Andriy Bal was a Soviet and Ukrainian professional footballer who played as a midfielder and football manager.
Born in Rozdil, Ukrainian SSR, Bal was a product of the Lviv youth football schools. By 1976 he was playing in the senior squad of Karpaty Lviv. After five years with the team he earned a transfer to Dynamo Kyiv. He went on to spend the majority of his playing career with the team, winning four championship medals with them as well as four Soviet Cups. He also picked up three runner-up medals. Another major achievement of his career with Dynamo Kyiv was winning the 1986 Cup Winners' Cup. In 1990, he left Dynamo to play in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He spent a season there before moving on to Bnei Yehuda, where he finished his playing career in 1993.
Bal played for the USSR national team 20 times and scored 1 goal, a 20-meter strike in the game against Brazil at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. He represented the team at all levels and won the 1976 U-19 UEFA Championship, the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship, twice won the U-21 UEFA Championship (in 1980 and 1990). He also played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where the Soviet team reached the Round of 16, losing to Belgium in extra-time.
After retiring from playing Bal began coaching in Israel. His first coaching job was with Maccabi Haifa. From there he went on to coach Maccabi Herzliya and Hakoah Ramat Gan. In 2000, he returned to Ukraine to join the coaching staff of Dynamo Kyiv. In 2001, he became head-coach of Vorskla Poltava. After two seasons with them, he became Oleg Blokhin's assistant coach with the Ukraine national team. On 14 December 2007 he was officially announced as assistant-coach at FC Moscow, again moving there with Blokhin.
Bal died on 9 August 2014 during a football match of veteran teams as a result of a blood clot. His death happened in between the deaths of two other famed Dynamo Kyiv players - Valentyn Belkevich (died 1 August 2014) and Andriy Husin (died 17 September 2014). The memorial for the three deceased players was held in Kyiv on 28 September 2014 followed by the veteran charity game.
