FC Zorya Luhansk

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This article is about football club. For other uses, see Zorya.

Zorya Luhansk
FC Zorya Luhansk logo.svg
Full nameFootball Club Zorya Luhansk
Nickname(s)Muzhyky (The Men)
Founded5 May 1923; 98 years ago (5 May 1923)[1]
GroundSlavutych-Arena, Zaporizhzhia
(Avanhard Stadium, Luhansk
Stadion imeni Lenina, Luhansk)
Capacity12,000
ChairmanYevhen Heller
Head CoachViktor Skrypnyk
LeagueUkrainian Premier League
2020–21Ukrainian Premier League, 3rd
WebsiteClub website
Away colours
Current season

FC Zorya Luhansk (Ukrainian: ФК «Зоря» Луганськ [zoˈrʲɑ lʊˈɦɑnʲsʲk]), formerly known as Zaria Voroshilovgrad and Zorya-MALS, is a Ukrainian football team. Zorya Luhansk is based in the city of Luhansk (formerly known as Voroshilovgrad), Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. However, because of the war in Eastern Ukraine, the team play their games at Slavutych-Arena in Zaporizhzhia.

The modern club as a team of masters was established on 10 April 1964 by the Football Federation of the Soviet Union merging the October Revolution Plant (Luhanskteplovoz) sports club Zorya and the Luhansk regional branch of the "Trudovye Rezervy" sports society. In 1972, as Zaria Voroshilovgrad, the club became the first provincial Soviet club to win the Soviet Top League title. Today, the modern club considers its predecessor the football team of the Luhansk Steam Locomotive Plant[1] (October Revolution Steam Locomotive Plant, today Luhanskteplovoz) that was established back in 1923.

The club is a flagman club in Luhansk Oblast and one of three Ukrainian football "teams of masters" that won the Soviet Top League. The name Zorya means "dawn" in Ukrainian. As it is located near the eastern border of Ukraine, the club has strong Russian culture influence and a Russian name variation of the club Zarya could be seen in many reports and logos.

FC Zorya Lugansk in 2019

History[]

The modern Zorya Luhansk, during its Soviet period known as Zaria Voroshilovgrad and for a short period Zorya-MALS, was created in 1964. The history of the club begins in the early 20th century, right after the first stadium was built in the city of Luhansk in 1922, on the personal order of Vladimir Lenin and later named after him. The first mention of games involving the Luhansk team dates back to 1911. In 1913 in Kostyantynivka the first regional football league of Donets basin was created. During World War I and the subsequent Soviet and German hostilities, the league was suspended until 1920, by which time the situation in the region had stabilized.

The first Luhansk team was created in the Russian Empire in 1908 when the workers of the Russischen Maschinenbaugesellschaft Hartmann created the "Society of wise recreations". The football section was headed by the Czech specialist Henrich Drževikovski from Prague, who was an instructor of gymnastics of the factory's ministerial school. That team played its games and conducted its training on the empty lot near the factory where today the sport hall "Zorya" is located.

In 1923 the workers of the Luhansk steam train factory of the October Revolution (hence – the club's logo with a locomotive) organized their football team "Metalist" which became the forerunner of today's Zorya. The following year there the championship of the newly created Luhansk okruha (district) was created. In the final game the collective city team of Luhansk was victorious against their rivals from the city of Snizhne, winning the title after extra time 1–0. In 1926, the All-Ukrainian Committee of the Mining Workers' council organized a team of Donbass miners, players from Kadiyevka, for a tour in Germany (Weimar Republic). There the Donbass team won four of their eight games. The following year an international game took place in Luhansk, in which the city team was challenged by their rivals from Austria. The Donbas players lost the game.

FD in Donetsk (2008)

In 1936 the football teams "Metalist" and "Dynamo" (KGB team) merged to form the united Luhansk city-team which the following year was named Dzerzhynets.[2] The name "Dzerzhynets" derives from the steam locomotive that was produced at the steam train factory FD – "Felix Dzerzhinsky".[2] That year "Dzerzhynets" reached 3rd place in the Ukrainian second league.

In 1937 "Dzerzhynets" won Ukrainian's second league and was promoted to the first. Moreover, it reached the 1/8 final of the Ukrainian Сup and the 1/16 final of the Soviet Cup. The team consisted of the following players: Klad'ko (coach), Grebenyuk, Svidyns'ky, Mazanov, Morozov, Krasyuk, Nosko, Movchan, Brovenko, Chernyavs'ky, Voloschenko, Lokotosh, Sytnikov, Evdokymov, Myroshnikov, Ischenko.

In 1938 "Dzerzhynets" became champions of Ukraine after having won 9 games and drawn two. It was thus admitted to the Soviet First League.

Post war revival[]

See also: Trudovye Rezervy

After World War II, the club was not revived right away. The city of Luhansk was represented by Dynamo Luhansk, while in 1949–1951 there was as well a team of tge Luhansk regional party administration "Trudovi Rezervy".[3][4] In 1950 Dynamo Luhansk merged into Trudovi Rezervy. In 1951 the chief of Trudovi Rezervy's regional administration, Ivan Lomakin; went on trial and the team was liquidated.[5]

In 1948 "Dzerzhynets" was re-established in the lower leagues of the Ukrainian championship.[4] Due to the liquidation of Trudovi Rezervy, Dzerzhynets was allowed to compete among the "mater teams" (Soviet terminology for their professional level).[5] Few players from Trudovi Rezervy joined the factory team.[5] In 1954, Dzerzhynets was transferred under the administration of the Republican Volunteer Society of "Avanhard" which continued its participation in competitions until 1959.[6]

Due to a bleak performance of "Avanhard" in 1957 in the city of Voroshilovhrad, it was revived as another club "Trudovi Rezervy"[5] which this time comprised students from the Leningrad Technicum of Physical Culture and Sports (today College of Physical Culture and Sports of the Saint Petersburg State University).

After the liquidation of Avanhard in 1959, in 1960 in Luhansk the October Revolution (OR) Factory team.[7] was established.

Modern period[]

During the already ongoing 1964 season and playing several rounds, on 10 April 1964 the Soviet Football Federation issued its decision about merger of two clubs "Trudovi Rezervy" and OR Factory team (SC Zorya) into FC Zorya Voroshilovhrad.[8]

In 1972 Zorya did not only win its only Soviet championship, but also represented, re-enforced with only three players from other clubs, the USSR at the Brazilian Independence Cup (Taça Independência) mid-year. However, only Volodymyr Onyshchenko represented the club at the Final of the European Football Championship few weeks earlier.

In 1992 the club was acquired by a Moscow Science-Production Association "MALS" and participated in the competition of the Ukrainian Top League.[9]

In the season 2005–06 the team won first place in the Persha Liha, and had been promoted to the Vyscha Liha. Zorya was one of the original twenty teams to debut for the first season of the Ukrainian Premier League. The team played for five seasons until the 1995–96 season in which they finished eighteenth and were sent down to the Persha Liha. Zorya relegated to Druha Liha in 1996–97 season but she returned to Persha Liha in 2003–04 season.

In 2016 the team had advanced sufficiently in the standings that they were involved in the European wide play-offs in the UEFA Europa League.In the 2016-17 Europa League season, Zorya Luhansk played group matches against Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, and Manchester United.


Names[]

Predecessors
  • 1923–35: FC Metallist Lugansk (city was renamed to Voroshilovgrad in 1935)
  • 1936–40: FC Dzerzhinets Voroshilovgrad (dissolved due to the war; named after Felix Dzerzhinsky)
  • 1948–53: FC Dzerzhinets Voroshilovgrad (team transferred under Avanhard sports society)
  • 1953–59: FC Avangard Voroshilovgrad (reorganized, city was renamed to Lugansk in 1958)
Trudovi Rezervy
  • 1949–51: Trudovye Rezervy Voroshilovgrad (team liquidated, criminal proceedings)
  • 1957–64: Trudovye Rezervy Lugansk (new team; team merged into SC Zorya)
Zorya
  • 1960–64: SC Zaria Lugansk (revived as the OR Factory sports club and reorganized)
  • 1964–70: FC Zaria Lugansk (merged with Trudovi Rezervy to united football club)
  • 1970–90: FC Zaria Voroshilovgrad (city was renamed to Voroshilovgrad in 1970)
  • 1990–91: FC Zaria Lugansk (city was renamed back to Lugansk in 1990)
  • 1992–96: FC Zorya-MALS Luhansk (renamed with adding of the sponsor name)
  • 1996–present: FC Zorya Luhansk (Ukrainian period, modern team)

Colours and badge[]

The club's mascot with the club's old badge used in 2000–2010

The clubs colours are black and white. In 2010 the club adopted own mascot, a black-white cat which after the club's relocation also moved to Zaporizhia.

The club's current badge was adopted after 2010 and was completely redesigned. In early 1990s the club's badge also carried the brand of local company "MALS". Earlier badges had a silhouette of an oncoming locomotive.

Stadium(s)[]

  • Stadion "Avanhard" in Luhansk (2009)

  • Slavutych Arena in Zaporizhia (2011)

  • Announcement about the 1984 season's game Zoria – Rotor

Reserve team[]

The reserve team of Zorya, Zorya Luhansk Reserves (Ukrainian: ФК «Зоря» Луганськ дубль) are playing in the Ukrainian Premier Reserve League.

Sponsors[]

MediaMix Concept, D & M, Lir, and also Steel Symphony.

Football kits and sponsors[]

Years[10] Football kit Shirt sponsor
2006–07 Umbro –
2007–09 Puma
2009–10 dm bank[11]
2010–11 Nike –
2011–14 Holsten

Honours[]

Since 1960 the football championship of the Ukrainian SSR among "teams of masters" was conducted as part of the Class B competitions which at first were second tier and later third tier until completely phased away. Afterwards, Ukrainian football competitions were adopted into one of zones of the Soviet Second League.

Another all-Ukrainian football competitions among "collectives of physical culture" (KFK) were conducted since 1964 that were ongoing until 1991 and sometimes are confused for the actually championship mentioned before. Neither Trudovi rezervy or Zorya played in competitions among collectives of physical culture", but did play in football championship of Ukrainian SSR which until 1959 was not considered as a competition among teams of masters.

Domestic competitions[]

Soviet Union[]

  • Soviet Top League
    • Winners (1): 1972
  • Soviet Cup
    • Runners-up (2): 1974, 1975
  • Soviet First League
  • Soviet Second League
    • Winners (1): 1986[b]
    • Runners-up (1): 1991 (West)
  • Ukrainian SSR (parallel competition since 1960, please, refrain from placing it as the Soviet Second League as it not always had the same status)

Ukraine[]

Current squad[]

As of 19 July 2021.[12][13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 MF Croatia CRO Lovro Cvek
5 DF North Macedonia MKD Agron Rufati
6 DF Brazil BRA Juninho
7 MF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Kocherhin
8 MF Ukraine UKR Maksym Lunyov
9 FW Iran IRN Shahab Zahedi
10 MF Ukraine UKR Dmytro Khomchenovskyi
11 FW Ukraine UKR Oleksandr Hladkyy
14 MF Ukraine UKR Maksym Khlan
15 DF Ukraine UKR Vitaliy Vernydub
16 FW Brazil BRA
17 DF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Yemets
19 DF Ukraine UKR Akhmed Alibekov (on loan from Dynamo Kyiv)
22 MF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Kabayev
23 MF Ukraine UKR Serhiy Buletsa (on loan from Dynamo Kyiv)
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF Ukraine UKR Artem Hromov
29 MF Ukraine UKR Yehor Nazaryna
30 GK Ukraine UKR Mykyta Shevchenko (captain)
32 DF Ukraine UKR Maksym Imerekov
34 DF Ukraine UKR Denys Nahnoynyi
36 GK Ukraine UKR
43 FW Ukraine UKR Danylo Alefirenko
45 DF Ukraine UKR Denys Favorov
46 DF Ukraine UKR Yuriy Dudnyk
47 FW Ghana GHA Raymond Owusu
53 GK Ukraine UKR Dmytro Matsapura
68 FW Brazil BRA Cristian
74 DF Ukraine UKR Ihor Snurnitsyn
90 FW Iran IRN Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (on loan from Fenerbahçe)

Out on loan[]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Ukraine UKR Tymofiy Sukhar (at VPK-Ahro Shevchenkivka until 30 June 2022)
— MF Ukraine UKR Volodymyr Bilotserkovets (at Metalurh Zaporizhya until 30 June 2022)
— MF Ukraine UKR Dmytro Piddubnyi (at Metalurh Zaporizhya until 30 June 2022)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Ukraine UKR Yehor Shalfeyev (at Metalurh Zaporizhya until 30 June 2022)
— MF Ukraine UKR Denys Yanakov (at Polissya Zhytomyr until 30 June 2022)

Coaches and administration[]

Administration[14][15] Coaching[16] (senior team) Coaching[17] (U-21 team) Coaching[18] (U-19 team)
  • President – Yevhen Heller
  • General director – Serhiy Rafailov
  • Sportive director – Yuriy Koval
  • Squad chief – Stanislav Ohanov
  • Senior coach – Vacant
  • Goalies coach –

Presidents and owners[]

Source:[15]

  • 1989–90: Administration Chairman Oleksiy Vintun
  • 1990: Club Chairman I. Shyrokyi
  • 1990: Club Chairman O. Lyakhov
  • 1990–92: President Yuriy Koniayev
  • 1992–96: President Volodymyr Tarasenko
  • 1996–01: President Dmytro Makarenko
  • 2001–02: President Volodymyr Makarov
  • 2002–05: President Yuriy Sevastianov
  • 2005–07: President Valeriy Shpichka
  • 2007–09: President and owner
  • 2009: Owner Marina Bukayeva
    • 2009: President Oleksandr Yehorov
    • 2009: President Manolis Pilavov
  • 2009–present: President and owner Yevhen Heller

Most capped players[]

No. Name Playing period League Cup Europe Total
1 Anatoliy Kuksov 1969–85 424 89 4 517
2 1977–92 (w/breaks) 382 81 0 461
3 Oleksandr Tkachenko 1967–87 (w/breaks) 370 33 4 407
4 Oleksandr Zhuravlyov 1965–79 316 34 2 352
5 1978–96 318 18 0 336
6 1982–90 323 10 0 333
7 1959–68 326 4 0 330
8 Viktor Kuznetsov 1968–79 272 42 4 318
9 Yuriy Yaroshenko 1982–90 304 11 0 315
10 Serhiy Yarmolych 1984–96 (w/breaks) 306 5 0 311

Top scoring players[]

No. Name Playing period League Cup Europe Total
1 1978–96 121 3 0 124
2 Anatoliy Kuksov 1969–85 89 7 1 97
3 1977–92 (w/breaks) 81 7 0 88
4 Timerlan Guseinov 1985–93 (w/breaks) 66 2 0 68
5 1957–61 61 0 0 61
6 Viktor Kuznetsov 1968–79 40 10 1 51
7 Yuriy Yaroshenko 1982–90 47 1 0 48
8 1960–68 42 2 0 44
9 Yuriy Yeliseyev 1970–77 36 7 0 43
10 1961–64 40 1 0 41

Managers[]

First team[]

  • Soviet Union (Jan 1936–Dec 39)
  • Soviet Union (Jan 1957–Sept 57)
  • Soviet Union Alexey Vodyagin (Sept 1957–Dec 59)
  • Soviet Union Mikhail Antonevich (Jan 1960–July 60)
  • Soviet Union (Aug 1960–Dec 61)
  • Soviet Union German Zonin (Jan 1962–May 64)
  • Soviet Union (May 1964–Dec 64)
  • Soviet Union Konstantin Beskov (Jan 1965–Dec 65)
  • Soviet Union Yevgeny Goryansky (Jan 1966–Dec 67)
  • Soviet Union (Jan 1968–June 68)
  • Soviet Union (July 1968–Sept 69)
  • Soviet Union German Zonin (Sept 1969–Dec 72)
  • Soviet Union Vsevolod Blinkov (Jan 1973–June 74)
  • Soviet Union (June 1974–Dec 74)
  • Soviet Union (Jan 1975–Dec 75)
  • Soviet Union (Jan 1976–Dec 76)
  • Soviet Union Yozhef Sabo (Jan 1977–Dec 77)
  • Soviet Union (Jan 1978–Dec 79)
  • Soviet Union Vadym Dobizha (Jan 1980–Dec 81)
    

Reserve team[]

Longest serving coaches[]

Last Updated after 2020/21 season[19]

No. Name Nation Time period G W D L GS GA Achievement
1 Vadym Dobizha  Soviet Union  Ukraine 1980–1981 and 1985-1988 259 114 55 90 358 331 10/24 (1987 Second Division)
2 German Zonin  Soviet Union  Russia 1962–1964 and 1969-1972 178 77 62 39 241 149 Champion (1972 First Division)
3 Yuriy Vernydub  Ukraine 2011–2019 141 62 37 42 211 169 3/12 (2016–17 First Division)
4 Anatoliy Kuksov  Ukraine 1990–1993 and 1996 105 52 18 35 154 117 12/20 (1992 First Division)
5 Yuriy Zakharov  Soviet Union  Russia 1975 and 1978–1979 94 25 30 39 111 143 9/16 (1975 and 1978 First Division)
6  Soviet Union  Ukraine 1982–1983 84 33 20 31 131 119 6/22 (1982 Second Division)
7 Yuriy Koval  Ukraine 2004–2006 and 2009 81 48 18 15 137 55 3/18 (2004–05 Second Division)
8 Anatoly Baidachny  Soviet Union  Russia 1988–1989 78 34 20 24 119 93 20/22 (1988 Second Division)
9 Yevgeny Goryansky  Soviet Union  Russia 1966–1967 74 26 27 21 64 58 16/19 (1967 First Division)
10 Alexey Vodyagin  Soviet Union  Russia 1957–1959 65 29 17 19 95 68 4/14 (1959 Second Division)

League and Cup history[]

See also: List of FC Zorya Luhansk seasons

FC Zorya Luhansk spent 14 seasons in the Soviet top tier including the Class A Group One and the Top League (1967–1979). The club managed to become champions of the Soviet Union in 1972. Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ukrainian club Zorya spent 20 seasons in the Ukrainian top tier including the Top League and the Premier League (1992–1996 and 2006–present).

The statistics is based on information from the club's official website.[20]

Metalist, Dzerzhinets, Avanhard, Zorya[]

Soviet Union[]

Ukraine[]

Trudovi Rezervy[]

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes
Trudovi Rezervy / Trudovye Rezervy
1949 2nd
(Gruppa II. Ukrainskaya Zona) 		15 34 9 6 19 44 59 24
3rd
(Ukraine) 		1 18 11 4 3 35 18 26
2 3 2 0 1 4 5 4 Final group
1 18 13 4 1 46 10 30
6 6 0 3 3 6 14 3 Final group
Original club disbanded in 1951 and revived in 1957
2nd
(Klass B) 		16 34 6 10 18 18 55 22 1⁄2 finals (Zone)
6 30 12 10 8 35 26 34 1⁄4 finals (Zone)
1959 4 26 15 3 8 55 31 33 1⁄2 finals (Zone)
1960 3 36 19 9 8 69 40 47 Ukrainian Championship
2 36 22 7 7 56 23 51 Ukrainian Championship
4 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Playoff
1 24 14 5 5 52 22 33 1⁄4 finals (Ukraine)
1 10 6 4 0 22 11 16 Champions of Ukraine
1 2 2 0 0 5 1 4 Promotional playoff; Reorganization
1963 2nd
(Klass A. Vtoraya gruppa) 		5 34 15 11 8 41 26 41 1⁄32 finals
FC Trudovi Rezervy Luhansk merged with amateur SC Zorya Luhansk under name FC Zorya Luhansk

European record[]

Main article: FC Zorya Luhansk in European football
Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate Qual.
1973–74 European Cup 1R Cyprus APOEL 2–0 1–0 3–0 Symbol keep vote.svg
2R Czechoslovakia Spartak Trnava 0–1 0–0 0–1 Symbol delete vote.svg
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 2Q Albania Laçi 2–1 3–0 5–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
3Q Norway Molde 1–1 2–1 3–2 Symbol keep vote.svg
PO Netherlands Feyenoord 1–1 3–4 4–5 Symbol delete vote.svg
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 3Q Belgium Charleroi 3–0 2–0 5–0 Symbol keep vote.svg
PO Poland Legia Warsaw 0–1 2–3 2–4 Symbol delete vote.svg
2016–17 UEFA Europa League Group A England Manchester United 0–2 0–1 4th Symbol delete vote.svg
Turkey Fenerbahçe 1–1 0–2
Netherlands Feyenoord 1–1 0–1
2017–18 UEFA Europa League Group J Spain Athletic Bilbao 0–2 1–0 3rd Symbol delete vote.svg
Germany Hertha 2–1 0–2
Sweden Östersund 0–2 0–2
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 3Q Portugal Braga 1–1 2–2 3–3 Symbol keep vote.svg
PO Germany Leipzig 0–0 2–3 2–3 Symbol delete vote.svg
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 2Q Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica 1–0 3–1 4–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
3Q Bulgaria CSKA Sofia 1–0 1–1 2–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
PO Spain Espanyol 2–2 1–3 3–5 Symbol delete vote.svg
2020–21 UEFA Europa League Group G Portugal Braga 1–2 0–2 3rd Symbol delete vote.svg
England Leicester City 1–0 0–3
Greece AEK Athens 1–4 3–0
2021–22 UEFA Europa League PO Austria Rapid Wien 2–3 0–3 2–6 Symbol delete vote.svg
UEFA Europa Conference League Group C Italy Roma
Bulgaria CSKA Sofia
Norway Bodø/Glimt 1–3
Notes
  • 1R: First round
  • 2R: Second round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 3Q: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c as Trudovi Rezervy
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e as the Champion of Ukraine

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b The UPL collective congratulates "Zorya" with its Day of Establishment (Колектив УПЛ вітає «Зорю» з Днем заснування!). Ukrainian Premier League. 5 May 2021
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Luhansk football at the Our Luhansk football portal.
  3. ^ The first Trudovi Rezervy. Luhansk Our Football.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b 1944-1950. Zarya Lugansk fansite.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d 1951-1960. Zarya Lugansk fansite.
  6. ^ Avanhard Voroshilovhrad. Luhansk Our Football.
  7. ^ 1958-1960. Zarya Lugansk fansite
  8. ^ 1963-1964. Zarya Lugansk fansite.
  9. ^ Slyvka, K. What Geller is still doing for Akhmetov (Що досі робить Геллер для Ахметова). Depo. 23 September 2015
  10. ^ Jerseys of Ukrainian clubs Archived September 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Äèàïàçîí-Ìàêñèìóì Áàíê – Òîï-8 áàíêîâ ñ ðàçäóòûìè àêòèâàìè – Áèçíåñ – Forbes Óêðàèíà". Forbes.ua. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Заря" Луганск". Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Zorya".
  14. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Заря" - Луганск".
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Менеджмент". Archived from the original on June 19, 2016.
  16. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Заря" - Луганск".
  17. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Заря" - Луганск".
  18. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Заря" - Луганск".
  19. ^ Head coaches (Главные тренеры). www.zarya.lg.ua
  20. ^ Club's history. Zorya website.

External links[]

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