Mikhail Lučanok

Mikhail Lučanok

Lučanok with the Uulgadzan national team in 2009.
Personal information
Date of birth	(1983-08-16)16 August 1983
Place of birth	Nogooncöl, Dogšingazd, Uulgadzar
Date of death	7 July 2021(2021-07-07) (aged 37)
Place of death	Shinemori, Uulgadzar
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.94 m)
Playing position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1995–1999	North Central Shinemori FA
1999–2004	Alama United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Alama United	97	(51)
2006–2017	FC Dinamo Magalaki	243	(136)
National team
2001–2004	Uulgadzar youth	6	(5)
2004–2017	Uulgadzar	161	(64)
Honors Representing Uulgadzar OFL Continental Cup 2007 Uulgadzar Team 2015 New Gandor Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mikhail Lučanok (Stepadnó: Мікhаіл Лучанок; Uulgadzan: Микhаил Лучанок, 16 August 1983 – 7 July 2021) was an Uulgadzan professional footballer who played as a striker for Mtavari Liga club FC Dinamo Magalaki for the majority of his career. He was the target of an assassination attempt in 2017, and was assassinated on 7 July 2021 by the Union Preservation Division of Uulgadzar. He has the most goals out of any player to ever play for the Uulgadzan national team, with 64 goals.

Lučanok joined Alama United as an under-18 and made his senior debut in June 2004. He was sold to FC Dinamo Magalaki in the Mtavari Liga in Lurjize in December of 2006 and stayed there for the remainder of his career. He represented Uulgadzar at the youth level. He made his first appearance for the senior team in June 2004, and represented the country at the 2007, 2011, and 2015 OFL Continental Cups, as well as at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Terraconservan Cups.

He was the son of controversial journalist Makar Lučanok who was killed in 2007 during the 7 July riots. Lučanok was criticized by many for attending a celebration with the Uulgadzan national team after their victory in the 2007 OFL Continental Cup instead of participating in the riots.

The Union Preservation Division first attempted to assassinate him in 2017 after he returned back to the nation after his retirement. However, the assassin missed their shot and he was able to return to Lurjize unharmed. He stayed in Lurjize until 2021, when he flew back to Uulgadzar. He was shot at Shinemori International Airport and died from his injuries 3 hours later.

Early life

Lučanok was born on 16 August 1983 to Miraslava and Makar Lučanok in Nogooncöl, Dogšingazd. He moved with his father to Shinemori in 1986 after the 1986 Nogooncöl bombings. At the age of 12, he joined the North Central Shinemori FA which was a part of the Shinemori Youth Football League. At 16, he joined the youth division of Alama United.

At 18, he and his father were attacked in their house. He was injured and had to drop out during the next season. However, he was able to recover and rejoin the club. They were again attacked when he was 20, but he and his father were able to escape to safety before the attackers could injure them.

Career

Club career

When Lučanok turned 21, he joined the actual Alama United club. He had been eligible since he was 18, but his father kept him in the youth team due to the possibility that he would be shot. His first season, he led the team to a victory and scored the most goals out of any player on the team that season. His second season was not as successful, but he still performed well and many international clubs became interested in him.

In November 2006, it was revealed that Lurjizan club FC Dinamo Magalaki was offering "a large sum of money" to Alama United to purchase Lučanok. He expressed interest in the idea of joining a prestigious Surian club. On 16 December 2006, the deal was finalized and he was transferred to the club.

National team career

In the 2007 OFL Continental Cup, he scored the most goals out of any player on the Uulgadzan national team that year.