrop of two distinct political eras. His formative and playing years occurred under the Soviet Union (1922–1991), while his later life and coaching career took place in an independent Ukraine. This duality places him among a relatively small group of Ukrainian sports figures who operated at elite levels under both systems. ### Legacy Fomenko's biographical record is documented across 33 site-linked references, with a dedicated Wikipedia entry confirming his identity and significance. He is classified in knowledge systems as both a human entity and specifically as an association football player and coach, underscoring the completeness of his dual-career profile in the historical record. ## References 1. [Легенди українського футболу розповіли про причину смерті Михайла Фоменка. Sport24. 2024](https://sport24.ua/uk/football/news/80732-legendi-ukrayinskogo-futbolu-rozkazali-pro-prichinu-smerti-mihayla-fomenka) 2. RusTeam.permian.ru 3. Transfermarkt 4. [Помер почесний громадянин Сум Михайло Фоменко](https://suspilne.media/sumy/734245-pomer-pocesnij-gromadanin-sum-mihajlo-fomenko/) 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. UEFA.com 7. Olympedia