After achieving one of the biggest surprises in the history of the UEFA Champions League with his team Sheriff Tiraspol from Moldova by defeating Real Madrid, Ukrainian coach Yuriy Vernydub decided to take up arms and defend his country against the Russian invasion. The 56-year-old man told the BBC that he did not hesitate to return to his homeland as soon as his son informed him last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had initiated military action. Vernydub said: "My son called me at 4:30 AM and told me that the Russians had attacked us. I knew then that I would return to Ukraine to fight."
Vernydub is one of many well-known Ukrainian sports figures who have decided to return to defend their country, alongside figures like world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Vernydub received that call while he was in Portugal for a playoff match in the UEFA Europa League, which Sheriff lost in a penalty shootout against Braga after the teams drew 2-2 on aggregate over the two legs.
Despite playing in the Moldovan league, Sheriff is based in Transnistria, a breakaway state loyal to Russia that emerged after a civil war following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Vernydub, who ended his playing career with Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia, spent 11 hours traveling to Ukraine on Saturday.
