The loss of Ukraine’s footballing father has, rather unsurprisingly, heralded the national team’s slip down the world rankings and even further away from the prize of qualification for a major event for the first time in the countries short existence.

After an unsuccessful period under Leonid Buriak, Ukrainian Football President Hrygori Surkis and his deputy Serhiy Storozhenko elected to put their faith in another Ukrainian legend, Oleg Blokhin.

Blokhin (pictured left, in 1975)whose managerial career had been conducted solely in Greece, was not every fans first choice as coach, but still Storozhenko is in no doubts of the former European Footballer of the Year’s managerial prowess.

"Ukrainian football is led by a hero in Oleg Blokhin. A man who is active in life and who carries a vision of construction for the national team. Oleg believes that Ukrainian football is developing very dynamically."

Recent friendly results have been unspectacular though, a draw and a defeat against Macedonia was followed by a 1-1 draw in Libya and a further draw at home to Slovakia. Most recently though, Blokhin’s side performed resiliently against France before succumbing to a late Zidane winner.

Indeed the death of Lobanovskyi still cuts deep within the Ukrainian FA and the new coach is left in no doubt just how hard it will be to follow the pioneering Lobanovskyi.

"Lobanovskyi was the outstanding man of Ukrainian football. He orchestrated the progression and subsequent success of all things in Ukrainian football. It is a huge task to follow Lobanovskyi and one no one can follow." Said Storozhenko.

But both Blokhin and his countrymen may have to wait further years before Ukraine can establish itself as the world force that promised so much in the mid-nineties. With the backbone of the national team aging, Blokhin will look to the progression of youth with an air of confidence.

To Storozhenko though, this waiting period is all part of a carefully laid plan, "Hrygori Surkis has developed a plan of investing in youth. This is the more practical way of developing our future. An example of this is the success of the U17’s."

The Under 17s, led by Victor Kaschev, shocked Germany in their own back yard enroute to the recent Youth Championships and are set for much greater things.

The FFU have recently enforced a rule stating that all Ukrainian sides must have a youth team and already the country can boast over 946 teams. After the recent success of the U17 team, Storozhenko confidently warns rivals "We look forward to replicating their success at full national level in a few years."

Blokhin will dearly hope that he is the man to mastermind a Ukrainian renaissance after years of unfulfilled promise.