Retired Ukraine great Andriy Shevchenko, the 2004 Ballon d'Or winner, on Tuesday started work as assistant coach of the country's national squad.

Team manager Mikhail Fomenko introduced the 39-year-old former Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan and Chelsea striker in his new function at a special ceremony held by the Ukraine Football Federation.

"For me it's a great honour and a huge responsibility," Shevchenko said.

"Today I start my comeback to football after four years of leave. And I'll do my best to justify the trust placed in me."

Shevchenko, who replaced Alexander Zavarov in Fomenko's coaching team, is Ukraine's all-time top scorer with 48 goals in 111 matches.

The five-time Ukraine champion with Dynamo Kiev and 2004 Italian title winner with AC Milan, who hung up his boots in 2012, received his UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge in March 2015.

Ukraine face World Cup winners Germany, Northern Ireland and Poland in Group C of the European championship, which will take place in France this summer.