Lev Yashin
Soviet footballer
Cite this page
“Lev Yashin.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.
Lev Yashin. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 29, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/
“Lev Yashin.” thisDay. Accessed October 29, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/.
Who was Lev Yashin?
Lev Ivanovich Yashin (Russian: Лев Иванович Яшин; 22 October 1929 – 20 March 1990) was a Soviet professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also served as deputy chairman of the Football Federation of the Soviet Union. Yashin earned status for revolutionising the goalkeeping position by imposing his authority on the entire defence. A vocal presence in goal, he shouted orders at his defenders, came off his line to intercept crosses and also ran out to meet onrushing attackers, done at a time when goalkeepers spent the entire 90 minutes standing in the goal waiting to be called into action. He dressed head to toe in apparent black (in truth very dark blue), thus earning his nicknames "the Black Spider" or "the Black Panther", which enhanced his popularity.
Historical significance
Widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the sport, he is the only player in his position to win the Ballon d'Or. He was known for his athleticism, positioning, imposing presence in goal, and acrobatic reflex saves. His performances made an indelible impression on a global audience at the 1958 World Cup, the first to be broadcast internationally.
Cite this page
“Lev Yashin.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.
Lev Yashin. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 29, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/
“Lev Yashin.” thisDay. Accessed October 29, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/lev-yashin/.