Former Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Andriy Havashi passes away
Legendary Zakarpattia football figure and former Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Andriy Havashi has died at the age of 87.
Андрій Гаваші, фото Закарпатська асоціація футболу
The Zakarpattia Football Association has announced the passing of legendary goalkeeper and prominent sports administrator Andriy Havashi, who died on September 4 at the age of 87. A funeral ceremony was held on September 7 in the town of Perechyn.
Havashi began his football journey in Uzhhorod, and in 1959, he joined the ranks of Dynamo Kyiv. During his two seasons with the capital club, he served as a backup to the legendary Oleh Makarov, playing alongside future domestic football icons such as Jozsef Szabo and Vasyl Turyanchyk.
After returning to his home region to play for Verkhovyna Uzhhorod, Havashi was involved in a unique football experiment. During the 1961 season, the coaching staff moved the goalkeeper to the forward position, where he surprisingly became the team's top scorer with five goals.
After retiring as a professional player at the age of 27, Havashi remained deeply involved in the sport. He worked as a referee and match inspector, and from 1995 to 2006, he served as the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Football Federation. In 2016, following a stroke, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Perechyn for his significant contributions to the region's sporting life.