The manager of Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol has joined the front line of fighting in Ukraine after enlisting to join the army in his home nation.
Yuriy Vernydub is now on the streets of Ukraine to defend his nation, just months after guiding his side to a stunning victory away to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The club from the Transnistria area of Moldova were the story of European football this season after their exploits in the continent’s premier club competition.
Their remarkable victory in Madrid – secured by a last-minute long-range strike from Luxembourg midfielder Sebastien Thill – was arguably the biggest upset in the history of the competition in its current format.
Sheriff had defeated Shakhtar Donestk in their opening group game and while they fell to later defeats against Real Madrid and Inter, they dropped into the Europa League.
The Moldovan outsiders – who had the smallest budget of any club remaining in European competition – were only eliminated by Braga in the knockout stages via a penalty shootout.
Just days after their Europa League elimination, Sheriff boss Vernydub has now signed up to the Ukraine army to help defend the nation against an invasion from Russia.
Vernydub enjoyed a 17-year professional career as a player which ended with three seasons at Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Sheriff Tiraspol’s captain, Gustavo Dulanto, a Peruvian central defender, has posted: "May God protect my Yuri, who has gone to Ukraine."
Vernydub was appointed Sheriff's head coach in December 2020 and he went on to win the Moldovan league in his first season at the club.
In 2021, he led the team to the Champions League group stage, the first time a Moldovan club had achieved such a feat.
The outsiders had to win four qualification playoff matches to reach that stage of the competition, including impressive victories over Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb.
Sheriff boss Vernydub said in the aftermath of the stunning victory in Madrid: "This is so emotional. I'm very appreciative of my boys for this great job. We are a real team.
"Some big players said before there's no place in the Champions League for teams like Sheriff, but it's our place and we proved it."
Sheriff hail from the city of Tiraspol, the city officially recognised by the United Nations as Moldova’s second biggest behind only capital Chisnau, but in reality it is the centre of the autonomous region of the diplomatically unrecognised Transnistria.
Vernydub was previously coach of Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk and Belarusian side FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk – where he won the league title in 2020 – prior to his appointment at Sheriff.
