That all changed when his Sheriff Tiraspol side shocked the world in his and the Moldovan club's first appearance in the Champions League group stage.
First, the club based in the tiny breakaway state of Transnistria downed regular Champions League knockout stage participants Shakhtar Donetsk.
Then, against all odds, the minnows defeated 13-time European champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But the 55-year-old Ukrainian coach, who has spent most of his career in the post-Soviet space, remains humble.
"I'm grateful to my guys for what they did," Sheriff's head coach said after leaving Madrid with three points.
