Maryan Ivanovych Plakhetko (Ukrainian: Мар'ян Іванович Плахетко; 1 March 1945 – 22 February 2020) was a Ukrainian footballer who played as a defender. During a playing career that spanned the 1960s and early 1970s he represented several clubs in the Soviet league system and appeared twice for the national side.
Club career
Plakhetko began his senior career in western Ukraine and went on to play for clubs based in Lviv before joining one of the larger Moscow sides. He is most often associated with CSKA Moscow, where he spent part of his top-level career and gained wider recognition. His domestic clubs included:
- Karpaty Lviv — a major Lviv-based team with a strong regional following;
- SKA Lviv — the city’s army-affiliated club;
- CSKA Moscow — the well-known Moscow club historically linked to the Soviet Army.
International appearances and style
Plakhetko won two caps for the Soviet Union national team, making appearances in 1968 and again in 1971. While not a regular international, his selection on those occasions indicates he was regarded as a dependable defensive option during a competitive era for Soviet football. Contemporary descriptions emphasize his positional sense and disciplined defending.
Context and significance
Playing as a professional in the Soviet system meant balancing club duties with compulsory service ties; both CSKA and SKA were connected to military structures, which shaped careers and transfers at the time. Plakhetko’s movement between regional and Moscow clubs reflects common patterns for prominent Soviet-era players from Ukraine.
Later life and legacy
After retiring from playing he remained part of the footballing community remembered by teammates and supporters for his contributions on the pitch. Maryan Plakhetko died in Moscow on 22 February 2020 at the age of 74; reports noted his passing and recalled his period with club and country (national team details, obituary notices).