Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko (born 29 December 1981) is an Estonian football coach and former player who currently manages FCI Levadia. Zahovaiko played for several professional clubs and was also a member of the Estonian national team.
Playing career FC Flora Tallinn In 2006, he was the world's most effective top division goal scorer with 1.2 goals per game. At the start of 2007, he was loaned out to Al Kuwait Kaifan, but after featuring in just a few friendly games for the Kuwaiti side he was told that his contract was invalid and he was sent back to Estonia. Both his club and his agent sent a complaint to FIFA.
U.D. Leiria On 30 December 2009, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Portuguese team U.D. Leiria. In the process, he became the first Estonian to play in the top division of Portugal. In the first season he played in 6 league games and one cup game, but failed to score in these.
Kuopion Palloseura In April 2012 Zahovaiko joined Finnish Veikkausliiga club Kuopion Palloseura.
International career He has played a total of 39 games for Estonia national football team, scoring 8 goals. His first international goal was against Ecuador in a friendly game. He scored his eighth goal against Uruguay in a 2–0 win game.Eesti võitis Uruguayd 2:0! Jalgpall.ee, 25 March 2011
Coaching career Zahovaiko was named as the head coach of Meistriliiga club Paide Linnameeskond after retiring as a player for them in 2016. He led the club's transition to fully professional football club and earned Paide Linnameeskond their first league medals by finishing the 2020 season in 2nd place.
He was hired as head coach by Gambian club Real de Banjul in 2022 and led the club to lift the 2022/23 Gambian top division title. In the same year, Gambian sports journalists elected Zahovaiko as the coach of the year.
Career statistics Correct as of 27 October 2011. SeasonLeague levelCountryClubFirst teamReserve teamGamesGoalsGamesGoals1995–964EstoniaLelle SK21001997–984EstoniaRiigikogu SK120019984EstoniaFC Flora Kehtna940019993105001EstoniaFC Flora Tallinn320020001EstoniaFC Warrior Valga2345120011EstoniaJK Tulevik Viljandi21672200225205320031EstoniaFC Flora Tallinn2714242004222800200515190020062125532006–071KuwaitAl Kuwait Kaifan00——20071EstoniaFC Flora Tallinn17141020081260020092313002009–101PortugalU.D. Leiria60——2010–1160——2011–121HungaryDebreceni VSC2021
International goals #DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition12003-02-13Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito1–21–2Friendly match22003-12-17Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam1–11–1Friendly match32004-02-16Ta' Qali National Stadium, La Valletta1–12–52004 Malta Tournament42004-06-11A.Le Coq Arena, Tallinn1–32–4Friendly match52008-03-26A.Le Coq Arena, Tallinn2–02–0Friendly match62008-06-04A.Le Coq Arena, Tallinn1–04–3Friendly match72008-06-04A.Le Coq Arena, Tallinn2–04–3Friendly match82011-03-25A.Le Coq Arena, Tallinn2–02–0Friendly matchCorrect as of 7 October 2015
Honours Individual Meistriliiga top goalscorers: 2004 Estonian Silverball: 2008 Meistriliiga Player of the Month: April 2015, September 2016 Meistriliiga Manager of the Month: July 2019, August 2020, March/April 2021, October 2021,
References
External links
Player statistics on Portuguese Liga