Professional football club based in Chernihiv, Ukraine
Football club
Football Club Desna Chernihiv (Ukrainian: ФК «Десна» Чернігів) was a Ukrainian football club 🛡 based in Chernihiv. The original name of the club was "Avanhard" (FC Avanhard Chernihiv) during its first year of existence 🛡 as part of a republican Avanhard sports society. Between 1961 and 1970 the club was called Desna. In 1972 it 🛡 was replaced with SC Chernihiv (team of the SKA Kyiv) that played in Chernihiv for the next couple of years. 🛡 In 1977 Desna was revived now in place of the amateur club "FC Khimik Chernihiv" that won regional competitions.
History [ 🛡 edit ]
Original team of masters Avanhard Chernihiv [ edit ]
Oleh Kuznetsov, played for FC Desna Chernihiv in the season 1981–1982
The 🛡 team of masters was established in Chernihiv in 1960 under the name "Avanhard" as part of the republican Avanhard sports 🛡 society and entering competitions of the class "B" competitions (concurrently Football Championship of the Ukrainian SSR).[1] That year the Chernihiv 🛡 team "Avanhard" would take part in the state football championship (challenge) among the Class B teams. The team was created 🛡 on already existing Chernihiv city team that also was known as Avanhard and played earlier in republican level competitions.
In the 🛡 season 1958, "Avanhard Chernihiv", signed Viktor Bannikov for one year, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Soviet Union 🛡 earning the title of the best twice in 1964 and 1970 and distinguished Master of Sport of USSR (1991). From 🛡 1966 to 1979 the goalkeeper was Yuriy Hruznov from Chernihiv.
In the "Avanhard Chernihiv"'s squad were included better footballers of the 🛡 region (Chernihiv Oblast). Among them are goalkeeper V.Lomako, field players V.Kravchynskyi, Yu.Shkolnikov, O.Finkelberh, and others, in such way the chairman 🛡 of regional council of sports societies and organizations V.Tatur informed readers of "Desnyanska Pravda" on 10 February 1960.[2] "The team's 🛡 coach is appointed a former Dynamo Kyiv player Aleksandr Shchanov. These days "Avanhard" will proceed with its training and in 🛡 already the nearest future in Chernihiv will start reconstruction and upgrade of the city's stadium. In its construction will take 🛡 part quite a few city residents, public, youth, and Komsomol activists".[2] Over 26 seasons in the USSR championships, Desna played 🛡 1,099 matches, of which 380 won, 301 – tied and 418 – lost. They scored 1145 goals, conceded – 1251.
In 🛡 February, "Avanhard Chernihiv" took part in the winter championship of the Chernihiv Oblast (see Chernihiv Oblast Football Federation), and the 🛡 team played their first official match on April 17, 1960, in Kirovohrad against the "Zirka" (0:3). The next match, "Avanhard" 🛡 held a draw with Kyivan "Arsenal" (0:0), and then lost at its home field to "Lokomotyv" out of Vinnytsia (today 🛡 FC Nyva Vinnytsia) with a score of 0:6. In May 1960, Aleksandr Shchanov was dismissed. The duties of a head 🛡 coach were performed by his assistant Anatoliy Zhigan, who was approved in this position in July 1960. In its first 🛡 season in the USSR championship, the team took 16th place out of 17 teams in the 1st zone of the 🛡 Ukrainian Class B class (second tier) and won relegation playoff against Avanhard Pryluky to stay in the league.
Name Change from 🛡 "Avanhard Chernihiv" to "FC Desna Chernihiv" [ edit ]
Andriy Yarmolenko in the season 2006/2007 played for FC Desna Chernihiv
In 1961 🛡 the team received the name "Desna". According to the results of the 1961 season, Desna took the 5th place in 🛡 its group and the 10th place in the final of the Ukrainian SSR (class "B"). Among all the Ukrainian teams 🛡 of the championship of the USSR Chernihiv team was the 13th.[1]
In 1962, the team was coached by Yevgeny Goryansky and 🛡 in 1965 Desna achieved its highest achievement in the Soviet Union era. Defeating six opponents, including class "A" teams – 🛡 "Shinnik" and "Neftçi", the team reached the 1/8 finals of the USSR Cup, where they lost to "Kairat" in Almaty 🛡 with a score 3:4.[4] The following season, the team fought for leadership in the first zone of the Ukrainian class 🛡 "B" – the winners were given the right to fight for securing the second group of the "A" class (later 🛡 reorganized into the First League). "Desna" skipped forward only Khmelnitsky "Dynamo", and in the overall standings took the 4th place 🛡 in the championship of the Ukrainian SSR.
In 1968, Desna, taking fourth place in the final tournament of the best Ukrainian 🛡 teams of the "B" class, won a ticket to the second group of the "A" class.[4] At the end of 🛡 the 1970 season, the team took 11th place among 22 teams, but at the end of the year the decision 🛡 of the new head of the Chernihiv region was to disband the club.[6] In 1972 the city of Chernihiv was 🛡 represented by a football team called the "team of Chernihiv city" and later renamed as SC Chernihiv. The team represented 🛡 the Armed Forces of Kiev Military District and better known as SKA Kyiv. The 1976 season was its last season 🛡 at professional level.
At the same period of time in 1976 "Khimik" Chernihiv, led by the former player of the Desna, 🛡 Yukhym Shkolnykov, won the Ukrainian SSR championship among the physical culture teams, thus gaining an opportunity to participate at professional 🛡 level, the Soviet Second League. In 1977 "Desna", the composition of which was formed from the former players of "Khimik" 🛡 Chernihiv, entered the Soviet Second League. In the season 1981–1982 Oleh Kuznetsov, started his career in FC Desna Chernihiv, as 🛡 the family moved to Chernihiv and later he played for Dynamo Kyiv, Rangers, Maccabi Haifa and CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv, winning UEFA 🛡 Cup Winners' Cup, Soviet Top League, Soviet Cup. Scottish Premier Division, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup with Rangers. He also 🛡 got the final with Soviet Union in UEFA Euro 1988 in the West Germany with 11th and 17th places for 🛡 Ballon d'Or in 1988 and 1989. In summer 1982, the club signed Oleksandr Ryabokon as defender and the team, placed 🛡 2nd in the Ukrainian zone of the Second League, won silver medals of the football championship of the Ukrainian SSR.[4] 🛡 In the season 1983–1984 the team was coached by the experience of Yevgeny Goryansky having coached Soviet Union and clubs 🛡 like FC Dinamo Minsk, FC Dynamo Moscow, FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Zenit Leningrad. In 1990 the club got into 🛡 the semifinal of Cup of the Ukrainian SSR against Naftovyk Okhtyrka.[7] In 1991 he got into the quarterfinal of Cup 🛡 of the Ukrainian SSR against Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih.
Transition from Soviet competitions to Ukrainian [ edit ]
Oleksandr Ryabokon, the head-coach era 🛡 of FC Desna, since 2012 and elected Best Coach of Ukrainian First League in 2024–17
After the collapse of the Soviet 🛡 Union and the proclamation of Ukraine's independence, Desna started playing in the Ukrainian First League, but in the season 1993/94 🛡 it was relegated to the third tier. The coach was Yuriy Hruznov from 1990 to 1993 and the club won 🛡 the Ukrainian Second League group tournament in the season 1996–97, the team returned to the First League for two seasons. 🛡 Since 1999, for seven seasons, Chernihiv footballers performed in the Second League. In the Summer 2003, the club acquired the 🛡 Serbia defender Milan Zagorac and the coach was Vadym Lazorenko from 2002 to 2004. Desna got second in the Ukrainian 🛡 Second League with Oleksandr Kozhemyachenko top scores with 21 goals [10] and the season 2005–06 finally won the and Ukrainian 🛡 Second League and the club return the team to the Ukrainian First League in the season 2006–07. First League in 🛡 the championship of 2005/06 mentors Olexandr Tomakh and Yukhym Shkolnykov were managed.
In summer time 2006, FC Desna signed the professional 🛡 Forward Andriy Yarmolenko, who played for who played for FC Dynamo Kyiv, Borussia Dortmund and now plays for West Ham 🛡 United F.C. He also played for under-21 squad for also participated in the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification. He 🛡 later participated in qualification and finals of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. With the Ukraine National Team, in 🛡 the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Andorra, Yarmolenko made his first senior appearance for Ukraine and scored in 🛡 a 5–0 win. On 2 September 2011, in an international friendly against Uruguay in Kharkiv, Yarmolenko set a national team 🛡 record by scoring 14 seconds into the match, the fastest time in which a Ukraine national team player has scored 🛡 a goal. UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, play-off victory over Slovenia to qualify the nation for Euro 2024.
In the 2007/08 season 🛡 Desna took the 4th place in the Ukrainian First League, which at that time was the best result of the 🛡 team in the Ukrainian championship. In November 2008 the club's president Oleksiy Savchenko announced that he sold 50% of the 🛡 club's stock for ₴10 million and the club's co-owner became Ukrainian parliamentarian of Party of Regions Pavlo Klymets who was 🛡 the owner of "Olimp" company specializing in production of vodka.[12][13] After the end of the 2009/10 season Desna was deprived 🛡 of professional status due to the fact that it did not pass the certification,[14] but the new authority managed to 🛡 revive the team and declare it in the Second League.[15] In the season 2011–12, the coach was Oleksandr Deriberin that 🛡 brought the club at the second place in Ukrainian Second League and gained the playoff.
Promotion to Ukrainian Premier League [ 🛡 edit ]
In the 2012–13 season, Desna won the Ukrainian Second League title and rose in the class.[16] Following the results 🛡 of the championship of 2013/14 the team took the 5th position in the First League. In the Ukrainian Cup in 🛡 the season 2013–14, the team for the first time in history reached the quarter finals, having beaten "Metalurh" Zaporizhya (1:1, 🛡 in a penalty shootout – 5:4) on its field. In the match 1/4 finals with the "Shakhtar" "Desna" lost with 🛡 a score of 0:2.[17][18] The coach Oleksandr Ryabokon was elected best coach of the Ukrainian First League in the season 🛡 2024–17.
In the summer 2024, the club signed the striker Oleksandr Filippov, from FC Avanhard Kramatorsk and in 2024/17 season Desna 🛡 won the silver medals of the First League and for the first time in history gained the right to compete 🛡 in the Premier League.[19]
However, on 1 June 2024, it was announced that Desna was denied in receiving license to play 🛡 in the top division. The argument was that the club is not able to provide guarantees for an adequate financing 🛡 of infrastructure.[20] In reality, the problem was not only in half-shady financial irregularities, but also shady ownership of the club.[21] 🛡 The license was received by NK Veres Rivne, the third-placed team during the last season in the second-tier division.[22]
Both clubs 🛡 FC Desna Chernihiv and NK Veres Rivne did not play at their home stadiums in the 2024–17 Ukrainian First League. 🛡 The first one played in Kyiv at the Obolon Arena, while the other one played in Varash, at the Izotop 🛡 Stadium of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. The administration of Desna released a letter of protest before a meeting of 🛡 FFU representative.[23] On 2 June 2024, it was announced about the final composition of the clubs and calendar for the 🛡 upcoming season.[24] In October 2024 the club's ownership was passed to Volodymyr Levin. According to the results of the 2024/18 🛡 season Desna won the bronze medals of the First League and gained the right to compete in the Premier League 🛡 through the play-offs against Zirka Kropyvnytskyi. The captain Denys Favorov was elected Best Player Ukrainian First League in the season 🛡 2024–18. The team got into the Quarterfinals of the Ukrainian Cup in the season 2024–18 against Dynamo Kyiv.
Fair Play prize 🛡 of Ukrainian Premier League [ edit ]
In the summer of 2024, the captain Denys Favorov left the club after 4 🛡 years, to the surprise of many people, as the club chose not to extend his contract. It was particularly surprisingg 🛡 given that Favorov was elected Ukrainian Footballer of the Year in 2024.[25][26] The striker Oleksandr Filippov was sold for 1.5 🛡 million euros, becoming the most expensive player sold by the club, also with some Italian clubs interested in the player.[27][28] 🛡 After the draw for the Europa League third qualifying round, Desna got the German team VfL Wolfsburg and on 24 🛡 September 2024 they lost 2–0 at the AOK Stadion.[29]
In October 2024 Yukhym Konoplya (on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk), has been 🛡 called for the Ukraine national football team, for friendly match against France and UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and 🛡 Spain on 7, 10 and 13 October 2024 respectively, becoming the first player of playing in Desna Chernihiv, called in 🛡 the Ukraine national team.[30][31]
In January 2024, the team has won the Fair Play prize in the UPL as the best 🛡 team in the season 2024–20.The award ceremony was attended by the President of the Ukrainian Football Association, UEFA Executive Committee 🛡 member Andriy Pavelko, UAF First Vice President Oleh Protasov, UAF Referees Committee Chairman Luciano Luci, UPL Executive Director Yevhen Dyky 🛡 and PFL President Oleksandr Kadenko.[32][33][34]
In summer of 2024 the club fails to qualify for the cups and according with the 🛡 president of the club, Volodymyr Levin, said that the club has a 4-month debt to the players for the payment 🛡 of salaries and the management of the UPL club decided to cut the budget for the 2024/22 season. A number 🛡 of players have left Desna.[35] The club begins the rejuvenation of the team, leaving starting players who have made the 🛡 history of the club and begins to develop the team's academy and choose some of Desna 2 players.[36] The team 🛡 was requalified and new young players has been added into the club with good results at the beginning of the 🛡 season to the surprise of many people and the press. In September 2024, Vladyslav Kalitvintsev has been included in the 🛡 reserve team of Ukraine national football team against Finland, becoming the first player belong to Desna to been called in 🛡 the Ukraine national football team.[37]
Infrastructure [ edit ]
Stadium [ edit ]
The team play in the Olympic sports training center "Chernihiv" 🛡 (formerly Stadion Yuriya Gagarina). The Stadion Yuri Gagarin in Chernihiv was built in 1936 for 3,000 spectators in eastern portion 🛡 of a city park (garden) that exists since 1804 and where previously was located residence of the Chernihiv Archbishops. During 🛡 World War II, the Chernihiv Stadium was heavily damaged and in the 1950s was completely reconstructed, included stadium walls and 🛡 two stands for 11,000 spectators. In 1961, it was named after the Russian Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. On 25 May 🛡 1964, Gagarin in person attended the stadium. In the mid 1980s, the stadium capacity was increased to 14,000.
Training centre [ 🛡 edit ]
Desna Chernihiv, train in the "Olympic sports training center" and sometime in Chernihiv Arena, which is belong of FC 🛡 Chernihiv. Desna Chernihiv and the young brother team FC Chernihiv, want to build football fields and other sports infrastructure. Both 🛡 plots are located in the ZAZ neighborhood near Kiltseva – Voloshkova – Kalinova – Dachna streets. The first has an 🛡 area of 1.4794 hectares, its regulatory monetary value is ₴1,923,367.94. Based on the results of the bidding, the relevant agreement 🛡 will be concluded by December 31, 2026. The area of the second plot is 3.9469 hectares, its normative monetary value 🛡 is ₴5,131,364.69. The agreement will be valid until December 31, 2025.[38]
Youth, academy and reserves [ edit ]
The club has few 🛡 reserve teams, the main one is FC Desna-2 Chernihiv, which in 2008 entered the professional leagues for the first time. 🛡 The team had been competing in the Chernihivska Oblast competition and prepared themselves in the fourth-level 2008 Ukrainian Football Amateur 🛡 League.[39] The club has, the Youth Sports School called Yunist Chernihiv, where produced players like Andriy Yarmolenko.[40] The academy of 🛡 Desna, produced also Illya Shevtsov, which become the top scorer for the Ukrainian Premier League Reserves in the season 2024–20.[41] 🛡 In 2024, the Desna football club is working on the creation of a children's football academy in Chernihiv.There is already 🛡 a land plot for this and the club began the implementation of the long-standing idea and dream of our fans 🛡 – the creation of a children's academy. At the site where the academy will be located, preliminary design work is 🛡 currently underway. Then the adaptation of the project to the terrain with the construction work should begin in the spring 🛡 2024.[42]
Desna's supporters [ edit ]
The fans of FC Desna Chernihiv are called Ultras Desna called also North Block, they are 🛡 quite famous for supporting and following their team, at home and away.[43] When the team enter in the stadium they 🛡 can expect a warm welcome by their fans. The fans they always support the team until the end of every 🛡 single match. During FC Desna Chernihiv matches, the fan area is a strip of white and blue colors.[44] On 12 🛡 March 2024 during the Quarterfinal match against Vorskla Poltava, the match was played behind closed doors due to quarantine in 🛡 Ukraine during COVID-19 pandemic and "Ultra Desna" supported the team outside the Stadion Yuri Gagarin. They are also active in 🛡 many social media like the Russian-based Telegram Channel.[45] There are fans outside Ukraine, like in Italy but there is also 🛡 an Australian fan of Desna called Ian Brash who constantly travels from England to Ukraine to see the team playing 🛡 at home and away since 2024 supporting the club.[46][47][48][49][50]
Honours and distinctions [ edit ]
Crest and colours [ edit ]
Coat of 🛡 arms of Chernihiv
Crest [ edit ]
The crest of the club, which was created in early 2008 contained an image of 🛡 an eagle from the coat of arms of Chernihiv and a sign of Chernihiv prince Mstyslav Volodymyrovych.[55][56]
The modern crest, made 🛡 in the traditional white and blue colors of the Desna, was presented on July 27, 2024.[57] In the development of 🛡 the emblem the fans of the team took part.[58] On the shield is a stylized eagle – the main element 🛡 of the city coat of arms of Chernihiv. The image of the eagle was used as a symbol of Chernihiv 🛡 princes from the middle of the 10th century. The golden cross, which holds the eagle, symbolizes the importance of Christianity 🛡 in the history of the city, one of the main spiritual centers of Ukraine. Vertical blue and white stripes on 🛡 the emblem are based on the form in which the players of the Desna have been playing since 1962. The 🛡 inscription "Desna" is made in a font that was used on the previous emblems of the club.[59]
There are old crests 🛡 of the club:
Club logo until 2008
Club logo from 2008 to 2024
Club logo from 2024 to the present
Colours [ edit ]
The 🛡 historical colours of Desna are white and blue.[60] In the 1961 season, white and blue were used as home colours, 🛡 green and blue as away colours. In a friendly match against Hammarby on 22 October 1961, Desna players wore red 🛡 shirts and blue shorts.
Desna Chernihiv players wearing blue and white kits on 22 May 2014
Players [ edit ]
Current squad [ 🛡 edit ]
As of 10 April 2024[61][62][63]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more 🛡 than one non-FIFA nationality.
Other players under contract [ edit ]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. 🛡 Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan [ edit ]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under 🛡 FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserve team [ edit ]
For the reserve squads, see Desna-2 🛡 Chernihiv and Desna-3 Chernihiv
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one 🛡 non-FIFA nationality.
Records [ edit ]
As of 22 September 2024[64]
Coaches and administration [ edit ]
Managers and presidents [ edit ]
League and 🛡 cup history [ edit ]
Soviet Union [ edit ]
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup 🛡 Europe Notes 1960 Class B, Ukraine I 16 32 5 6 21 29 62 16 Relegation playoff 1961 Class B, 🛡 Ukraine I 5 34 13 13 8 50 49 39 UkSSR zone 1, Final ( 1 ⁄ 64 ) Relegation 🛡 playoff 9–10 pos. 10 2 0 1 1 2 4 1 1962 Class B, Ukraine III 4 24 10 8 🛡 6 40 33 28 UkSSR zone, 1 ⁄ 8 finals ( 1 ⁄ 256 ) Relegation playoff 7–17 pos. 13 🛡 10 1 7 2 7 9 9 Relegated In 1963 Class A was expanded with an extra tier, Class B 🛡 was downgraded 1963 Class B, Ukraine I 11 38 12 12 14 35 42 36 UkSSR zone 1, 1 ⁄ 🛡 4 finals ( 1 ⁄ 512 ) 21–22 pos. 21 2 1 0 1 4 3 2 1964 Class B, 🛡 Ukraine I 11 30 8 10 12 23 31 26 UkSSR zone 1, Final ( 1 ⁄ 128 ) 25–30 🛡 pl. 25 10 4 5 1 15 8 13 1965 Class B, Ukraine I 9 30 8 14 8 32 🛡 33 30 1 ⁄ 8 finals 19–24 pl. 21 10 4 2 4 13 14 10 1966 Class B, Ukraine 🛡 I 2 38 19 11 8 56 32 49 1 ⁄ 128 finals 3–4 pl. 4 2 0 1 1 🛡 0 2 1 1967 Class B, Ukraine I 8 40 17 11 12 44 33 45 UkSSR zone 1, 1 🛡 ⁄ 8 finals ( 1 ⁄ 1024 ) 1968 Class B, Ukraine II 3 40 24 6 10 50 27 🛡 54 Crimea zone, Final ( 1 ⁄ 256 ) Final UkSSR 4 7 3 2 2 6 6 8 Promoted 🛡 1969 Class A, Group 2, Subgroup 3 18 42 11 14 17 30 59 36 1 ⁄ 128 finals Relegated 🛡 1970 Class A, Group 2, Zone 1 11 42 17 10 15 43 45 44 1 ⁄ 128 Finals Disbanded 🛡 Desna was disbanded in 1971–76 1977 Second League, Zone 2 14 44 11 16 17 34 42 38 1978 Second 🛡 League, Zone 2 11 44 16 13 15 37 33 45 1979 Second League, Zone 2 17 46 13 12 🛡 21 37 57 38 1980 Second League, Zone 5 8 44 18 13 13 50 29 49 1981 Second League, 🛡 Zone 5 12 44 13 15 16 48 38 41 1982 Second League, Zone 6 2 46 26 10 10 🛡 64 38 62 1983 Second League, Zone 6 23 50 16 8 26 26 50 38 1984 Second League, Zone 🛡 2, Group 1 11 24 6 5 13 24 39 17 Final 13–26 pl. 20 14 6 3 5 20 🛡 24 15 1985 Second League, Zone 2, Group 1 10 26 7 6 13 26 36 20 Final 15–28 pl. 🛡 23 14 6 3 5 16 19 15 1986 Second League, Zone 2, Group 1 10 26 8 7 11 🛡 25 31 23 Final 15–28 pl. 23 14 5 3 6 12 13 13 1987 Second League, Zone 6 24 🛡 52 11 17 24 48 80 39 1988 Second League, Zone 6 21 50 14 14 22 42 59 42 🛡 1989 Second League, Zone 5 17 42 14 8 20 39 54 36 Relegated 1990 Soviet Lower Second League, Zone 🛡 1 12 36 13 6 17 35 39 32 UkSSR Cup, 1 ⁄ 2 finals 1991 Soviet Lower Second League, 🛡 Zone 1 13 50 20 9 21 59 59 49 UkSSR Cup, 1 ⁄ 4 finals
Ukraine [ edit ]
1 tier 🛡 – 3 seasons (Ukraine)
2 tier – 4 seasons (USSR) + 14 seasons (Ukraine)
3 tier – 20 seasons (USSR) + 13 🛡 seasons (Ukraine)
4 tier – 2 seasons (USSR)
European record [ edit ]
Desna qualified for European football for the first time in 🛡 the 2024–21 season, where they made their debut in the Europa League.
UEFA club rankings [ edit ]
Rank Country Team Points 🛡 Years 197 Desna Chernihiv 5.520 2024
As of 23 April 2024. [1]
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
References [ edit 🛡 ]
Муха, В. (1997). Семь рекордов «Десны» . Чернигов: Деснянська правда. ISBN 966-502-028-5 .
Муха, Віктор (2010). Піввіку "Десни" . Чернігів: Видавець 🛡 Лозовий В.М. ISBN 978-966-2482-28-7 .
Муха, В. А. (2024). Взгляд через шесть десятилетий (in Russian). Kyiv: Конви принт. ISBN 978-617-7724-79-6 .
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