Andrej KANCHELSKIS
In 1995 English journalist George Scanlan wrote a book entitled 'Kanchelskis'. The exciting biography of Manchester United's demoniacal wing, loved by the fans and feared by the foes (as written on the book's wrapper). Before moving to Everton, Andrej won 2 English championships, an English Cup, a League Cup and an European Supercup, with Manchester. (Kanchelskis won abroad more than any other Russian player before).
Why did you decide to leave England, a Country where you accomplished so much?
'The English Press said many falsehoods. I left England neither because of problems with my teammates and the Coach nor because of financial troubles after losing money at the gambling house. The truth is that I received several consistent proposals from Clubs like Milan and Real Madrid and, as a matter of fact, when, last Jenuary, Fiorentina offered as many as 15 thousand millions of Italian Lira, Everton couldn't refuse. They settled many economic problems through that money. In addition I felt like facing new challenges after playing in England for 5 seasons and achieving so many good results. The Italian League was the best opportunity to find new spurs and objectives and I don't repent even if bad luck has been persecuting me so far'.
Andrej is right, during the first 9 months in Firenze he suffered as many as 3 serious injuries that prevented him from showing his best. The first injury dates back to last April when, after playing a great game against Roma and proving he could become a pivotal member of Fiorentina, he was called by his national team to play versus Luxembourg. That game caused Khancelskis a muscular lesion which ended his season prematurely. The second injury dates back to last 21 September. A week earlier he scored his first Italian goal versus Bari and Malesani showed to consider him a fundamental part of Fiorentina's midfield. However, during a third week game in San Siro, bad luck once again showed up, this time in semblance of Inter's Nigerian stopper Taribo West. A rude tackle kept Andrej away from the field for another 4 weeks with a sprained ankle. Millions of televiewers saw the third injuy live. Moscow, October 26th, Russia-Italy, a crucial playoff game to qualify for the next World Cup. After 30 minutes of the first half Khancelskis ran into Pagliuca who had to leave the game. However Andrej suffered the worst damages, since he had his left knee broken and couldn't play for another 3 months. The weird part is that, at first, Khancelskis didn't realize the gravity of that injury and kept on playing for 15 minutes with a broken leg. Now he smiles and recalls: 'I felt much pain but maybe because of the cold I didn't realize that my injury was so serious'.
'Khance" gets angrier when talking about West's foul, especially because the 23th of December Andrej's teammate Cois was ejected and disqualified after committing the same kind of fouling on Bologna's forward Nervo, while West got just a yellow card. 'I don't bear a grudge to West, but I'm disappointed in Italian football justice. I can't see two refrees taking so different decisions, and I don't understand why West wasn't disqualified. Sometimes I think that they should take advantage of the television recordings to revise their calls. Everybody saw that Parmatti's goal we suffered against Bologna wasn't a good one but Fiorentina is not protected and our President was right to protest'.
How far can this Fiorentina get?
'Here there's much more competition than in England. No game is easy and luck often reveals itself to be decisive. When we were at full strenght we proved we could be a contender but bad luck has been conditioning us too much so far. Against Inter, for exemple, we deserved to win, but we didn't because Inter revealed itself to be luckier than us, and the standing is also the result of games like that. However I like this Fiorentina much better than last year and I like the way Malesani decided to utilize me. He is a very good coach and it looks strange to me that he has been coaching just in Serie B so far. Among the other teams I think that Juventus and Lazio are the best, but I also like Milan and especially his coach Capello'.
Is it true that during the last European Championship in England, Capello offered you to play for him with Real Madrid?
'Yes, but I think that Everton asked for too much money, much more than they eventually got from Fiorentina'.
In England you scored many goals. In 1995-96 you scored 16 times, a record for a Russian player abroad. In Italy you have been scoring just one goal so far ..
' English defenses are less tight and when you overcome your man it's done. In Italy scoring is much harder. However I don't think I can be fairly judged so far, because of those injuries that prevented me from finding the best condition'.
You'll have to watch the World Cup on Tv. What did Russia's elimination mean to you?
'It's an huge bitterness. I suffered watching the return playoff game versus Italy on Tv. However I have to admit that this Russian national team wasn't a great one. The best national team I have ever played with was the one coached by Bishovetz and that played the European championship in 1992. Bishovetz made a right choice by placing his trust in the hands of those players who won he Under 21 championship in 1990. Along with me there were players like Mostovoi, Dobrovolski, Shalimov and Kolivanov. We played 14 game without losing. However we lost the 15th game versus Scotland (3-0) and we were suddenly eliminated from the European Championship. The next World Cup will be incomplete without Russia. I'll cheer for Italy, because of Toldo and Cois, for Argentina, because of Batistuta and for England, since I hope to become a British subject very soon. My son Andrej was born in Manchester and my wife is already a British citizen. Fiorentina, then, will be able to acquire another non-European player, becoming more and more competitive. My contract expires in 2001 and I want to win something before then'.
Do you still have problems with the language?
'Things are going better and better. Now I can understand the coach and my teammates. We all are good friends and we like to hang around together. In England that doesn't happen so often. About the language then, my son is a great teacher. He is just 5 but he can speak pretty well'.
There's a funny story that concerns Andrej's problems with the Italian language. As soon as he arrived at Firenze he aked his interpreter the meaning of the word 'ciliegina” (little cherry). As a result Fiorentina's fans welcomed him with a big banner, 'Welcome ciliegina", and Fiorentina's managers introduced him to the press by saying: ' This is the 'ciliegina" that our President Cecchi Gori promised'. In addition many local Tv stations called him 'ciliegina" not to pronounce his hard name. As a matter of fact the interpreter had to explain Andrej that such a bizzarre nickname wasn't an insult but reather the way people looked at him: a little, intriguing, cherry on a beautiful cake. In other words a sort of final seal on Fiorentina's ambitions. Later some polemics emerged because many wondered if it was worth to spend so much money to acquire this 'cherry" and if he was really the man who can help Fiorentina to make the next step. Unfortunately too many injuries prevented any definitive answer from being given so far. Khancelskis and Fiorentina are sure to win their bet and many lucrative Spanish and English offers have been lately declined.
Meanwhile Andrej adresses a prayer to his fans: 'Be as patient and supportive as you have always proved to be, because I'm sure that Fiorentina can achieve some important result and I'll be there to fight in the front line. Injuries penalized me but also gave me new spurs to go on. I want to come back and have my revenge. Fiorentina will be better and better and, sooner or later, good luck will have to turn to me'.
HE IS MARRIED WITH MISS KIROVOGRAD
Andrej Khancelskis was born in Kirovograd (Ukraine) the 23th of Jenuary 1969. Anton, his father, was Lithuanian and met Andrej's mother, Evgenija, at Kirovograd while doing his national service. Khancelskis grew up playing for Zvedza Kirovograd before moving to Dinamo Kiev.
Then, before going to Manchester (March 1991), he played also for Shakhtjor Donetz. Andrej stayed with the 'red devils" until 1994-95, playing 123 games and scoring 28 goals. Then he moved to Liverpool to play for Everton. (Two years, 52 games, 20 goals). In Jenuary 1996 he arrived at Firenze. He now lives in Pian dei Giullari but he is still looking for another house closer to downtown.
WINS. Khancelskis achieved many important results in his career. In 1990 he won the European Championship Under 21 with Russia. With Manchester he won two championships (1993-1994), an English Cup (1994), a League Cup (1992) and an European Supercup (1992). Between USSR and Russia he played 55 games with the national team, scoring 8 goals.
HIS FAMILY. He has been married with Inna (a former girl-student in medicine and ex Miss Kirovograd) for 6 years. They have a 5 years old son: Andrej junior.
HIS NATIONALITY. After the USSR's end he opted for the Russian nationality to play the 1994 World Cup. However he is now waiting for the British citizenship that will make him an European Community player.
THE NUMBER 17. Andrej wears this number to remember a great hockey player (Karlanov) who died because of a car accident.
HIS HOBBIES. In Russia he used to play hockey and to go skiing. Now he plays chess and claims to be a champion, but at Firenze he doesn't find challengers among his friends.
BUBKA AND MARADONA. His favourite athlete is Sergej Bubka, who had the opportunity to know in person. Andrej considers Maradona the best football player ever and, in Italy, he especially admires Maldini, the rival of many international challenges.