User:NikolayXVII/sandbox
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mykolày Mykhailo Ilyaovych Mudryj | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Chelles, Seine-et-Marne | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AC Milan | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998-2005 | AS Chelles | ||
| 2005-2008 | Paris FC | ||
| 2008-2009 | AS Monaco | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2011 | AS Monaco | 58 | (22) |
| 2011–2022 | AC Milan | 61 | (46) |
| 2011–2012 | → Brescia | 35 | (26) |
| 2022–2024 | Brescia | 35 | (26) |
| 2024–2030 | Paris FC | 35 | (26) |
| Total | 154 | (94) | |
| International career | |||
| 2008–2009 | France U16 | 17 | (9) |
| 2010 | France U17 | 4 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | France U18 | 6 | (4) |
| 2011 | France U19 | 1 | (1) |
| 2011– | Ukraine | 32 | (21) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mykolày Mykhailo Ilyaovych Mudryj (Ukrainian: Миколай Михайло Ілляович Мудрий; born 7 September 1992), known simply as Kolya (pronounced [kolʲə]), is a professional football coach and former professional footballer who played primarily for AC Milan and the Ukrainian national football team. Playing primarily as an attacking winger or second striker, he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. In his early career, he initially played as a winger, preferably on the left side although being right-footed, and is known for pace, energy, skill and precise passing.
Born and raised in Chelles, Kolya began his senior club career playing for AS Monaco after joining their youth academy at the age of 14. After four years with the club, he joined AC Milan, where he won (3) trophies, including 1 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia titles and X UEFA Champions Leagues over eleven years.
A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Kolya holds the records for most goals in Serie A (274+), a Serie A season (36+), and most hat-tricks in Serie A (2) and the UEFA Champions League (2). He is also the record goalscorer in the Derby della Madonnina (the football derby between Milan and local rivals Internazionale) with (2) goals. Making his senior international debut for Ukraine at the age of 19, he has since earned over 100 caps for the nation. With more than 60 goals at international level, he is also the nation's all-time goal-scorer.
Early Life and Career[edit]
Kolya was born in the commune of Chelles in the Seine-et-Marne department. He is of Ukrainian heritage, with his parents being originally from Zaporizhzhia. Before moving to Monaco, he grew up in the Grande Prairie district in Chelles, and attended a local public elementary school as a child where he was considered academically gifted but rather unruly.
He comes from a very athletic family: both his older brother, Valentyn, and twin brother Andrij were professional footballers
Kolya began his football career in the Île-de-France region playing for local club AS Chelles. He quickly progressed through the youth ranks - often playing in age groups above his own. He was scouted then by semi-professional club FCM Aubervilliers, with whom he joined the youth academy in 2005. He spent three years in the club's youth academy before moving to AS Monaco in 2006. Despite interest from bigger clubs across European, Kolya opted to stay with Monaco and signed his first professional contract with the club during the summer of 2009.
Club Career[edit]
AS Monaco[edit]
2009-2011: Development[edit]
After spending a year in Monaco youth academy, on 17 July 2009, aged only 16, he signed a professional four-year contract with the club, being promoted to the first team by manager Guy Lacombe.
Kolya made his first professional appearance for AS Monaco on 8 August 2009 in a 1-0 victory against AC Ajaccio, coming on as a 57th minute substitute. He therefore became Monaco's youngest-ever first-team player aged 16 years, 10 months, and 30 days, breaking Thierry Henry's record set 21 years previously. His first professional start for the club came a week later in a 3-0 victory over Bastia, scoring his debut goal within the first two minutes of the match. While Kolya had predominantly played as a striker in his youth, Lacombe deployed him on the left wing because he believed that his pace, natural ball control and skill would be more effective against full backs than centre-backs.
He appeared in 72 matches in all competitions for Les Monégasques and scored 27 goals. Due to Kolya's performances for Monaco, he was linked with many of Europe's top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
AC Milan[edit]
2011-2012: Loan to Brescia[edit]
In the summer of 2011, Kolya was signed by AC Milan for an estimated fee of €13.4 million from Monaco, rejecting higher salary offers from other clubs to secure his childhood dream move to Milan. On July 18 it was announced that he would be joining neighbouring club Brescia on a season-long loan in order to acclimatise to Italian football. He scored his first goal for the club on August 27 during his debut for Brescia in the first league match of the season against Reggina. By the end of the 2011–12 Serie B andata (first half of the season), Kolya had already scored 16 league goals. He completed his season with Brescia with the club winning the league title and sealing promotion to Serie A. He also went on to become the Serie B season's top scorer with a total of 26 goals, 5 more than the second-highest scorer, Genoa's Massimo Coda. Kolya was also named Serie B's Player of the Year at the 2012 AIC Gran Gala del Calcio.
2012-2014: A New Era[edit]
Kolya returned to Milan at the start of a new era for I Rossoneri, with a host of veterans leaving the club in the summer, including Alessandro Nesta, Filippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso, Gianluca Zambrotta, Mark van Bommel, and Clarence Seedorf, as well as star players Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Antonio Cassano. After his successful loan spell with Brescia, Kolya made his competitive debut for Milan in Serie A on August 21, providing assists on goals scored by Luca Moro and Mattia Destro in a 3-0 victory against Torino. He made his first appearance in front of fans at the San Siro a week later, scoring his first goal for the Milanese club in a 4-0 victory against Cremonese. Kolya made his debut appearance in the Champions League on 12 September against Chelsea, with Milan winning 1-0. On 8 March, Kolya scored his first Champions League hit trick in a 4-0 round of 16 victory over Sporting CP. A rich vein of form saw the 20-year-old Kolya start to establish himself as one of the best young players in the world during the 2012–13 campaign. Already an idol to the Brigate Rossonere, the club's oldest ultras supporters, he scored 22 goals in 34 games in his debut Serie A season, helping the team to a 2nd placed finish and Champions League qualification. His first season with Milan ended trophyless.
Amid rumours that he would join Real Madrid during the 2013-14 summer transfer window, Kolya quelled media speculation by signing a new five-year contract with Milan, committing to the Milanese club until the end of the 2017-18 season.
Kolya was awarded the number 7 shirt, previously worn by fellow Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko, ahead of the start of the 2013-14 season. On 20 August, on the opening day of the season, Kolya scored a first-half brace against rivals Juventus in a 2-0 victory. On 3 December, during a 2-1 victory over team, Kolya suffered a grade 3 MCL tear, ruling him out of action for the following three months. Kolya made his return from injury in a match against Parma on date, but reinjured himself several days later in a Champions League group-stage clash with Club Brugge on date. Massimiliano Allegri had fielded him despite warnings from the medical staff, leading captain Alessio Romagnoli to criticise the Italian media for pressuring Kolya to play every match. He continued to struggle with ligament knee injuries through to the end of the first have of the 2013-14 season, making only seven league appearances in five months.
His goalscoring form in Serie A continued into the knockout stages of the Champions League competition, scoring three goals against Liverpool on date at Anfield.
Coppa Italia victory.
2014-2016: Trequartista & Captaincy[edit]
Throughout the previous season, Kolya also began to gain recognition as a club symbol and as a leader, and in July of 2014, he became the official team captain, and the youngest Serie A club captain ever at the age of 21. In the first half of the season, Kolya was in scintillating form, scoring 19 goals in the opening 13 games in Serie A, and 7 goals in 6 matches in the Champions League.
2016-2018: Domestic Dominance[edit]
2018-2019: Record Breaking Season[edit]
2019-2021: Consecutive Ballon d'Or Wins[edit]
2021-2022: Final Season With AC Milan[edit]
International Career[edit]
Due to his Ukrainian parents, in 2009, media reported that Kolya was eligible to represent several national teams - France (through being born there and having a French passport) and Ukraine (through his Ukrainian heritage). He represented France in his youth at every age group for which he eligible.
Youth Career[edit]
Kolya began his international career with the French national youth football team and earned caps at all levels for which he was eligible. He made his youth international debut on 23 September 2008 in the team's opening match of the campaign against Wales in Llanelli. France won the match 4–2. The team recorded impressive victories over Uruguay and Italy in the Tournoi du Val-de-Marne and defeated the Republic of Ireland by an aggregate score of 8–2 over the course of two matches. On 31 January 2009, he scored in the 2009 Aegean Cup Final against Norway. Kolya scored the winning goal to give France a 2–1 lead and the team won the match 2–1 to win the tournament.
He was a part of the team that played at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship scoring all three of his goals with the team at the tournament. He scored the only goal in the team's 1–0 victory over Portugal in the group stage, as well as in a 3–1 victory over Switzerland, and scored his last youth international goal in the team's 2–1 loss to England in the semi-finals. Kolya then made his under-18 debut on 27 October 2010 at the Tournio de Limoges against Greece, scoring twice in a 4–1 victory. Kolya's final appearance for France at youth level came in his only appearance for the under-19 team in its first match of the season against Italy on 6 September 2011. In the match, he scored the opening goal and provided an assist on a goal scored by Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, in a 3–1 victory.
Senior Career[edit]
Shortly after joining AC Milan in 2011, Kolya stated in an interview that he wanted to play for the senior Ukrainian national team .In October 2011, Kolya was called up to the senior Ukrainian squad by Oleg Blokhin and subsequently made his international debut on 7 October, coming on as a substitute for Yevhen Konoplyanka in a 3-0 victory against Bulgaria. Kolya scored his first goal for the Ukrainian national team on the 28th of May 2012, scoring the final goal in a 4-0 victory over Estonia in Lviv, Ukraine.
UEFA Euro 2012[edit]
As co-hosts, Ukraine qualified automatically for Euro 2012, marking their debut in the UEFA European Championship. After a highly successful season with Brescia, Kolya was considered one of the young footballers to watch in the tournament. In their opening game against Sweden, Kolya scored a brace in a 3-0 win in Kyiv. He would then score crucial goals in a 1-1 draw with France and a historic 2-1 victory over England, both in Donetsk, ensuring that Ukraine qualified to the knockout stages. Ukraine would go on to meet Italy in the quarter-finals, losing a closely fought game 1-0.
FIFA World Cup 2014[edit]
Coaching Career[edit]
Team[edit]
Outside Football[edit]
Personal & Family Life[edit]
Kolya was born in Chelles, a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, to Ukrainian immigrant parents. He grew up in La Grande Prairie, a neighbourhood well known for high crime rates, poverty, and unemployment. It was there that he was first exposed to football - playing in the streets with other children in the neighbourhood.
“When you’re living in the housing estates, you play outside all the time. Our parents knew if we were playing, we weren't out there causing trouble - and playing all day every day really helps you improve your dribbles and technique, and mentality. I think that’s why the best technical players come from the streets.”
— Kolya, Ballon Sur Bitume
Kolya's first name (Микола in Ukrainian) has multiple ways of being transliterated from its original spelling in the Ukrainian Cyrillic alphabet into the Latin alphabet; Mykolày is the spelling used throughout the player's official web site. It has also been adopted by UEFA and FIFA and is the preferred spelling in most English publications, although Nikolay and Mykola were also used during Kolya's youth.
He has two brothers who are also professional footballers. His twin brother, Aleksandr, played as a right-back for AS Monaco, Auxerre, and Crystal Palace, and his older brother, Valentyn, played as a goalkeeper for Lorient and Swansea. He also has a young sister, Nastassia. Raised an Orthodox Christian, he has spoken openly about the importance faith has to him, which was shown by his grandmother.
Since 2015, Kolya has been in a relationship with French-Italian actress Stella Lelouch. After keeping their relationship private for almost a year, the couple confirmed their relationship via social media in December of 2016. The couple married in July 2021 an a private ceremony at the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre in Paris. Residing in Besozzo, Kolya and Lelouch have four children, Joséphine (born 2024), Matteo (born 2026), and twins Sofìa and Alessandra (born 2030).
He completed a laurea (bachelor's degree) in health sciences and dietetics at the Università degli Studi di Milano in July 2017, and earned a laurea magistrale (master's degree) in applied biology and nutritional sciences in April 2019 from the same institution, graduating cum laude (with honours).
Along with his native French and Ukrainian, Kolya is also fluent in Italian and English. Growing up, Kolya didn't learn to speak French fluently until the age of five, as he was raised to only speak Ukrainian at home.
He was a vocal opponent of the War in Ukraine and 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Endorsements[edit]
In addition to his salary and bonuses, much of his income derives from endorsements. Whilst often being considered as one of the most marketable football players of his generation, Kolya preferred to endorse local and regional companies in favour of international brands. After being approached by Nike and Adidas, he rejected multi-million dollar deals in order to endorse local Italian football boot manufacturers Pantofola d'Oro in 2014. After Kolya's Ballon d'Or win in XXXX, Pantofola d'Oro released the Superleggera K7, making Kolya the first athlete to own their own sub-brand of Pantofola d'Oro's football boots. Since 2013, Kolya has been wearing a unique pairing of Pantofola boots, with the right boot fitted tighter than the left.
Career Statistics[edit]
Club[edit]
| Club | Season | League | League Cup[a] | Continental[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AS Monaco | 2009-10 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | 29 | 8 | |
| 2010-11 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 0 | — | 33 | 15 | |||
| Total | 58 | 22 | 4 | 1 | — | 62 | 23 | |||
| Brescia (loan) | 2011-12 | Serie B | 35 | 26 | 2 | 2 | — | 37 | 28 | |
| Total | 35 | 26 | 2 | 2 | — | 37 | 28 | |||
| AC Milan | 2012-13 | Serie A | 34 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 30 |
| 2013-14 | ||||||||||
| 2014-15 | ||||||||||
| 2015-16 | ||||||||||
| 2016-17 | ||||||||||
| 2017-18 | ||||||||||
| 2018-19 | ||||||||||
| 2019-20 | ||||||||||
| 2020-21 | ||||||||||
| 2021-22 | ||||||||||
| 2022-23 | ||||||||||
| 2023-24 | ||||||||||
| Total | 85 | 74 | 10 | 7 | 24 | 19 | 119 | 101 | ||
| Como | 2024-25 | Serie B | ||||||||
| 2025-26 | Serie A | |||||||||
| 2026-27 | ||||||||||
| 2027-28 | ||||||||||
| 2028-29 | ||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||
| Career total | 154 | 94 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 187 | 116 | ||
International[edit]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 2011 | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 | 10 | 7 | |
| 2013 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2015 | |||
| 2016 | |||
| 2017 | |||
| 2018 | |||
| 2019 | |||
| 2020 | |||
| 2021 | |||
| 2022 | |||
| 2023 | |||
| 2024 | |||
| 2025 | |||
| 2026 | |||
| 2027 | |||
| 2028 | |||
| Total | 32 | 21 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 May 2012 | Kufstein Arena, Kufstein, Austria | 5 |  Estonia |
0–4 | 0–4 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 June 2012 | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | 7 |  Sweden |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
| 3 | 11 June 2012 | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | 7 | Sweden |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
| 4 | 15 June 2012 | Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine | 8 |  France |
1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
| 5 | 19 June 2012 | Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine | 9 |  England |
2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
| 6 | 12 October 2012 | Zimbru Stadium, Chisinau, Moldova | 11 |  Moldova |
0–1 | 0–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 7 | 14 November 2012 | Levski Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria | 12 |  Bulgaria |
0–2 | 0–2 | Friendly |
| 8 | 22 March 2013 | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland | 14 |  Poland |
1–1 | 1–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 9 | 22 March 2013 | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland | 14 | Poland |
1–3 | 1–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 10 | 7 June 2013 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | 17 |  Montenegro |
0–4 | 0–4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 11 | 14 August 2013 | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | 18 |  Israel |
3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 15 November 2013 | Metalist Oblast Sports Complex, Kharkiv, Ukraine | 19 | France |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 13 | 5 March 2014 | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus | 20 |  United States |
1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 14 | 5 March 2014 | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus | 20 | United States |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 15 | 9 October 2014 | Borisov Arena, Barysaw, Belarus | 23 |  Belarus |
0–2 | 0–2 | 2016 UEFA Euro Qualification |
| 16 | 12 October 2014 | Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine | 24 |  North Macedonia |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2016 UEFA Euro Qualification |
| 17 | 15 November 2014 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 26 |  Luxembourg |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2016 UEFA Euro Qualification |
| 18 | 15 November 2014 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 26 | Luxembourg |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2016 UEFA Euro Qualification |
Honours[edit]
Club[edit]
AS Monaco[edit]
- Coupe de la Ligue (1): 2010-11
Brescia Calcio[edit]
- Serie B (1): 2011-12
AC Milan[edit]
- Serie A (1): 2014-15
- Coppa Italia (1): 2013-14
- Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2014-15
- UEFA Champions League (x):
- UEFA Super Cup (x):
- FIFA Club World Cup (x):
International[edit]
France U-16[edit]
- Aegean Cup (1): 2009
Ukraine[edit]
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2016
- FIFA World Cup: 2018
- UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
- UEFA European Championship (1): 2028
Individual[edit]
- Ballon d'Or (x):
- Capocannoniere (x):
- European Golden Shoe (x):
- FIFA World Player of the Year (x):
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball (x):
- Golden Boy (1): 2013
- Guerin d'Oro (2): 2014, 2015
- Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2030
- Serie A Footballer of the Year (x):
- Serie A Goal of the Season (1): 2013-14,
- Serie A Team of the Year (1): 2014,
- Serie B Footballer of the Year: 2012
- Serie B top scorer: 2011–12 (26 goals)
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season (x):
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2010
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month (2): November 2010, April 2011
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year (1): 2010-11
Orders[edit]
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