Ukraine’s 45 Year Old Assistant Coach in Squad 

Ukraine have included 45-year-old assistant coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in their squad for Wednesday’s friendly with France after three goalkeepers tested positive for Covid-19.

Andriy Pyatov, Andriy Lunin and Yuriy Pankiv each tested positive to leave Georgiy Bushchan as Ukraine’s only available keeper.

Ex-Dynamo Kiev keeper Shovkovskiy retired in 2016.

He is part of Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko’s coaching set-up.

A statement from the Ukraine FA said: “Oleksandr Shovkovskiy ended his professional career as a player in December 2016, but keeps himself in good physical shape, constantly conducting individual training.

“The coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine emphasises that it does not consider Oleksandr Shovkovskiy as a mandatory participant in today’s match.”

They added that “Oleksandr’s entry into the field can become possible” only if Bushchan tests positive or “gets injured during the match”.

Pyatov, along with midfielder Taras Stepanenko, did not make the trip to Paris, while positive results for Lunin and Pankiv were announced on Tuesday.

France defender Leo Dubois is also out of the game, having been sent home following a positive Covid-19 test.

Credit: BBC

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