Shevchenko and Rebrov: The Dynamic Duo of Dynamo Kyiv

Dynamo Kyiv had a strong reputation in European football during the late nineties, challenging some of the continent’s top teams.

Valeriy Lobanovskyi, a key figure in football history, promised to achieve great things when he returned to coach Dynamo for a third time in 1997, having already led the team to eight Soviet titles in his earlier tenures.

When he took over, the team was struggling to match its past successes in European competitions, even though they were dominating locally after Ukraine gained independence.

Under his guidance, the team soon began to compete effectively on the European stage, largely due to the impressive partnership of two strikers.

In an era when strong front pairings were common, Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov stood out as one of the most effective combinations.

Rebrov made his mark at the club after moving from Shakhtar Donetsk, initially struggling to find his feet. However, the rise of Shevchenko provided him with a perfect partner and helped him regain his form.

Shevchenko, who joined the first team during the 1994/95 season after scoring frequently for the reserve side, quickly developed a strong understanding with Rebrov. Rebrov scored 10 goals that season, matching his total from the previous two seasons combined.

As they worked together, they led the team to three consecutive league titles, and Lobanovskyi’s return took their success to new heights.

In the 1997/98 season, the duo scored a combined 70 goals across all competitions, helping Dynamo secure a sixth straight title while also making an impactful statement in Europe.

During the Champions League, Dynamo faced Barcelona, Newcastle, and PSV Eindhoven in a challenging group. Finishing first, they shocked Barcelona, winning both matches, including a 3-0 home victory and an impressive performance away.

In that away match, Shevchenko scored a first-half hat-trick, and Rebrov added the fourth goal in a 4-0 victory, surprising Barcelona at their own stadium.

Though Dynamo’s run ended with a defeat to Juventus in the quarter-finals, they returned the next season with renewed determination.

This time, they progressed through the group stage with ease. Rebrov contributed goals in both matches against Arsenal, including a 3-1 victory at home that eliminated the Premier League champions.

Shevchenko ended the season as the Champions League’s top scorer with eight goals, and helped defeat Real Madrid in the quarter-finals with a three-goal performance over both legs.

One of his goals came from a clever assist by Rebrov, showcasing their strong partnership.

⏪ Rebrov & Shevchenko combine #OTD in 1999 👌⚽️#UCL | #OnThisDay | @dynamokyiven pic.twitter.com/DnA4C64aXU

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 17, 2020

Shevchenko and Rebrov, along with their dynamic team, impressed many with their style of play.

However, their journey in the Champions League ended in the semi-finals against Bayern Munich, with a narrow 4-3 aggregate defeat, but the duo left a lasting mark with 12 goals in the competition.

This season marked the end of their partnership at Dynamo, as Shevchenko moved to AC Milan for a record fee. Rebrov also eventually left, joining Tottenham in a challenging transfer.

While both started promising careers abroad, their experiences were quite different. Shevchenko ended his first season at Milan as the league’s top scorer, making a significant impact, scoring 173 goals in 296 appearances and winning numerous titles.

🇺🇦 Andriy Shevchenko at AC Milan…

👕5⃣9⃣ ⚽️2⃣9⃣#UCL | @acmilan | @jksheva7 pic.twitter.com/Bc3yEnnyr6

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 2, 2020

His successes included league titles and a Ballon d’Or award. In contrast, Rebrov had a less impactful stint in the Premier League, scoring nine goals during his first season at Tottenham but struggled afterwards.

He later stated that Spurs did not see his style of play, leading to a less successful career there.

Shevchenko also faced challenges after joining Chelsea, where he scored only nine league goals in two seasons before returning to Italy.

Rebrov had brief spells elsewhere in Europe before returning to Dynamo, where he claimed another league title, and later had success with Rubin Kazan.

Upon his return, Shevchenko added 30 more goals to his record at Dynamo, marking the final chapter of their impressive careers together.

Shevchenko netted 94 goals in his first five seasons, while Rebrov contributed 99 during the same time, a remarkable partnership that led Dynamo to every league title in the early years of Ukraine’s Premier League.

Rebrov + Shevchenko for Dynamo Kyiv 🇺🇦

Domestic
👕 298
⚽️ 159

Europe
👕 67
⚽️ 38#UCL #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/0jiKVlJ5K3

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 9, 2017

“I think it was the best time of my life,” Rebrov shared about their successful period at the club.

“We had a great team and a fantastic manager. We could have even won the Champions League. Teams were wary of us, and even Alex Ferguson said he preferred not to face us due to our style of play.”

Dynamo never secured the Champions League title, but the impressive teamwork of Shevchenko and Rebrov left a lasting legacy in Eastern European football.

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