Former football player and coach Jozsef Sabo has openly spoken about the reasons for his departure from Dynamo Kyiv in the past, attributing the move to a severe conflict with head coach Viktor Maslov. According to the Ukrainian football veteran, he takes grievances hard and could not forgive the insult, which later led him to decline an offer to return to the capital club. The athlete shared this in an exclusive interview with Sport RBC.UA.
Conflict with Viktor Maslov and a matter of principle
The relationship between the player and the legendary Kyiv manager Viktor Maslov deteriorated due to professional disagreements that escalated into a deep personal confrontation. Jozsef Sabo noted that his sensitive nature did not allow him to overlook the incident and continue playing under this specialist. This internal barrier prevented him from accepting an invitation to resume his career at Dynamo when the club's management tried to bring him back to Kyiv.
After parting ways with the Kyiv club, the footballer continued his career with Zorya Luhansk, which at the time demonstrated a high level of play and competed for top positions in the national championship. However, memories of the Kyiv conflict and resentment toward Maslov remained too strong, ruling out any reconciliation with the previous management.
Move to Dynamo Moscow and the influence of star teammates
A turning point in Sabo's career was a visit from famous Soviet football players Lev Yashin and Viktor Tsarev, who approached him with a personal offer. They conveyed the words of Dynamo Moscow head coach Konstantin Beskov, who wanted to see the midfielder in his squad. This proposal proved persuasive enough for Sabo to agree to a move to Moscow.
However, the Moscow chapter of his career turned out to be challenging from a domestic perspective, as the player had to live in a hotel away from his family for a long time. Eventually, the difficult living conditions and homesickness made Sabo realize that his time playing for the capital's Russian club was coming to an end.
Legacy and life principles of the prominent player
In his extensive interview, Jozsef Sabo touched upon other important aspects of his life journey, including a difficult childhood in Uzhhorod and working alongside the legendary Valeriy Lobanovskyi. The footballer emphasized that the principles and straightforwardness formed in his youth often helped him in professional sports, although they occasionally complicated personal relationships with coaches and club executives.
Sabo's experience reflects the era of Soviet football, where strict discipline and coaching authority clashed with the ambitions and characters of star players. Today, his memoirs serve as an important historical document providing insight into the backstage of legendary teams from the past century.
