Viktor Bannikov 1938 – 2001

Biography

Viktor Bannikov was born on April 28, 1938, in Luhyny, a time and place that would shape his life during the Soviet era. He devoted himself to football, the sport that became his calling and defined his career. Throughout his years as a footballer, Bannikov contributed to the athletic culture of Soviet sports during a significant period in the nation’s history.

Though details of his specific achievements and career highlights remain part of football’s broader historical record, Bannikov’s dedication to the sport left its mark on those who knew him and followed his work. He lived through decades of change, witnessing the evolution of Soviet athletics and the broader transformations of his homeland.

Viktor Bannikov passed away on April 25, 2001, in Kyiv, just three days before what would have been his sixty-third birthday. He was laid to rest at Baikove Cemetery in Holosiiv Raion, where he remains remembered as part of Soviet football’s legacy. His life spanned much of the twentieth century, a period of tremendous historical significance for Ukraine and the broader Soviet Union.