Former Ukraine international and current member of the national team’s coaching staff, Taras Stepanenko, has opened up about his transition from player to coach. The ex-midfielder retired at the end of the 2025/26 season and now assists Italian coach Andrea Maldere.
“I was preparing for the end of my playing career. Being a coach isn’t just difficult – it feels a bit strange. The emotions are mixed, but I’m gradually learning, listening to what Andrea says. It’s important for me to learn and contribute in any way I can,” Stepanenko explained in an interview with Polissya’s press service.
He added, “It’s a completely different job that requires more mental work and analysis. As a player, you come to training and focus on what the coach tells you. Coaching, however, involves creating and analyzing what fits your system. It might seem similar, but the work is quite different.”
Stepanenko represented Ukraine’s national team from 2010 to 2024, earning 87 caps and scoring four goals during his international career.
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