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Live On Stage
Wednesday October 23 2024, 7pm BST

Oleksandr Zinchenko on Football, Ukraine and Achieving Greatness

Politics &
Economics

A fan favourite at Arsenal and previously Manchester City, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been lighting up the Premier League with his fearless performances for many years. But his success has come while facing immense challenges. Having begun his career as a teenager at Shakhtar Donetsk, on the border with Russia, he was acutely aware of the politics of sport. Initially he played football as an amateur because no club would sign him. But he fought his way to the top and joined Manchester City in 2016 where he would go on to experience exhilarating career highs, with four league titles in six years, before moving to Arsenal where he has played an integral part in their recent successes.

Zinchenko has shown his intense commitment in a very different way through his campaigning in support of his homeland during the ongoing war. Following advice from loved ones, he aimed to make a difference by using his platform to spread awareness and raise money to support his country.

On October 23, Zinchenko comes to Intelligence Squared to tell his remarkable story. Drawing from his new autobiography Believe he will provide unique insights into the methods of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and the machinations of elite football. He will also tell the story of how he has sought to support Ukraine on and off the pitch.

Believe
by Oleksandr Zinchenko

BUY ON:





Speakers

Speaker

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Professional football player for Arsenal and author of Believe


Professional Football player for Arsenal and Ukraine. He was thirteen years old when he joined the academy of Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine’s most successful football club. Zinchenko began his professional career at Russian Premier League team Ufa before joining Manchester City in 2016. A versatile player, he started his career as an attacking midfielder, but eventually converted into a left back or wing back under Pep Guardiola, winning nine major honours at the club. He joined Arsenal in the summer of 2022 and he has won 60 caps for Ukraine.
Host

Amy Lawrence

Arsenal correspondent for The Athletic and author of books including 89: Arsenal’s Greatest Moment, Told in Our Own Words


Football writer who has covered the game for three decades. She is currently an Arsenal correspondent for The Athletic. She has written several books about Arsenal, including Invincible, The Wenger Revolution and 89 - the film she also produced. She is a main contributor to the Handbrake Off podcast.