Football in Ukraine
NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv
CountryUkraine
Governing bodyUkrainian Association of Football
National teamUkraine
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Postage stamp of Ukraine, 2001

Football is the most popular sport in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Association of Football (previously Football Federation of Ukraine) is the national governing body and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of football in the country. It was organised in 1991 to replace the Soviet republican-level Football Federation of Ukrainian SSR, created earlier in the 1920s as part of the Soviet system of physical culture councils. The Ukrainian Association of Football is a non-governmental organization and is a member of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

There are several types of football: professional male and female football, amateur male and female football, youth leagues and children's competitions (younger than age of 13), football veterans and beach football, indoor competition and separate competitions for students and military personnel. Ukraine fields a great number of different national teams for various types of international competitions including continental and world qualifications, Universiades, youth competitions, and international competitions for beach and indoor football.

Summary

The Ukraine national senior team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup once, in 2006, where they reached the quarter-finals led by the former Soviet football star player Oleh Blokhin. The team also qualified on couple of occasions to the continental championship in 2012 and 2016. The Ukraine first junior team made it to the final of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The Ukraine second junior team won the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and made it to the finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Ukraine student team won two football tournaments at the Summer Universiade and made it to the finals of another one.

Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk are among the most recognisable clubs that are from Ukraine. Dynamo Kyiv traces its fame from the Soviet times as they won the European Cup Winners' Cup twice in 1975 and 1986. In 1975 Dynamo extended its success into the UEFA Super Cup as well. In 2009 Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup. Among the famous players to come out of Ukraine were Oleh Blokhin and Andriy Shevchenko. The legendary coach Valeri Lobanovski led Dynamo Kyiv to their European Cup victories as well as coaching the former Soviet and later on the Ukraine national football team: He is a Ukrainian football hero.

Ukrainian football professional club competitions are organised in the three-tier league system. Parallel with them there is a knockout competition the Ukrainian Cup. There is also a Super Cup match up that is being conducted on annual basis among the top two best clubs in the country. Several amateur level tournaments are played nationally as well as in every region (oblast); for more information, please see Ukrainian football league system. Female football is less developed, however there is a female national team and a two-tier league system competition for clubs. Among the most successful clubs are Lehenda Chernihiv and Zhytlobud Kharkiv.

Ukraine has also highly developed children's and youth football. There is a national competition conducted by all professional clubs of Ukraine and some better sports schools or football academies. It is a multiple tier league with several regional-based divisions.[1] Each club is represented by four squads with players in age groups ranging from under 14 to under 17. In addition to the national youth league, the Ukrainian Premier League has own competitions for older youth players who play a day before of each UPL round competitions. Parallel to that there is an independent Student League which encompasses teams of various universities and institutions of higher education. Selected players from that league successfully compete at student Olympics, the Universiada. The regional amateur football competitions also provide training opportunities for the young soccer stars.

History

Modern Ukrainian club competitions derived mostly from the Soviet competitions.

Divided at Zbruch, the first football competitions in Ukraine appeared in 1900–1910s including the portion of Ukraine that was part of the Russian Empire as well as Austria-Hungary. Competitions were conducted in main cities which were Lemberg (Lviv), Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donbas. Those competitions often involved participations of students or workers either factories or other major employers. In 1912 on initiative of Moscow and Petrograd football enthusiasts of foreign descent in Imperial Russia was constituted "Russian championship among cities" where each city was represented by a collective team. In Imperial Austria on the other hand at around that time started regional competitions at "crownland" level as well as a domestic cup. During the World War I competitions in both empires were suspended for a short period of time. Following the war, political situation has changed in Central Europe as the major European empires fell and were fragmented into many smaller national states. After failing to secure its independence in 1917–1920, Ukraine was torn apart by the Soviet Russia and former Russian province, the restored Poland.

The first recorded national (domestic) competition in Soviet Ukraine started in 1921 and was a competition among city teams (Championship of cities) that represented a participating city (or regional) championship. In Western Ukraine (East Galicia and Volhynia) that was part of Poland, ethnic Ukrainians declared official boycott at organization level and held separate competitions from the official Polish competitions. Later, however, some Ukrainian based clubs joined the "Piłka Nożna" (Polish football) competitions among which was Ukraina Lwów. Soon after the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1924 there was established the Soviet Championship of Cities. Unlike the Imperial Russian competitions, the Soviet competitions involved participation of national (or more correctly republican) teams. The Soviet Championship of Cities existed simultaneously along with republican level championships of cities in each union republic. In interbellum Czechoslovakia which secured control of Carpathian Ruthenia following the World War I, there existed regional competitions of eastern Slovakia and Carpathian Ruthenia and at one point local Rusj Uzgorod qualified for the Czechoslovakian State League.

The organization of the Ukrainian SSR Championship of Cities was organized by the All-Ukrainian Council of Physical Culture which was a republican institution and a branch of the Soviet All-Union Council of Physical Culture. In 1936 in the Soviet Union was organized first football competitions among teams of master or so called "exhibition teams" (pokazatelnye komandy) in four groups that acted as tiers. To the new Soviet competitions were selected several teams from the Ukrainian SSR. The new Soviet reform in football also made some changes to republican competitions. The Ukrainian SSR Championship of Cities was also reformed in 1936 where each city team was competing by representing its sports society, factory, mine, port, collective farm (kolkhoz) thus transforming into so called "Championship of Sports Societies and Departments". This way some Ukrainian teams competed at All-Union level and others at republican, however all Ukrainian teams played at the Ukrainian Cup including those that played at the All-Union competitions such as Dynamo Kyiv and Stakhanovets Stalino.

During World War II, the Soviet Union annexed territories of eastern Poland, and because of that competitions in Poland were disrupted. The previous clubs of the region were dissolved as national bourgeoise clubs and replaced with newly created Soviet "proletarian" clubs such as Spartak or Dynamo. Some former Polish players from the dissolved clubs joined the new Soviet counterparts, while others moved out of the country, were deported or pursued other goals. During the Nazi occupation there was no recorded national football competitions, but there were regional competitions. Czechoslovakia that was previously partitioned by its neighbors had its Carpathian Ruthenia occupied by Hungary and teams from the region joined the Hungarian competitions. Following defeat of the Nazi Germany and its allies, the Soviet Union resumed its domestic competitions including in the newly annexed Carpathian Ruthenia.

With the transformation of the council's (All-Ukrainian Council of Physical Culture) football section into the Football Federation of the Ukrainian SSR in 1959, the Ukrainian championship was integrated into the Soviet championship of Master teams in the Class B starting from 1960, which eventually was transformed into the Soviet Second League. The Championship of Sports Societies and Departments was reorganized into competitions of physical culture collectives, better known as the republican KFK competitions. In 1990 there took another transformation in Soviet football and all republican championships were relegated to the Soviet Second League B or the lower second league, while the Soviet Second League was split into three regional groups instead of previous nine (republican-regional factor). Several former Soviet republics started the process of secession from the Union, such as the Baltic states and Georgia. In 1992 the Soviet championship ended and the 1991–92 Soviet Cup that was planned to be transformed into the CIS Cup was in reality simply an edition of the Russian Cup.

Ukrainian (Soviet) Football League structure / 1921–present
Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine Ukrainian SSR Ukrainian SSR Ukrainian SSR Ukrainian SSR World War II Ukrainian SSR Ukrainian SSR
Tier 2008–present 1996–2007 1992–1995 1971–1991 1964–1970 1960–1963 1945–1959 1942–1944 1936–1941 1921–1936
I Premier LeagueTop LeagueTop LeagueSecond LeagueClass BClass BChampionship of Ukrainian SSR▼ ???Championship of Ukrainian SSRCity championships
II 1.League1.League1.LeagueKFK competitionsKFK competitionsRegional 1.LeagueRegional 1.LeagueRegional 1.LeagueRegional 1.League
III 2.League2.League2.LeagueRegional 1.LeagueRegional 1.LeagueRegional 2.LeagueRegional 2.LeagueRegional 2.League▼ ???
IV Amateur LeagueAmateur League¹
(KFK competitions)		3.League²Regional 2.LeagueRegional 2.LeagueRegional 3.LeagueRegional 3.League▼ ???
V Regional 1.LeagueRegional 1.LeagueKFK competitionsRegional 3.LeagueRegional 3.League▼ ???▼ ???
VI Regional 2.League4Regional 2.League4Regional 1.League▼ ???▼ ???
VII Regional 3.League5Regional 3.League5Regional 2.League4
VIII Regional 3.League5

¹ In 1998 KFK competitions were transformed into the Amateur Association.
² From 1993 through 1995 there existed the 3rd League. KFK competitions were grandfathered from the Soviet times.
³ In selected years there existed the supplemental 2nd League.
4 District 1.League and City 1.League
5 District 2.League and City 2.League

Note: Until 1992 the Soviet Tier III was considered as the republican competition for the Ukrainian SSR (see Ukrainian Soviet competitions). In 1992 most of the Ukrainian-based clubs that competed in the top three tiers were reorganised into the Ukrainian Supreme League, while most of the rest non-amateur clubs were organized into the Ukrainian First League.

Football in post Austria-Hungary Empire

Halychyna (1920–1939)

In the western part of Ukraine that was part of Austria-Hungary official football competitions started in 1905 when the first Lemberg city championship took place. After World War I and the fall of the empire, the West Ukraine was annexed by the Second Polish Republic. The Soviet–Ukrainian and Soviet–Polish wars prevented the competition of 1920 from taking place. At the end, only Pogoń was admitted, however, the other clubs entered the competition much later. The teams that were to enter the Polish League were Pogoń Lwów, Czarni Lwów, Polonia Przemyśl, and Rewera Stanisławów. Those are considered to be all-Polish teams consisting mostly of the Polish nationals. Pogoń Lwów was the most successful at the start of the League, winning it four times in a row 1922–1926. The club was coached then by the Austrian manager Karl Fischer. Another club Sparta Lwów made the final of the first Polish Cup competition of 1926. Ukrainian football teams like Ukraina Lwów also existed at that time, but they competed on the amateur level. The Soviet aggression of 1939 disrupted football life in the region and all of the clubs were disbanded. The Soviet administration created its own local football clubs that were part of the Soviet Volunteer Societies.

Bukovina (1922–1940)

Bukovina in the interwar period was part of Romania. There were several clubs all from Chernivtsi that participated in the Romanian football competitions. The most successful club was Dragoş Vodă Cernăuţi. It was all-Romanian club. As in Halychyna the football clubs were ethnically based. Beside the above-mentioned club there were also Jewish clubs Maccabi Cernăuți, FC Hakoah Cernauţi, Polish Polonia Cernăuţi, and German Jahn Cernăuți. From 1922 to 1932 the clubs from Chernivtsi participated annually in the Romanian championship that was organized by the Olympic-system of elimination. Since the introduction of the regular League in the national competitions those clubs disappeared. Only FC Dragoş Voda Cernauţi participated in the 1937–38 edition of the league, placing last in its group. In 1940 Bukovina became occupied by the Soviet Union and all of the previously established sport organizations were abandoned.

Carpathian Ruthenia (1925–1944)

From 1925 to 1938, this territory was part of Czechoslovakia, and later part of Hungary. The most notable club of the region at that time was SK Rusj Užhorod from Užhorod/Ungvar, later Ungvári Rusznyi. It was the only club that participated in Slovak championship from the region. The club became champion of Slovakia on two occasions: 1933 and 1936. Rusj became known in Europe as the Flying Teachers, because they were the first club that used airplanes to travel to their games.[2] In 1938 the region became part of Hungary. In 1939 there was a tournament among seven teams of that region (Kárpátalja), the winner of which would earn the right to participate on the professional level in the Hungarian competitions. The tournament included four teams from Uzhhorod, including SC Rusj Užhorod, plus each team from Mukacheve, Chop, and Palanky. SC Rusj Užhorod won the tournament, and because of that four teams were allowed to enter the Hungarian competition from the region,[3] two from Uzhhorod Rusj and Ungvári AC,[4] and each from Berehove (Beregszászi FTC) and Mukacheve (Munkács SzE).

Soviet championship prior 1936

Before the establishment of a consistent Soviet football competition in 1936, the Ukrainian SSR had its own football competition from 1921 to 1936. This competition was on a volunteer basis and were not held regularly. These football competitions were a continuation of the imperial football competitions that started at the beginning of the 20th century in the Russian Empire. The winner qualified for the All-Union competition.

The first Ukrainian championship took place in 1921, before the establishment of the Soviet Union. Not much is known of that and the following championships and nothing is known of the competitions between 1924 and 1927. Remarkable is the fact that the dominant team of that period was from Kharkiv which until 1934 was the capital of the Ukrainian SSR.

Soviet championship (1936–1991)

Until the creation of independent competitions, the Ukrainian republican championship had taken place in the Soviet First League after the World War II, the Soviet Second League (since 1963) or in the lower levels of the competition. Three to six of the best Ukrainian clubs competed in the Soviet Top League with Dynamo Kyiv competing in it consistently since its establishment; the Ukrainian champion was considered the team that has won the Ukrainian republican group which was part of the Soviet lower leagues.

Until World War II up to six clubs from Ukraine competed in the Soviet Top League. The nine non-amateur clubs from Ukraine participated in the first season of the Soviet competition: Dynamo Kyiv (I Division); Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk and Dynamo Kharkiv (II Division); Dynamo Odesa, Spartak Kharkiv, Vuhilnyki Staline, Lokomotyv Kyiv (III Division); Traktor Plant Kharkiv, Stal Dnipropetrovsk (IV Division). In 1938 the Soviet Top League was combined into the Super League with 26 clubs playing each other once. Ukraine was represented by six clubs. The following couple of years as the League was reduced only three Ukrainian teams participated in it.

A short time after World War II Ukraine was once again represented only by Dynamo Kyiv. Since 1949 and until 1964 the club was joined by Shakhtar Donetsk and Lokomotyv Kharkiv at the Top Level. In 1956 Lokomotyv was replaced by Avanhard, known today as Metalist. In 1965 Chornomorets Odesa returned to the Soviet Top League and was joined with the SCA Odesa. Since that time Ukraine had four clubs in the League. In 1967 as the Odesa Army team was relegated, Zorya Luhansk emerged and soon thereafter winning the honors. The Luhansk's team was the first club from a provincial city in the Soviet Union that earned the top award. The club success indicated the big football boom in the region. At the start of 1970 Chornomorets Odesa and Shakhtar Donetsk were replaced with Karpaty Lviv and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, respectively. By mid-1970s there were again six Ukraine clubs participating. Dynamo Kyiv earned the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup where in the finals it defeated FC Bayern Munich the captain of which was Franz Beckenbauer. In 1980 the representation of Ukraine was reduced back to five clubs with the classic four: Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk, Chornomorets Odesa, and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Since 1982, those four were joined by Metalist Kharkiv and stayed at the top level to its dissolution in 1991, coincidentally all five of them represent the five metropoleis of Ukraine with over a million in population.[5] In 1990 Metalurh Zaporizhzhia joined the Soviet Premier League.

Ukrainian teams in the Soviet Top League

TeamSeasonsFirst
season		Last
season		PlayedWonDrawnLostGoals
for		Goals
against		Points11st2nd3rd
FC Dynamo Kyiv5419361991148368145634623061566181013113
FC Shakhtar Donetsk[6]44193819911288434379475152216411241-22
FC Chornomorets Odesa[7]2619381991789260230299841986744--1
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk1919721991554227154173729634604222
FC Metalist Kharkiv[8]1419601991438133124181413530390---
Zorya Voroshylovgrad14196719794121251351524164693771--
Karpaty Lviv919711980244688591250301218---
Lokomotyv Kharkiv41949195411434235711217691---
SKA Odesa21965196668419453812127---
Metalurh Zaporizhia119911991309714273825---
Tavriya Simferopol119811981348719275423---
Silmash Kharkiv119381938258611344522---
Lokomotyv Kyiv119381938258512436421---
Spartak Kharkiv119381938255713436317---

1Two points for a win. In 1973, a point for a draw was awarded only to a team that won the subsequent penalty shootout. In 1978–1988, the number of draws for which points were awarded was limited.

Ukrainian teams in the Soviet First League

ClubWinnersRunners-Up3rd Position
Chernomorets Odesa 4 1 3
Lokomotiv Kharkiv 3 – –
Karpaty Lviv 2 1 –
Zarya Lugansk 2 – –
Dnepr Dnipro 1 3 1
Shakhter Donetsk 1 2 1
Metallist Kharkiv 1 – 2
Metallurg Zaporizhia 1 – 2
Tavriya Simferopol 1 – 2
SKA Odesa – 2 1
Spartak Ivano-Frankovsk – 1 –
Spartak Lviv – 1 –
Sudostroitel Nikolayev – 1 –
SKA Kyiv – – 4
SKA Karpaty Lviv – – 2
Lokomotiv Vinnitsa – – 2
SKCF Sevastopol – – 1
Kolos Nikopol – – 1

FC Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk, FC Dynamo Kharkiv, FC Silmash Kharkiv, Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv, FC Lokomotyv Kyiv, FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, FC Zorya Luhansk, Spartak Kharkiv, Kharchovyk Odesa, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Lokomotyv Kharkiv, SKA Kyiv, Spartak Lviv, FC Krystal Kherson, FC Hoverla Uzhhorod, FC Metalist Kharkiv, FC Dynamo Luhansk, Bilshovyk Zaporizhia, Lokomotyv Zaporizhia, FC Avanhard Kramatorsk, FC Shakhtar Stakhanov, FC Mukacheve, Spartak Kyiv, Torpedo Kharkiv, Dynamo Chernivtsi, SKA Lviv, Trudovi Rezervy Luhansk, FC Metalurh Zaporizhia, SKCF Sevastopol, FC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolos Poltava, SC Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk, FC Zirka Kirovohrad, FC Dnipro Cherkasy, SC Tavriya Simferopol, FC Nyva Vinnytsia, FC Veres Rivne, FC Lokomotyv Donetsk, SKA Odesa, Temp Kyiv, FC Polissya Zhytomyr, FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, FC Chornomorets Odesa, FC Avanhard Ternopil, FC Shakhtar Horlivka, FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi, FC Volyn Lutsk, Naftovyk Drohobych, FC Desna Chernihiv, FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi, FC Sirius Zhovti Vody, FC Illichivets Mariupol, FC Khimik Sieverodonetsk, FC Frunzenets-Liha-99 Sumy, Trubnyk Nikopol, FC Hirnyk Kryvyi Rih, Shakhtar Oleksandriya, FC Karpaty Lviv, FC Kremin Kremenchuk, FC Elektrometalurh-NZF Nikopol.

Notes:

  • In bold are clubs that later also participated in the Ukrainian Premier League. In bold and italic are members of both Soviet and Ukrainian Top leagues.

The first decade (1992–2000)

The independent championship was hastily organized at the start of the spring of 1992 after creation of the Ukrainian Premier League. The League was created out of the six teams that took part in the Soviet Top League, two teams from the Soviet First League, and nine out of eleven out of the Soviet Second League. The other two of that eleven were placed in the Ukrainian Persha Liha as they were to be relegated no matter what. Also the two best teams of the Soviet Second League B of the Ukrainian Zone were placed in the Ukrainian Premier League along with the winner of the 1991 Ukrainian Cup holder that placed ninth in the same group. The 20 participants were split in two groups with winners playing for the champion title and runners-up for the third place. Three teams from each group were to be relegated. As was expected, the five favorites, Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk, Chornomorets Odesa, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, and Metalist Kharkiv placed at the top of each group. In the championship play-off game in Lviv, a sensation took place as the Tavriya Simferopol beat Dynamo Kyiv 1–0. The Creamians earned the first Ukrainian title (thus far the only), losing only once to FC Temp Shepetivka.

After being stunned in the first championship by the tragedy in Lviv, Dynamo Kyiv was anxious to earn its first title on the second go. In the second championship that had a regular League format of 16 teams, the main rival of the Kyivans was Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk which won the first half of the season. By the end of the season both teams were going shoulder to shoulder and at the end they finished with the same number of earned points. The champion title was awarded to Dynamo Kyiv as they had better goal difference. Neither the Golden match or the fact that Dnipro had a better head-to-head record was considered.

The next seven years were known as the total hegemony of Dynamo Kyiv. During this period the Soviet stereotypes changed as some of the best teams were going into a crisis. After the 1993–94 season suddenly Metalist Kharkiv was relegated to the Persha Liha. In the 1995–96 season Shakhtar Donetsk had its worst year in the club's history, placing tenth. Chornomorets Odesa was relegated twice during that first decade after Leonid Buriak left the team. Also couple of newly created teams have emerged, Arsenal Kyiv and Metalurh Donetsk and, in addition, FC Vorskla Poltava has astonished everyone placing the third in the first club's season at the Top Level in 1997.

The decade of Kyiv–Donetsk stand-off (2001–2010)

The next decade was marked by fierce competition between Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk. Since 2000, Donetsk club proved to be the real challengers to Kyiv's dominance. In 2000 Shakhtar earned their first qualification to the Champions League and their place in the Group stage. Nonetheless, Dynamo is still considered the standard of excellence in the country and the primary feeder to the Ukraine national football team. 2002 became the real cornerstone in the miners history when they earned their first national title under the management of the newly appointed Italian specialist, Nevio Scala, who managed to bring the Donetsk club to its next Ukrainian Cup title as well. Since that time the issue of foreign players became particularly acute and brought series of court cases (see Players section). The FFU and PFL worked together to solve that issue, coming with the plan to force the transitional limitation of the foreign players over the time.

The clubs such as Dnipro and Chornomorets recent contenders for the title had to put up a fierce competition against the newly established contenders Metalurh from Donetsk and Metalist from Kharkiv to qualify for the European competitions. FC Metalist Kharkiv did exceptionally well in the late 2000s, consistently placing right behind Dynamo and Shakhtar. Most remarkable was their participation in the 2009 European season when they had to compete against Dynamo Kyiv to advance to the Quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup 2009. Later the UEFA Cup edition was won for the first time by the Shakhtar Donetsk, the first club of the independent Ukraine.

Latest wins and events

UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th European Championship for men's national football teams organised by UEFA and was co-hosted for the first time by Poland and Ukraine. Poland and Ukraine's bid was chosen by UEFA's executive committee in 2007.

In May 2015, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk reached their first Europa League final after defeating Napoli 1–0 in Kyiv.

Performance of Ukraine-based professional clubs in Soviet Top League and Ukrainian Premier League

ClubWinnersRunners-Up3rd PositionSeasons Won
Dynamo Kyiv 29 22 4 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21
Shakhtar Donetsk 13 15 2 2001–02, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Dnipro 2 4 9 1983, 1988
Zorya Luhansk 1 0 3 1972
Tavriya Simferopol 1 0 0 1992
Chornomorets Odesa 0 2 4
Metalist Kharkiv 0 1 6
Metalurh Donetsk 0 0 3
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 0 0 2
Vorskla Poltava 0 0 2
Karpaty Lviv 0 0 1
Oleksandriya 0 0 1

Performance of Ukraine-based professional clubs in Soviet Cup and Ukrainian Cup

Team Winners Runners-up Winning Years
Dynamo Kyiv 21 6 1954, 1964, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2020
Shakhtar Donetsk 17 10 1961, 1962, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Chornomorets Odesa 2 1 1992, 1994
Dnipro 1 3 1989
Karpaty Lviv 1 2 1969
Metalist Kharkiv 1 2 1988
Tavriya Simferopol 1 1 2010
Vorskla Poltava 1 1 2009
Zorya Luhansk – 3 —
Metalurh Donetsk – 2 —
Arsenal Kyiv[lower-alpha 1] – 2 —
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih – 1 —
Metalurh Zaporizhya – 1 —
Nyva Vinnytsia – 1 —
Inhulets Petrove – 1 —
  1. ↑ previously, also known as CSKA Kyiv

Performance of Ukraine-based professional clubs in Soviet Super Cup and Ukrainian Super Cup

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years
Dynamo Kyiv 12 6 1981, 1986, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Shakhtar Donetsk 9 10 1984, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Dnipro 1 1 1988
Metalist Kharkiv — 1
Vorskla Poltava — 1
Tavriya Simferopol — 1
Metalurh Donetsk — 1
Chornomorets Odesa — 1

National league titles by Region and Championship

The following table lists the Ukraine-based football champions by the Ukrainian regions.

Region Ukraine Soviet Union
City of Kyiv
16
13
Donetsk Oblast
13
 —
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast —
2
AR Crimea
1
 —
Luhansk Oblast —
1

European competitions

UEFA Champions League

The following teams have qualified for elimination rounds in the UEFA Champions League.

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

The following teams have qualified for elimination rounds in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup

The following teams have qualified for elimination rounds of the UEFA Cup.

Professional clubs in Ukraine

The professional football in Ukraine has developed its traditions within the Soviet Union republican and All-Union competitions. As the other clubs of the former Soviet Union football, it has transitioned from cities' competitions to competitions among teams of masters' which was a Soviet conditional term for professional teams. For amateur teams following the World War II, there was established a separate term, collective [teams] of physical culture [enthusiasts] or KFK (CPhC).

During 1989-1992 almost all teams of masters' have transitioned to football clubs, sports clubs or other sports-based organizations. The reason for the transition was switch from command economy of the Soviet Union to normal free market-driven economy. Some clubs have separate from their parent sports organizations such as Dynamo Kyiv (from Dynamo of Ukraine) or Shakhtar Donetsk, others were re-established anew such as Karpaty Lviv.

Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet competitions

Ukrainian medalists of the Soviet first tier competitions

Club Winners Runners-up Third place Winning years
Dynamo Kyiv 13 11 3 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 2 2 2 1983, 1988
Zorya Voroshilovgrad 1 – – 1972
Shakhtar Donetsk – 2 2
Chornomorets Odesa — — 1

All-time table of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet first tier competitions

List of records of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet first tier competitions which over the years carried different names, only since 1971 they were known as the Soviet Top League which was established in place of the Class A Top Group (First Group).

Rank Team Seasons First year Last year P W D L GF GA Pts 1st 2nd 3rd Other names used
1FC Dynamo Kyiv5419361991148368145634623061566181013113
2FC Shakhtar Donetsk44193819911288434379475152216411241–22Stakhanovets Stalino
3FC Chornomorets Odesa2419651991738244217277777884699––1
4FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk1919721991554227154173729634604222
5FC Metalist Kharkiv1419601991438133124181413530390–––Avanhard Kharkiv
6FC Zorya Luhansk14196719794121251351524164693771––Zorya Voroshylovhrad
7FC Karpaty Lviv919711980244688591250301218–––
8FC Lokomotyv Kharkiv4194919543423574711217691–––
9FC Dynamo Odesa219381939511613226410245–––
10SKA Odesa21965196668419453812127–––
11FC Metalurh Zaporizhya11991309714273825–––
12FC Tavriya Simferopol11981348719275423–––
13FC Silmash Kharkiv11938258611344522–––
14FC Lokomotyv Kyiv11938258512436421–––
15FC Spartak Kharkiv11938255713436317–––

Ukrainian medalists of the Soviet second tier competitions

Club Winners Runners-up Third place Winning years
Chornomorets Odesa 3 1 3 1961, 1973, 1987
Karpaty Lviv 2 1 – 1970, 1979
Lokomotyv Kharkiv 2 – 1 1948, 1952
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1 2 1 1971
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 1 1 1954
Tavriya Simferopol 1 – 2 1980
Metalist Kharkiv 1 – 2 1981
Metalurh Zaporizhia 1 – 2 1960
Lokomotyv Vinnytsia 1 – 1 1959
Trudovi Rezervy Luhansk 1 – – 1962*
Zorya Luhansk 1 – – 1966

All-time table of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet second tier competitions

List of records of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet second tier competitions which over the years carried different names, only since 1970 they were known as the Soviet First League which was established in place of the Class A First Group (Second Group).[9]

Rank Team Seasons First year Last year P W D L GF GA Pts 1st 2nd 3rd Other names used
1FC Metalurh Zaporizhia401947199014715644065011918169015341–2
2FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk261939198087337822327212261055979121Stal Dnipropetrovsk
3SC Tavriya Simferopol2319581991890343240307116210439261–2
4SKA Karpaty Lviv23194919898133442022671058918890––2SKA Lviv, ODO Lviv, SC Lutsk
5FC Chornomorets Odesa22194019737033431641961132771850313Pishchevik Odesa
6FC Metalist Kharkiv21194719817723162112459137848431–2Avanhard Kharkiv
7FC Zorya Voroshylovhrad18193919877102831902379478447562––
8SKA Kyiv1919471982599244155200839681643–––DO Kyiv, SC Chernigov
9SKA Odesa1419581982547227152168699551606–––ODO Odesa
10FC Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk1619561981596206139251694840551–––Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk
11FC Karpaty Lviv1219631981451206121124629422533–––
12FC Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv1519391968495175152168598612502–––
13FC Kolos Nikopol91962198742417097157560527437–––
14FC Nyva Vinnytsia91958196835814511697461350406–––Lokomotyv Vinnytsia
15FC Zakarpattia Uzhhorod1319471962384133114137498460380–––Hoverla Uzhhorod
16FC Zirka Kirovohrad8195819683121278897418330342–––
17FC Krystal Kherson91947196831610091125389439291–––Lokomotyv Kherson
18SKChF Sevastopol9195419683009778125373402272–––
19FC Kolos Poltava7195719682809183106308335265–––
20FC Polissya Zhytomyr519591968210935364284202239–––
21FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih8195919772977779141326453233–––
22FC Lokomotyv Kharkiv719451955178934540334176231–––
23FC Shakhtar Stakhanov8194819622867973134286410231–––
24FC Shakhtar Donetsk719591968163944128324134229–––
25FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi519601991184734764227227193–––
26FC Novator Zhdanov519601969193616567193218187–––
27FC Avanhard Zhovti Vody519601968189586863181193184–––
28FC Lokomotyv Donetsk519581962162694350254227181–––
29FC Khimik Severodonetsk519601969193605281193246172–––
30SC Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk619571962198495693192295154–––
31FC Avanhard Rivne519581962158564062246262152–––
32FC Dnipro Cherkasy519581962158495455160186152–––
33FC Avanhard Ternopil519591969170514970177233151–––Budivelnyk Ternopil
34FC Arsenal Kyiv419591962128494138191141139–––
35FC Avanhard Kramatorsk519481962154493768191250135–––
36FC Desna Chernihiv419601969142404854156212128–––
37FC Shakhtar Horlivka419591962132403854156202118–––
38FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi419601969142374362144203117–––Dynamo Khmelnytskyi
39FC Torpedo Kharkiv419491962140374261157230116–––
40FC Spartak Lviv3194719497841152215311297–––
41FC Frunzenets Sumy31960196210623414211315487–––
42FC Bilshovyk Mukacheve21948194951317131086069–––
43FC Naftovyk Drohobych3196019621002224549818268–––
44FC Volyn Lutsk3196019621002025559716365–––
45FC Dynamo Kharkiv31936194055231319907759–––
46FC Lokomotyv Kyiv2193919404822620736750–––
47FC Dynamo Voroshylovhrad319471949721419399716047–––
48FC Silmash Kharkiv319361940551610298510242–––
49FC Dnipro Kremenchuk119684591521285033–––
50FC Shakhtar Oleksandriya1196234101014344530–––
51FC Spartak Kyiv119493411815435730–––
52FC Dynamo Chernivtsi119493481016395226–––
53FC Spartak Kharkiv11939228113354517–––
54FC Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk1193672147145–––

Ukrainian medalists of the Soviet third tier competitions

Club Winners Runners-up Third place Winning years
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 4* – 1* 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981
Bukovyna Chernivtsi 3* 3* – 1982, 1988, 1990
Tavriya Simferopol 3* 2* 1* 1973, 1985, 1987
SKA Kiev 2* 4* 2* 1980, 1983
Nyva Vinnytsia 2* 3* 1* 1964, 1984
SKA Odesa 2* – 2* 1963, 1977
Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk 2* – 1* 1969, 1972
Avtomobilist Zhytomyr 1* 2* 3* 1967
Metalist Kharkiv 1* 2* – 1978
Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv 1* 1* 3* 1974
Kolos Nikopol 1* 1* 1* 1979
Hoverla Uzhhorod 1* 1* – 1946
Zorya Voroshylovhrad 1* 1 – 1986
SKA Lvov 1* – 3* 1965
Karpaty Lviv 1 – 2* 1991
Dynamo Odesa 1 – 1 1937
Avanhard Zhovti Vody 1* – 1* 1966
Avanhard Ternopil 1* – – 1968
Metalurh Zaporizhia 1* – – 1970
Volyn Lutsk 1* – – 1989
Kolos Mezhyrich – 2* 1*
Nyva Ternopil – 1* 1*
Spartak Kharkiv – 1 –
Lokomotyv Kyiv – 1 –
Dynamo Khmelnytskyi – 1* –
Khimik Severodonetsk – 1* –
Shakhtar Horlivka – 1* –
Desna Chernihiv – 1* –
Vorskla Poltava – 1* –
Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk – – 1
Stakhanovets Stalino – – 1
Azovstal Mariupol – – 1*
Lokomotyv Kherson – – 1*
Dnipro Kremenchuk – – 1*
Shakhtar Kadiivka – – 1*
Spartak Sumy – – 1*
Avanhard Rivne – – 1*

All-time table of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet third tier competitions

List of records of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet third tier competitions which over the years carried different names, only since 1970 they were known as the Soviet Second League which was established in place of the Class A Second Group.[10]

Rank Team Seasons First year Last year P W D L GF GA Pts 1st 2nd 3rd Other names used
1FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi2619631989117650831835014661117184233–
2FC Polissya Zhytomyr2419631988108645531032112949861675123Avtomobilist Zhytomyr
3FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih22196319881003428295280126796715794–1
4FC Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv23196319891043425295323125710031570113
5FC Zakarpattia Uzhhorod2619631989115542629143812351288156911–
6FC Nyva Vinnytsia2219631990100342828628912318851567231Lokomotyv Vinnytsia
7FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi24196319881084404286394119111671498–1–Dynamo Khmelnytskyi
8FC Volyn Lutsk271963199012063863324881148141614901––
9FC Avanhard Rovno25196319881113388309416109711521473––1Horyn Rovno
10FC Krystal Kherson24196319881076387289400123312701450––1Lokomotyv Kherson
11FC Zirka Kirovohrad2219631988996377271348108810611402–––
12FC Shakhtar Horlivka23196319871041360298383113512151378–1–
13FC Chaika Sevastopol2219631988994355270369109211261335–––
14FC Vorskla Poltava2219631990992341277374100310761300–1–Kolos Poltava
15SKA Kiev171963198676936520420011247381299242DO Kiev, SC Chernigov
16SKA Odesa171963199076033720921496168912202–2ODO Odesa
17FC Novator Zhdanov2219631988998308259431102913031183––1
18FC Desna Chernihiv19196319888653062373228899291155–1–
19FC Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk171963198878930521926586279311342–1
20FC Frunzenets Sumy201963198289627027135584810111081––1
21FC Dnipro Cherkasy1819631988826244233349721953965–––
22FC Shakhtar Stakhanov1719631986734254188292763854950––1
23FC Okean Kerch1719631988777223202352728979871–––
24SC Tavriya Simferopol101963198744823411896773422820321
25SKA Karpaty Lvov11196319904841931401516104867191–3ODO Lvov, SKA Lvov, SC Lutsk
26FC Nyva Ternopil819831990406190109107562395679–11
27FC Budivelnyk Ternopil10196319734661681521465074436531––
28FC Kolos Pavlohrad81981198841017286152522504602–21Kolos Mezhyrich
29FC Lokomotyv Donetsk919631972425142119164426476545–––Lokomotyv Artemivsk
30FC Dnipro Kremenchuk819631990377138104135396414518––1Dnipro Kremenchuk
31FC Khimik Severodonetsk719631972343127109107427373490–1–
32FC Mayak Kharkiv819721988414108103203340508427–––
33FC Torpedo Kharkiv6196319682831109182280232421–––
34FC Stal Alchevsk6196319682781088090300293404–––
35FC Kolos Nikopol4197619792241155554302196400111
36FC Zorya Voroshylovhrad419851990220115485735821739311–
37FC Trubnyk Nikopol6196319682809010882305252378–––
38SC Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk7196319692839785101294290376–––
39SCChF Sevastopol5196319672381006573301216365–––
40FC Shakhtar Oleksandriya6196319682859189105275303362–––
41FC Metalist Kharkiv51974197818595553527013534012–
42FC Naftovyk Drohobych6196319682788584109277321339–––
43FC Kirovets Makiivka519661972250897190246241338–––
44FC Torpedo Zaporizhia5198519892768971116311355338–––
45FC Avanhard Kramatorsk6196319682748583106276316338–––
46FC Metalurh Dniprodzerzhynsk7197919853088473151271410325–––
47FC Avanhard Zhovti Vody519631969197855557216157310–––
48FC Dynamo Bila Tservka5198419882727387112262336306–––
49FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka419861989194745664233204278–––
50FC Karpaty Lviv319891991126713025171972431–2
51FC Spartak Melitopol419631966157554557193195210–––
52FC Dunayets Izmail5196419682385248138158335204–––
53FC Shakhtar Krasnyi Luch519651969196446587159240197–––
54FC Shakhtar Torez519651969200416099151286183–––
55FC Torpedo Berdyansk419661969160415069122187173–––
56FC Industriya Yenakiyeve419631969158403880115222158–––
57FC Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka31967196912230444883113134–––
58FC Pryladyst Mukachevo219681969873427269275129–––
59FC Sitall Kostiantynivka31967196912030355580134125–––
60FC Shakhtar Sverdlovsk219681969853227269480123–––
61FC Avanhard Rovenky219681969803028228067118–––
62FC Shakhtar Chervonohrad219681969822636205246114–––
63FC Start Dzerzhynsk31966196812026365888164114–––
64FC Kolos Yakymivka219681969822732236860113–––
65FC Shakhtar Yenakiyeve31965196711526315885181109–––
66FC Stakhanovets Krasnoarmiysk219681969802726276666107–––
67FC Prohres Berdychiv219681969822327327010396–––
68FC Lokomotyv Dnipropetrovsk21968196980193724575694–––
69FC Podillya Kamienets-Podilskyi21968196982212932608192–––
70FC Metalurh Zaporizhia1197042261067333881––
71FC Avtomobilist Odesa219651966771621405711969–––
72FC Temp Kyiv1196438171011483361–––
73FC Avanhard Antratsyt1196940151312362858–––
74FC Arsenal Kyiv1196340141016424352–––
75FC Stal Dnipropetrovsk1196740131215393751–––
76FC Budivelnyk Pervomaisk1196940101614223746–––
77FC Dzerzhynets Dzerzhynsk119694012820315044–––
78FC Dynamo Odesa31936 (s)19372313374727421–1
79FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv119653811918446642–––
80FC Stakhanovets Stalino31936 (s)193723959455132–––Ugolschiki Stalino
81FC Spartak Kharkiv31936 (s)193723959384832–––
82FC Dynamo Dnipropetrovsk21936 (f)193716916322928–––
83FC Lokomotyv Kyiv21936 (s)193716718272522–––
84FC Shakhtar Novovolynsk11968425730198022–––
85FC Dynamo Kharkiv21936 (f)193716439263515–––
86FC Silmash Kharkiv119379315162910–––

Ukrainian medalists of the Soviet fourth and lower tiers competitions

Club Winners Runners-up Third place Winning years
Traktornyi zavod Kharkiv 2 – – 1936 (s), 1936 (f)
Khimik Severodonetsk 1* – – 1970
Torpedo Zaporizhia 1* – – 1990
Naftovyk Okhtyrka 1* – – 1991
Stal Dnipropetrovsk – 1 –
Lokomotyv Vinnytsia – 1* –
Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv – 1* –
Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk – 1* –
Lokomotyv Kyiv – – 1
Lokomotyv Donetsk – – 1*
Avanhard Rivne – – 1*
Kolos Nikopol – – 1*
Lokomotyv Dnipropetrovsk – 1 (V) –

All-time table of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet fourth and lower tiers competitions

List of records of Ukrainian clubs in the Soviet fourth and lower tiers competitions which over the years carried different names, only since 1970 they were known as the Soviet Second League B.[11] In 1937 there also existed fifth tier.

Rank Team Seasons First year Last year P W D L GF GA Pts 1st 2nd 3rd Other names used
1FC Avanhard Rivno319701991126633825168106227––1
2FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi319701991126473643140125177–––
3FC Naftovyk Okhtyrka21990199186462713132631651––
4FC Pryladyst Mukachevo2197019919043272011878156–––
5FC Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk2199019918646172311875155–1–
6FC Dnipro Cherkasy319701991126403155122149151–––
7FC Polissya Zhytomyr2199019918645122911793147–––
8FC Krystal Kherson21990199186412421143104147–––
9FC Kolos Nikopol2199019918641222312985145––1
10FC Khimik Severodonetsk21970199190382824118901421––
11FC Dynamo Bila Tserkva2199019918639163110688133–––
12FC Zakarpattia Uzhhorod219701991903915369593132–––
13FC Desna Chernihiv219901991863315389498114–––
14FC Stal Alchevsk2197019919028253796115109–––Komunarets Komunarsk
15FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih21990199186291938115117106–––
16SKA Kiev219901991862524378810199–––
17FC Chaika Sevastopol219901991862423399312395–––
18FC Okean Kerch219901991862219458012785–––
19FC Nyva Vinnytsia119704022153601781–––
20FC Lokomotyv Donetsk11970402398663078–––
21FC Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv11990362457603177–––
22FC Torpedo Zaporizhia11990362385532577–––
23FC Zirka Kirovohrad219901991861920478715177–––
24FC Avtomobilist Sumy1199150201416514074–––
25FC Temp Shepetivka1199150191516645372–––
26FC Avanhard Antratsyt1197040161410303362–––
27FC Karpaty Kamianka-Buzka1199150151520485560–––
28FC Shakhtar Stakhanov119915017825567559–––
29FC Volyn Lutsk1197040151411353259–––
30FC Mayak Ochakov1199150151025517655–––
31FC Enerhiya Nova Kakhovka119703814915434351–––
32FC Avanhard Zhovti Vody1197038131213342651–––
33FC Shakhtar Chervonohrad1197038131114353350–––
34FC Avanhard Kramatorsk1197040131116435450–––
35FC Torpedo Berdyansk1197040131116284150–––
36FC Kirovets Makiivka1197040121315334149–––
37FC Naftovyk Drohobych119703813817405147–––
38FC Shakhtar Kirovsk1197038121115334847–––
39FC Shakhtar Oleksandriya1197040111217334645–––
40FC Avanhard Rovenky1197040111019355743–––
41FC Shakhtar Krasnyi Luch1197040101317205143–––
42SCChF Sevastopol119703811918334342–––
43FC Trubnyk Nikopol119703891514263242–––
44FC Podillya Kamianets-Podilskyi1197040101020294840–––
45FC Mayak Kharkiv21990199186620605016938–––
46FC Shakhtar Torez119704071221164433–––
47FC Frunze zavod Kostiantynivka21936 (f)193716718263022–––
48FC Traktornyi zavod Kharkiv21936 (s)1936 (f)962118920–––
49FC Lenin zavod Dnipropetrovsk21936 (s)1936 (f)9414161513–––
50FC Stal Dnipropetrovsk1193711344202713–––
51SC Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk1197026242081410–––
52FC Lokomotyv Kyiv11936 (f)5131766–––

In 1937 three more clubs from Ukraine competed in the 5th tier: Lokomotyv Dnipropetrovsk, Sudnobudivnyk Mykolaiv, and Spartak Kyiv.

Awards

Symbolic team of 2010
by the readers of ua-football.com.[12]
Head coach: Mircea Lucescu.
Other 2010 awards (ua-football.com readers)
[12]

Second symbolic team: Maksym Koval – Vitaliy Denisov, Milan Obradovic, Papa Gueye, Artem Fedetsky – Willian, Fernandinho, Oleksandr Aliyev, Denys Oliynyk – Taison, Artem Milevskyi – Coach: Myron Markevych

See also

References

  1. ↑ FFU Official website Archived 2010-11-23 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
  2. ↑ SC Rusj Užhorod brief overview (in Ukrainian)
  3. ↑ List of the Ukrainian competition prior to 1992 (in Ukrainian)
  4. ↑ Club data before WWII at rsssf.org (in English)
  5. ↑ List of cities in Ukraine
  6. ↑ Includes appearances as Stakhanovets Stalino, see club history at KLISF
  7. ↑ Includes appearances as Dynamo Odesa, see club history at KLISF
  8. ↑ Includes appearances as Avangard Kharkiv, see club history at KLISF
  9. ↑ "Чемпионат СССР, первая лига".
  10. ↑ "Чемпионат СССР, вторая лига".
  11. ↑ "Чемпионат СССР, вторая лига".
  12. 1 2 "Лучшие из лучших - 2010". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
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