Pyotr Sokolov (footballer)

Pyotr Petrovich Sokolov (Russian: Пётр Петрович Соколов, 16 December 1890 (OS)/28 December 1890 (NS) – 11 May 1971) was a Russian football player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.[1] He was also a spy.

Pyotr Sokolov
Personal information
Full name Pyotr Petrovich Sokolov
Date of birth (1890-12-28)28 December 1890
Place of birth Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Date of death 11 May 1971(1971-05-11) (aged 80)
Place of death Enköping, Sweden
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1909–1911 Udelnaya Saint Petersburg
1911–1917 Unitas Saint Petersburg
International career
1912 Russia 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was a member of the Russian Olympic squad and played one match in the main tournament as well as one match in the consolation tournament.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917 he did not accept the Soviet regime. He was recruited by the British Secret Service Bureau and became a spy. He was sent to Finland, where he tried to struggle against Bolsheviks. In 1936, he received Finnish citizenship,[2] and, during World War II, he served in the Finnish Defence Forces in the Winter War and Continuation War. After the Continuation War, the Soviet counterespionage tried to eliminate him but he was able to flee to Sweden in September 1944.[3] He changed his name to Peter Sahlin and remained living in Enköping near Stockholm.[4]

References

  1. "Pyotr Sokolov". Olympedia. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. Kotakallio, Juho. Hänen majesteettinsa agentit: Brittitiedustelu Suomessa 1918–41 (in Finnish). p. 125.
  3. Raevuori, Antero (7 May 2014). "Petroskoin vakoojakoulun venäläisagentit tuottivat suomalaisille pettymyksiä". Seura (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. "Secret games of Pyotr Sokolov". Futbol (Weekly). 1 October 1988.
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