Yuriy Vernydub: Sheriff Tiraspol manager ‘not afraid’ as he leaves Europa League side to fight in Ukraine

BBC Sport says Six months ago Yuriy Vernydub was celebrating wildly at the Bernabeu. His Sheriff Tiraspol team had just produced one of the great Champions League shocks, beating Real Madrid 2-1. It was a seismic result for the Moldovan league winners, who come from Transnistria, a breakaway republic under heavy Russian influence. A triumph against the 13-time European champions was barely believable for a side who came through four rounds of qualifying to reach the group stage and did so on an annual budget of around £5m.

Just over a week ago, on Thursday, 24 February, having eventually finished third in their Champions League group, Sheriff found themselves in Portugal for a Europa League knockout game. Ukrainian Vernydub and his players had arrived in Braga on Wednesday to prepare for the game and he had gone to bed hoping for a good night’s sleep as they got ready to defend a 2-1 first-leg lead.

Then, in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 56-year-old’s life would change forever.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60601469

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