Name: Vladimir Aleksandrovich Astapovskiy



Country: Soviet Union | Russia
Club: PFC CSKA Moscow
Position: *GK
Side: RF/BS
Age: 29-31 years (16/07/1946)

Height: 186 cm
Weight: 81 kg


Attack: 30
Defence: 89
Balance: 85
Stamina: 63
Top Speed: 65
Acceleration: 66
Response: 89
Agility: 76
Dribble Accuracy: 51
Dribble Speed: 51
Short Pass Accuracy: 57
Short Pass Speed: 57
Long Pass Accuracy: 59
Long Pass Speed: 62
Shot Accuracy: 44
Shot Power: 84
Shot Technique: 44
Free Kick Accuracy: 44
Curling: 46
Header: 49
Jump: 83
Technique: 51
Aggression: 60
Mentality: 80
Goalkeeper Skills: 86
Team Work: 77

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 8
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 7
Growth Type: Standard

CARDS:

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence Minded


INFO:
As a goalkeeper, he had an excellent reaction, was very strong in the game on the goal line, in the ability to repel shots from close range and penalties. A fairly tall and strong goalkeeper, his arm span was so wide that it seemed he covered the whole goal. "I still often make mistakes in choosing a place, - he says, - but all the time I try to move more in the goal, to develop a sense of position. I set myself the task of playing without jumping, considering the jump only as a last resort. At the same time, I work a lot on jumping ability, polishing technique. And I also made it a rule: the older I get, the more I work. This is the only way to prolong your football age." Astapovskiy had a synthesiz of 2 styles of Soviet goalkeeping school: between a bright, outwardly expressive style of play, with jumping ability, reaction, and a rare throw (Khomich, Leontiev, Ivanov, Bannikov, Pshenichnikov, Prokhorov, Pilguy) and a style based primarily on the exact choice of a place, devoid of picturesqueness and outwardly discreet: a jump only happens when there is no other way out (Akimov, Nikanorov, Yashin, Urushadze, Belyaev, Rudakov, Gontar). In addition, Astapovskiy commanded the defence and their positioning with his quick and loud shouts.

In 1969, Astapovsky moved to the capital's CSKA, where he began his career as a third goalkeeper. The debut for the army team had to wait until March 8, 1970, and Vladimir became the main goalkeeper of the team from the 1972 season. In 1970 CSKA, for the first time after a nineteen-year break, became the champion of the country. And Vladimir played his first 9 games in its composition, however, he did not receive a gold champion medal, due to the fact that he did not play 50% of all the championship matches necessary for this season.

Perhaps it was such a late strengthening in leading roles (Astapovskiy was 28 years old at that time) that prevented the goalkeeper from achieving great success. Many thought that the goalkeeper would become only a temporary figure and soon CSKA would acquire a more high-class player for this position. However, Astapovskiy put the critics to shame and staked out a place at the gates of the army club. All this led to the fact that in the 1975 season he was called up to the USSR national team, and in 1976 he was recognized as the best player in the championship (this is a rarity for goalkeepers).In the same 1976, Astapovskiy, together with the national team, won bronze medals at the Olympic Games in Montreal and became one of the most popular players in the country. But at the same time, age makes itself felt, and three seasons later, the player finishes playing for CSKA, turning into a reserve goalkeeper by the end of his career.

Achievements:
Bronze medalist at the Olympic Games (1976); champion of the USSR (1970); The best football player of the USSR (1976), winner of the Goalkeeper of the Year prize (1976).
Twice he was included in the list of 33 best football players of the USSR championships: No. 1 (1976), No. 2 (1975).