Wednesday marks the 95th anniversary of the birth of the famous football players of Dynamo Moscow Vladimir Kesarev and Alexander Sokolov.
Vladimir Petrovich Kesarev was born on February 26, 1930 in Moscow and worked at a defense plant during the war, receiving the medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War" at the age of 15. He started playing football in the youth team of the capital's Mashinostroitel plant and at the age of 20 got into Dynamo, where he played for the fourth blue and white team for five years.
Only in 1956 he had a chance to play for the base, and Cesarev took full advantage of it. In just ten seasons as a member of the blue and white, he played 217 matches and scored three goals, becoming a three-time USSR champion with the team.
Vladimir Petrovich was considered one of the best defenders of the 1950s. In addition to good physical data, he was distinguished by positional literacy and skillful conduct of martial arts. Coaches and specialists appreciated his developed tactical flair and good ball selection technique. In addition to reliability in defense, Cesarev gave the team an additional advantage in attack with his constant connections.
He played 14 matches for the USSR national team, was a participant in the 1958 World Championship and the victorious 1960 European Championship. He finished his football career at the age of 35, after which he took up coaching.
For a long time, Kesarev worked with the youth teams of the Dynamo sports school, later headed the Dynamo teams from Vologda, Kashira, Makhachkala and Yakutsk. Already in the Russian era, he worked at the Lev Yashin Foundation at the Dynamo Society.
Alexander Alexandrovich Sokolov was born on the same day as him in Kuntsevo. A pupil of the Wings of the Soviets near Moscow got into Dynamo in 1949, becoming the champion of the USSR in the very first season. At the beginning of 1952, he received a call-up to the USSR national team, and later a serious injury in a championship match, which put him out of action for more than two years.
However, he was able not only to return to the main squad, but also reached his previous level and helped the team win the national championship four more times. As a result, his entire football career was spent at Dynamo. In just 13 years as a member of the blue and white, he took part in 178 matches, scored 28 goals and was included in the list of "33 best football players of the USSR" three times.
In the 1950s, Sokolov was considered one of the most promising midfielders in the USSR. The lack of physical strength was compensated by impeccable positional play, outstanding technique and incredible tenacity. He almost never lost the fight for the ball, although he did not have outstanding physical data. He whipped with both legs with almost no swing and was the regular penalty taker of the team.
In 1961, he completed his career as a player, after which he graduated with honors from the school of coaches at the GTSOLIFKE. He was a senior coach at Dynamo Makhachkala and the Cuban national team. Later he worked in the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kremlin Commandant's Office.