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Legendary Soviet football goalkeeper Vladimir Astapovsky dies

In 1976 he was declared as the best football player and goalkeeper of the Soviet Union

MOSCOW, April 13 (Itar-Tass) — A legendary goalkeeper of the football club CSKA and the Soviet Union national team Vladimir Alexandrovich Astapovsky died at the age of 66 years, the press service of the Russian Football Union reported on Friday.

Astapovsky began his football career in Dynamo Bryansk, but played a greater part of his career in CSKA Moscow (1969-1980). He was put on the list of 33 best players of the Soviet Union Football Championship in 1975 and 1976. In 1976 he was declared as the best football player and goalkeeper of the Soviet Union.

Astapovsky played 11 matches for the Soviet Union national team. In 1976 he became the bronze medallist of the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. He worked as a coach at the children and youth sport schools of the Moscow football teams CSKA and Spartak.

The Russian Football Union offers sincere condolences to the near and dear of Vladimir Astapovsky.