Ukraine Yushchenko Appoints AC Milan Forward Shevchenko Presidential Aide

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko has appointed the soccer star Andriy Shevchenko as his aide, the presidential press-service reported Thursday.



Shevchenko is a striker for A.C. Milan and the Ukrainian national team. He started off his career with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv. In 1999 he joined Italian side A.C. Milan for $26 million and has been one of their key players. In December of 2004 Shevchenko was named the European Footballer of the Year. He was also named by Pele as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

During the summer of 2004, Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, offered a record sum of $61 million and striker Hernan Crespo to A.C. Milan in exchange for the Ukrainian star. Milan refused but took Crespo on loan.

Ukrainian President Yushchenko has already made box star Vitali Klitschko, who campaigned for him during the “Orange revolution” in the fall 2004, his adviser.

Source: MosNews