Oleksandr Zinchenko on Football, Ukraine and Achieving Greatness, Part One

Nov 10, 2024

Premier League footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko, known for his stints at Arsenal and Manchester City, shares his incredible journey from Ukraine to football superstardom. He reveals the challenges he faced while starting his career and the personal drive that led him to success. Zinchenko discusses his advocacy for Ukraine during the war, using his platform to raise awareness and funds. He also offers insights into the coaching methods of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta and reflects on the emotional significance of his transition to Arsenal.

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ANECDOTE

Kompany's Lesson

Vincent Kompany once grabbed Zinchenko by the shirt after a training session at Manchester City.
Kompany criticized Zinchenko for letting a teammate win a duel too easily, emphasizing the importance of fighting for his place.

ADVICE

Team Dynamics

To achieve success as a team, members must constantly push each other.
Football is a team sport, and criticizing each other is the only way to achieve big things.

ANECDOTE

Leaving Home

Zinchenko left home at 11 to join a football academy 600 kilometers away.
Though initially homesick, he persevered after his parents convinced him it was his best chance to become professional.

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A fan favourite at Arsenal and previously Manchester City, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been lighting up the Premier League with his fearless performances for many years. But his success has come while facing immense challenges. Having begun his career as a teenager at Shakhtar Donetsk, on the border with Russia, he was acutely aware of the politics of sport. Initially he played football as an amateur because no club would sign him. But he fought his way to the top and joined Manchester City in 2016 where he would go on to experience exhilarating career highs, with four league titles in six years, before moving to Arsenal where he has played an integral part in their recent successes. Zinchenko has shown his intense commitment in a very different way through his campaigning in support of his homeland during the ongoing war. Following advice from loved ones, he aimed to make a difference by using his platform to spread awareness and raise money to support his country. In October 2024 Zinchenko came to Intelligence Squared to tell his remarkable story. Drawing from his new autobiography Believe he provided unique insights into the methods of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and the machinations of elite football. He also told the story of how he has sought to support Ukraine on and off the pitch. Joining him to discuss it at our recent Intelligence Squared live event recorded on October 23rd at London’s Emmanuel Centre was Amy Lawrence, Arsenal correspondent for The Athletic and author of 89: Arsenal’s Greatest Moment, Told in Our Own Words.

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