Maksym Talovierov: «I see myself only in the Ukrainian national team T-shirt…»


An exclusive interview of the defender for Austrian Bundesliga club LASK Maksym Talovierov for Ukrainian Sports Press Association: about his father’s work in the team, friendship in football, Georgy Sudakov, childhood dreams and the desire to win the Champions League.

Maksym Talovierov is a Ukrainian football player who started playing in the Czech League in 2019, and recently signed a full contract as a central defender for Austrian club LASK. In the summer of 2023, he won the title of bronze medalist at the European Youth Championship in Romania.

— In November in Leverkusen, you were called up to the national team for the first time. Congratulations! Everyone has already asked what you felt at that moment. And didn’t any of your friends hint to you that you might be summoned?

— In fact, it was a decisive meeting for the team, and I did not expect a call. I set myself the goal next year to prove that I am worthy of a call to the national team. That’s why the call in November was very unexpected, none of the boys suspected that it would happen. We were just chatting between us, missed each other, really wanted to see each other, but no one thought that it would happen right then. I found out about the call to the national team a few days before the game in my club, literally before going to bed. I was incredibly happy. I find such emotions even more sincere than I would have expected.

— Playing for the national team is always a big responsibility. Although you have experience from youth. But still, was there no moral pressure?

— I think every game for your team is a responsibility, regardless of whether it is U-14 or playing for the national team. Every football player should have a light mood and excitement. First of all, it shows how sincerely and with what adrenaline we approach the game, so in a positive way, there is a slight excitement before every game, and this is how football players should be. Therefore, I really did not feel anything new, but the team and Serhiy Rebrov himself welcomed me very well. We often talked with him, he was interested in how things were, how I was feeling. And it is very important for every player to feel that the coaching staff is interested in it. In general, everyone supported and helped me at the meeting.

— In March, there will be decisive matches for qualifying for the EURO, do you hope to be called up to the national team?

— Of course, every player hopes for a challenge. And this is a normal goal — to get into the national team. I, like all the guys, hope and believe that I will be able to help the national team.

— You were born in the family of professional football player Vadym Talovierov. How did your father raise you, what did he help you with, what did he scold you for, maybe? It’s interesting that your father also played as a defender.

— Indeed, this is a very interesting story. If I’m not mistaken, when I was 5 or 4 years old, I started showing interest in football. My parents never forced me to play football, so it was completely my decision. When my father saw that I had been kicking stones on the street since I was three years old, he realized that there was something after all. When I asked my parents to take me to see Shakhtar, about a year before that, my father had offers from different teams from abroad to continue his career, but when he realized that I live for football, he accepted the decision not to sign his contract, but to focus entirely on me and my football upbringing. I certainly appreciate it very much. Basically, my father was very strict, he was present at almost every training session, probably, before I left for the Czech Republic, he missed only a few training sessions. I was sometimes angry at him, sometimes I disagreed with him because of his strictness, but now I realize how much it helped me and how much I appreciate it. Because without his help, I would be nobody, or, if I were a football player, I think, it would be at a much lower level. We often trained together. Father is strict, but only in football matters. Because after training, we always had an analyst, he said what he liked and what he didn’t, demanded something, but then we forgot about it, left it out of the bounds of communication in ordinary life. I am very grateful to him for his help and for what he gave me from his experience. In the family, mother was responsible for school, and father for football.

— And how is it now, are you consulting with your father?

— Yes of course. I have my own small team, and my father is my analyst in it. He helps me completely, knows what happened at every training session, analyzes every game, helps me with my opponents, both individually and as a team. Gives me all the analytics and completely deals with the statistics, both individually for me and for the whole team.

— You are an alumnus of FC Shakhtar Academy. In Ukraine, you played for 3 youth clubs, and you have been playing in Europe for about five years. You never saw yourself in Ukrainian Premier League at all?

— Since childhood, of course, as a student of the Shakhtar Academy, I dreamed of playing in Shakhtar, but at a more mature age I understood that UPL could become my springboard. Since I was a child, I dreamed of winning the Champions League, but, unfortunately, the UPL is not yet at such a level that our teams could fight for victory in this cup. Therefore, probably since my teenage years, I saw UPL as a springboard to go further and achieve my goals. But it didn’t work out. And I am sincerely grateful that I was able to go and build a career in Europe so early, starting from the Czech Republic.

— You played on loan for the Austrian LASK, and now you have already signed a full contract. Congratulations! Earlier you said that you feel that the level is higher than in the Czech League. Which club did you dream of playing for as a child? And in which club do you want to see yourself at the peak of your career?

— Regarding the level of LASK, it is true, and I do not back down from my words. And the quality of the players is also higher. As a child, I really liked Barcelona, since when defender Carles Puyolplayed there. He was my childhood idol. From about the age of eighteen, I already started following many teams that I like, and not just one. I tried to learn something, it became interesting to watch football, and not just cheer for one team. I can’t single out any one team that I want and dream to play for, but this is definitely a team that is fighting for all the cups, both at home and in Europe. Therefore, I will do everything possible and impossible to find myself in such a club and in one of the strongest football leagues. In Slavia it was a great experience for me to reach the 1/4 of the Conference League, and in LASK I gainedexperience in the UEFA Europa League, these tournaments are very important for me, and I hope and believe that the next level will be the Champions League.

— There was information in the media that the Czech Republic wants to offer you the opportunity to play for their national team (correct me if this is not true), what can you say about this? If there will be a choice between the national teams of Ukraine and the Czech Republic?

— There is no difference whether they communicate with me or offer something, I have always seen myself and see myself only in the Ukrainian national team T-shirt. The residence permit has nothing to do with citizenship and my playing for the national team. It’s just that after five years of residence, I have the right to get this card so that I don’t need any visas.

— Are you inspired by the success of your friends from youth, who are already playing in very famous clubs? Who are you proud of? And is there true friendship in football?

— Of course, that is inspiring. We now have a small company with whom we often communicate: Trubin, Sudakov, Mudryk. It is felt that everyone sincerely supports each other after victories and defeats. We’re always in touch and always talking — I think that’s the answer to friendship in football. I also have guys who play in the UPL and with whom I have been with since U-14, we are in touch every day. There are also guys from the Academy, but they have already finished due to injuries, but we are still in touch. I believe that friendship exists. As for inspiration, everyone shares their emotions, experiences, and this helps and supports a lot. I can’t speak for everyone, but what concerns my guys I am sure of friendship.

— I think you know such a phenomenon as Fabrizio Romano, a well-known football insider. Haven’t you discussed with your comrades how it works, that “label” of his “Top talent”, with which all big transfers of young talents begin?

— To be honest, we never discuss it. If you think about it now, Georgiy Sudakov will soon find himself in some top club. Now, any time I look, he is posting about Sudakov, so we hope.

— Which football player would you like to play with on the same field?

— Probably, these are all the top strikers in current football. I would like to play against them, it’s cool to play against the best. You can see your level, understand your strengths and weaknesses. After playing against Liverpool, I can say with confidence that it is an invaluable experience and I would like to play against such opponents more often.

— In June 2023, you and the youth national team won the right to participate in the Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris this summer. What are your feelings? Are you already somehow preparing, because the whole world will be watching? Anatoly Trubin said in his interview that it would be an honor for him to defend the national team’s goal in Paris.

— If Anatoly said that it would be an honor for him to defend the national team’s goal, then it would be an honor for me to defend Anatoly‘s goal. In fact, I completely agree with what he said. This is really such an achievement! We would really like to get together again and show the level — this is our dream. Each of us wants to play there. In March, the U-23 teams will have a friendly match in Japan, and there will be a training session before the Olympics. It’s an honor for me to play in the national team, so it’s up to the coaching staff to decide.

— Have you watched a documentary film “Ukraine-Russia: The Match of Life” recently? What are your impressions?

— Actually, I haven’t watched it yet. But I already set a reminder on YouTube to watch later. Therefore, I will definitely watch it on the way to the next match.

— I saw that in October in Prague at a charity match, a lot of people took pictures with you, and you didn’t refuse anyone. Your popularity is growing rapidly. Does it interfere in private life?

— Frankly speaking, it does not interfere in any way, and I cannot say that it is somehow unrealistically difficult. In any case, this is our job. We play for our fans, so we have to pay attention to them. I will be happy to take a picture with everyone and give an autograph if anyone needs it. And I am very pleased with it.

— You do not hide your relationship and demonstrate it in social networks. How often does your beloved attend matches, and how important is family support? And isn’t Lisa sometimes jealous of the attention of female fans? Because in June, in Bucharest, I attended matches of youth teams in the Ukrainian sector and often heard from the girls how handsome Max is.

— Lisa tries to come to every match, even if they are away games. I really appreciate it. She often travels alone by train or bus, because she does not yet have a driver’s license. Of course, I feel this support. She is with me at the stadium, my parents are watching online. It helps me a lot. Regarding jealousy, you have not seen how many people write to her on Instagram. We trust each other a lot, so if we react to this, there won’t be time for anything else. I do not give any reasons for jealousy, so this topic does not come up at all.

— Have you ever thought about the topic: “If not football, then what?”

— To be honest, I didn’t think. Despite the fact that I have a higher education, I don’t see myself anywhere but football. I never thought about it and I don’t want to think!

— Wishes from the Ukrainian fans: “Have a maximally productive season and achieve your goals, both in the national team and in the club!”.

— I want to wish all of us peace, health, and that everyone’s dreams come true and their goals are achieved.

 

Photos:  Instagram tal.o4

Editor: Olena Mordovina