President Volodymyr Zelensky The Office of the President of Ukraine announced the appointment of former Ukrainian football superstar Andrei Shevchenko as a special adviser and the appointment of British actor Mark Strong as ambassador for a charity set up by the Ukrainian president to raise funds for Ukraine.
It’s unclear what Shevchenko’s role as presidential adviser will include, but the former star forward for teams across Ukraine and Europe said he would expand the scope of his work as Ukraine’s ambassador. United 24is a charity created by Zelensky to raise donations for the country following the 2022 Russian invasion.
“My role hasn’t changed much, but I will work harder now,” he said after the game. All-star golf tournament ahead of Ryder Cup Wednesday outside Rome. “It’s an important job to help my country abroad and get people talking about Ukraine through football and charity events.”
Strong, who has starred in the films Kingsman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and the TV show Deep State, has been named an ambassador for United24. Zelensky thanked him for his support of Ukraine since the invasion, according to the president’s website.
“I am honored to be able to advocate for Ukrainian children on the world stage so that they can have a better future,” Strong said.
The president said the charity has raised $470 million from more than 110 countries. Other ambassadors include Barbra Streisand, actors Liev Schreiber and Ivana Sahno, historian Timothy Snyder and business tycoon Richard Branson.
Shevchenko started and ended his career with Dynamo Kiev. In 1999, he joined AC Milan and won a series of Serie A trophies with the team, including The UEFA Champions League In 2003, he won the Ballon d’Or the following year and became the best football player in Europe.
He signed for Chelsea in 2006 for a then-British record fee of around £30 million (now $31.7 million) and returned to Kiev three years later after living up to his reputation. He retired in 2012 after a 17-year career and continued coaching the Ukrainian national team.
Shevchenko spoke to reporters in Italian after competing in a tournament that included tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, footballer Gareth Bale and Formula One driver Carlos Sainz .
“As long as the war continues, I have to help in any way I can because our people are really suffering,” Shevchenko said. “That’s my job.”
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AP Sports Writers Andrew Dampf in Monteseglio, Gidonia, Italy, and Brian Melly in London contributed to this report.
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