Matthew Lillard
A commanding Ukrainian defender whose leadership and tactical mind anchored his teams during the formative years of post-Soviet football.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American actor and director·Birthday: January 24·Generation X
Biography
Emerging in the late 1980s, Tymerlan Huseynov's career unfolded during a period of monumental change, as Soviet football dissolved and the Ukrainian league was born. A central defender known for his anticipation, aerial ability, and organizational skills, he became a stalwart for Tavriya Simferopol, the club that would shock the nation by winning the first-ever Ukrainian Premier League title in 1992. Huseynov was a cornerstone of that historic defense, embodying the resilience and collective spirit of a team that defied the odds. His consistent performances earned him a transfer to Dynamo Kyiv, one of Eastern Europe's powerhouses, where he added domestic cups to his medal collection and experienced European competition. While his national team caps were limited in a competitive era for Ukrainian defenders, his club legacy is secure. Huseynov represented the reliable, intelligent defender who may not always grab headlines but is the essential glue for any successful side, helping to steady the game during a turbulent era for football in his homeland.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the inaugural Ukrainian Premier League championship with Tavriya Simferopol in 1992.
- Secured the Ukrainian Cup twice, in 1996 and 1998, with Dynamo Kyiv.
- Earned a Ukrainian Super Cup winner's medal with Dynamo Kyiv in 1995.
- Played in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup matches for Dynamo Kyiv.
- Captained Tavriya Simferopol during their successful early years in the Ukrainian league.
Did You Know?
He was born in Simferopol, Crimea, and spent most of his career playing for his hometown club.
His name is of Crimean Tatar origin.
After retiring, he worked as a football administrator for Tavriya Simferopol.
He played alongside Ukrainian greats like Serhiy Rebrov and Andriy Shevchenko at Dynamo Kyiv.
Huseynov's career spanned the transition from the Soviet Top League to the fully independent Ukrainian league system.
“I'm the guy who gets to make movies for a living, and that's a miracle.”
