Advertisement

Shakhtar Donetsk manager dresses like Zorro after advancing in Champions League (photos)

joey gulino
Shakthtar manager Paulo Fonseca was true to his word and dressed as Zorro in the post-match media conference. (AP)
Shakthtar manager Paulo Fonseca was true to his word and dressed as Zorro in the post-match media conference. (AP)

Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca has plenty to feel good about. His squad escaped a Champions League group that included mighty Manchester City and Napoli, and it did so by handing City its first loss of the season across all competitions.

Fonseca gave his players extra motivation earlier this season, promising he’d dress as fictional hero Zorro if they reached the Round of 16.

True to his word, he showed up to the postgame media conference on Wednesday dressed like this:

(All photos via Reuters)
(All photos via Reuters)

Shakhtar beat Man City 2-1 on the back of goals from Brazilians Bernard and Ismaily, and also has been in first place in the Ukrainian Premier League since late August. Fonseca has been in charge since the beginning of 2016 and won the league title last season.

The ride in Europe might not last much longer, as Shakhtar finished second in Group F and will therefore face a group winner next, a collection of teams that includes Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Manchester United, Roma and Tottenham Hotspur. The club’s best-ever run in the Champions League was in 2010-11, when it lost in the quarterfinals to Barcelona.

But forget all that for now. Today is a day to celebrate for Shakhtar, costumed or not.

Joey Gulino is the editor of FC Yahoo and moonlights as a writer. Follow him on Twitter at @JGulinoYahoo.