
People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers in their country.
Evgeniy Levchenko is the Chairman of Dutch player union VVCS. The former Ukraine international, who has been living in the Netherlands since he was 18-years old, talks about his experiences in football, his passion for the union and his daily motivation.
FIFPRO: what is your current role and what’s your background?
Evgeniy Levchenko: I am working for the union because I want to help people, that is my main objective being a former player myself. I have played professional football in the Netherlands and Russia, and was a member of player unions in Russia, Ukraine and the Netherlands. It gave me different perspectives.
In the Netherlands, I realised how much protection the players experience and how much easier it is for the players to make their voice heard and achieve things.
I also worked with the Ukrainian union as a board member, as I wanted to help the players there raise their voice and improve their working conditions. I learned a lot, but also noticed how difficult it was to change things over there.
After I retired from my playing career, I tried various jobs. I worked as a football pundit for Ukrainian and Dutch TV, I wrote a book, and finished my marketing and communication studies and UEFA’s MIP course. I wanted to stay in football and when the Dutch union approached me to succeed Danny Hesp as their president, in 2019, I was delighted. As a player, I had already been a member of their executive committee.
When I started, my main goal was to be more in touch with the players. I created a network with all captains of the men’s first and second division. Our collaboration is very smoothly, and they respond quickly. I keep track of all developments in football and when something occurs, I immediately reach out to them.
I try to get them more involved. For example, I am currently scheduling this year’s team visits with my colleague Arjan Ebbinge. I don’t want us to come in, tell our story and then leave. We want the players to be engaged. Before we go, I ask the captains which issues the team wants to discuss: do you want to talk wages, education, Red Button App? It works, the players are more engaged during our meetings.

What do you most enjoy about the work you do at the union?
It might sound like a cliché, but for me it is being in touch with the players. When I started working for the union, I met players with whom I had played, but most of them have now disappeared from the game. The players are getting younger, and we are getting older, so it is up to us to find ways to trigger them to remain in touch with you. For every player, you have to identify what their interests are.
What issue affecting player welfare are you most passionate about?
Mental health support. When quitting my career ten years ago, I mentioned that players’ mental strength would become more important. You must be so strong to perform each match and deal with new challenges. Nowadays players hardly have a private life, and some have problems building a supportive network with people they can trust and who can keep them in touch with reality.
In Dutch football, everything is well-arranged when it comes to the physical health of players. We arranged this in our collective bargaining agreement and the clubs are taking their responsibility. But clubs could do more to support players struggling with their mental health. We have launched our own mental health portal for players. We offer them the possibility to get support from a mental health coach, who sits down with them and creates a personal recovery programme for them. Only a couple of clubs offer similar support, yet players can be reluctant to accept this support as they don’t fully trust the club.

Can you share one of your proudest achievements working as a union representative?
Our Red Button App to report match-fixing. We rolled out the application during the past two years and managed to convince over 1,000 players to download it. We still receive positive feedback from players, that they appreciate this tool.
If you could change something in football, what would it be?
Some people might say I am crazy, but in my opinion, it would be wiser to ban heading from football. People are thinking too lightly about the impact to your brain when your head is hit by balls. I’ve read a lot about it and spoke with various experts and neuroscientists, who showed me their proof. It would make me very happy if more people and organisations start talking about this seriously.
Is there anyone in the union world or in sports in general who inspires you?
When I was a kid, I had posters of Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit in their AC Milan kit hanging on the wall above my bed. I knew everything about them, even their shoesize. They were my heroes, they inspired me, I wanted to be like them. Years later, I met Ruud Gullit for the first time, and I simply had to tell him that he used to hang above my bed. We’ve had many great conversations after that.

What is your favourite football memory to date?
Playing for Ukraine’s national team. Every time I went there, I would think, "from 45 million people, they picked me to represent our country”. It was unique, playing in large sellout stadiums, with big players. Sometimes I had to pinch myself that I, this little kid from a small village in eastern Ukraine, made it to this team.
Who is your favourite football player ever and why?
Lionel Messi. I never played against him, unfortunately. I was lucky that my friend Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, who was playing at Barcelona in the 2009/10 season, invited me over for a week. I attended practices, saw how the team prepared for their match against Real Madrid and travelled with them to the match. It was impressive seeing how Messi dealt with all the attention and pressure. During matches you often see Messi doing incredible things, but during practice I saw phenomenal things. He was amazing.
What motivates you daily?
I have been with the union for five years now, but I still see things that can improve our services for players and how to become a better organisation. I want all stakeholders to realise that players must be involved in every discussion that concerns their profession. That’s why we are talking a lot with the Ministry of Health, Wellbeing and Sports and other politicians, to explain that they should invite us when they are discussing issues such as match-fixing or gambling in sports, or that we should receive grants for player education or health support programmes.
