YASHIN, LEV IVANOVICH

born Oct. 22, 1929, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R. died March 21, 1990, Moscow Russian association football (soccer) player renowned for his acrobatic skills as goalkeeper. From 1949 to 1971 Yashin was a member of the Moscow Dynamo Club, and in 1954 he joined the Soviet national team. After helping win the gold medal (soccer) at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Yashin played for the Soviet Union until retiring in 1970, including participation in the World Cup tournaments of 1958, 1962, and 1966. He became a coach after his retirement.