Valeriy Vasylovych Lobanovskyi was born in Kyiv on January 6, 1939. He played as an attacker for FC Dynamo Kyiv (1959–1964), FC Chernomorets Odessa (1965–1966), and FC Shakhtar Donetsk (1967–1968). Champion of the USSR in 1961. Winner of the USSR Cup in 1964. Played two matches for the USSR national team and two matches for the USSR Olympic team.

Photo by Vladimir Rasner

After retiring from playing, he went on to coach FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (1968–1973) and FC Dynamo Kyiv (1973–1982, 1984–1990, 1996–2002). Under Lobanovskyi's leadership, the Kyiv Dynamo team won eight championships in the USSR league and five in the Ukrainian league. As a coach, he also achieved six victories in the USSR Cup, three in the Ukrainian Cup, as well as triumphs in the Cup of Champions 1975 and 1986, and the UEFA Super Cup in 1975.

The national team of the USSR led by Valeriy Lobanovskyi was a bronze medalist at the Olympics-1976 and silver — Euro-1988. He also coached the Kuwait national team, which has a bronze in its achievements from the 1994 Asian Games. National team of Ukraine he coached in 2000–2001.

Photo by Mykola Bokoch

Valeriy Lobanovskyi was awarded the UEFA Golden Badge "For Merit" and FIFA Order of Merit.

The legendary coach passed away on May 13, 2002, in Zaporizhzhia.

Under the auspices of the Ukrainian Football Association, the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Tournament is held.