Lev Yashin’s Death – Cause and Date

Lev Yashin, the iconic Soviet goalkeeper often regarded as the greatest in football history, passed away on March 20, 1990, at 60.

The Black Spider

Yashin was born on October 22, 1929, in Moscow, Yashin, and spent his entire professional career with Dynamo Moscow.

Yashin, famously known as the “Black Spider” for his agility and distinctive black attire, revolutionized the role of the goalkeeper with his remarkable reflexes, command of the penalty area, and innovative techniques.

He earned the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 1963, the only goalkeeper ever to do so. His illustrious career also saw him earn 78 caps for the Soviet Union, leading them to a European Championship in 1960 and an Olympic gold medal in 1956.

Illness and death

Yashin’s later years were marred by health issues, leading to the amputation of his leg in 1986. He succumbed to stomach cancer in Moscow.

For his accomplishments, he was given a state funeral as a Soviet Honoured Master of Sport.

One year after his death the Soviet Union collapsed.