Former Ukraine and Arsenal FC defender, Oleh Luzhnyi, told Sky Sports via a WhatsApp message that he is going to put his coaching career on hold to fight for his country, which is currently under attack by the Russian government.
Two months ago, Luzhnyi was planning a return to England to resume his eight-year coaching career, which includes two spells as an assistant manager with Dynamo Kyiv. As a player, Luzhnyi won eight league titles with Dynamo Kyiv in the Soviet Union before Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991, playing a key role in Kyiv's dominance throughout the 1990s until signing with Arsene Wenger in 1999.
"The situation is horrific," Luzhnyi said. "I want to come to coach in the UK but before anything I will stand firmly and fight for my people, for my country and for democracy.
"We all hope this will be over soon as innocent lives are being lost and families are being torn apart. A country being invaded and destroyed is all for what? We need to stand together as one and bring to an end this criminal warfare."
Oleh Luzhnyi playing career
Luzhnyi made 60 international appearances and captained Ukraine 37 times. The first of his caps was for the USSR at 20-years-old and only injury kept him out of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, which was the last tournament before the Soviet Union got dismantled.
During his four-year sting with Arsenal, Luzhnyi wont the Premier League and the FA Cup. He also had a brief spell at the Wolverhampton Wanderers.