FC Metalurh Zaporizhya

FC Metalurh Zaporizhya (Ukrainian: ФК Металург Запоріжжя) (Russian: ФК "Металлург" Запорожье) is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Zaporizhia. The club has always been in the top league, since the first season in 1992 until the season 2010/11 when it took the last position and was relegated to the Ukrainian First League.

History

Early years (1935–1946)

The history of Metalurg began in 1935 when a steel production company, Zaporizhstal, formed the football club 'Stal'. By the end of the year a local sports union gave Stal the status of a main club in the region. Throughout the 1930s the team appeared regularly in domestic competitions and often played against clubs from the Soviet Top League, the most notable of which was FC Spartak Moscow. In 1939 and 1940 under the name of Lokomotiv won the Ukrainian championships. The tough times of World War II soon followed, however, bringing decline to both Zaporizhstal and its team. Nonetheless, in 1946 the club was revived and in 1949 Stal won the cup in Zaporizhia Oblast.

USSR era (1946–1990)

In October 1949 the team was renamed to 'Metalurg'. In 1950 Metalurg debuts in the USSR Cup and in the round of 64 they defeated Lokomotiv Petrozavodsk with the score of 5:0, but go out in the next stage, losing 2:3 to Torpedo Stalingrad. However, the very next year club went to eighth-finals, notably defeating FC Dynamo Minsk 1:0 and FC Lokomotiv Moscow 4:0 on the way. In 1953 the club debuted in the USSR Championship after becoming the champion of Ukrainian SSR in 1952. From 1953 to 1962 Metalurg played in USSR Championship division 'B'.

In 1963 Metalurg won a place in USSR Championship division 'A' and had some moderate success. They stayed there until 1971, when in the 1970 season club secured a position in division 'A' and a place in the USSR First League. In their first season they came in fourth place, which became the club's highest achievement in the USSR Championships.

Ukrainian Premier League (1991–present)

In 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine became independent and Ukrainian Premier League was formed. Metalurh was among the founders of the League. The club has remained in the Vyshcha Liga for all 16 seasons with their highest achievement in the 1995/1996 season, taking 5th place. The club's best performance in a domestic cup came in 2006, when Metalurh reached the final, there they met with Dynamo Kyiv and were beaten 2 goals to none, however this performance allowed them to enter the UEFA Cup next season. Zaporizhstal still remains as a largest club sponsor and actively finances most of club's expenses.

European history

Throughout its history in Ukrainian Premier League, Metalurh has entered the UEFA Cup on two occasions; the first in 2002–03 after finishing fourth in the league the previous season. In the qualifying round they beat Maltese side Birkirkara F.C. 3–0 on aggregate, before losing 2–1 to English side Leeds United in the first round.

The second time club had to wait 4 years to qualify again. After finishing as runners-up in the Ukrainian Cup in 2006, Metalurh secured a place in the 2006-07 UEFA Cup. Club entered the competition In the second qualifying round, Metalurh defeated Moldavian side Zimbru Chişinău 3–0 over two legs. However, Metalurh went out in the first stage, losing to Greek club Panathinaikos.

Stadium

Main articles: Slavutych Arena

Throughout their history, the club has played in various stadiums around Zaporizhia, but in 2001 the Football Federation of Ukraine forbade Metalurh from playing in their stadium, Centarlnyi, and the club was forced to play at the Avto ZAZ Stadium (which formerly belong to now-bankrupt FC Torpedo Zaporizhia). Soon after, the club's board approved plans to construct a brand new stadium for the team. Construction commenced in late 2004 and on 29 July 2006, Slavutych Arena was opened, in their first game on a new stadium Metalurh faced Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv. The stadium is situated in a central part of the city, on a street that has been recently renamed after legendary Ukrainian player and coach Valery Lobanovsky.

The stadium is purposed for football only use and has a total capacity of 11,983 seats. It consists out of four separate stands, north, south, east and west, two of which are covered by a roof, stadium is equipped with a single, multi-colour screen with dimensions of 6x10m and a lighting system of 1400 lux. The pitch dimensions are 105х68 м.^[1] Lately it has often been used as a venue for the Ukraine national under-21 football team.

Sponsors

The history of FC Metalurh dates back to a factory team 'Stal' that has been sponsored by one of the largest steel production companies in Ukraine, Zaporizhstal. The company has remained a sponsor of the club for over 70 years and now is a general sponsor of the club. Other notable sponsors are the Ukrainian bank Industrialbank. The main partner of the club is OAO Zaporizhstalbud-1.

The official kit manufacturer for the club is company Nike and the official beer sponsor of the club is Slavutych.

Honours

• Ukrainian Cup
  • Runners-up 2006

Current squad

Squad is given according to the club's official website and to the Ukrainian PFL official website, as of 16 September 2011. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

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

For recent transfers, see List of Ukrainian football transfers summer 2010 and List of Ukrainian football transfers Winter 2008-09.

Famous players

Coaches

League and Cup history

Soviet Union

Ukraine

See also

• FC Metalurh-2 Zaporizhya
• FC Metalurh Zaporizhya Reserves and Youth Team

References

1. ^ Официальный сайт футбольного клуба "Металлург" Запорожье
2. ^ In 1964 and 1965 seasons the league was split into two groups with the first eight teams from each qualify for promotion and the last eight teams – for relegation. Teams in the promotion group had their record recalculated and results with teams from relegation group were scratched. The teams in the promotion group played with the other candidate teams from other qualifying group. The teams in the relegation group had their records kept and also played only with the teams from the other qualifying group.
3. ^ In 1965 the league was split into two groups with the first eight teams from each qualify for promotion and the last eight teams – for relegation. Teams in the promotion group had their record recalculated and results with teams from relegation group were scratched. The teams in the promotion group played with the other candidate teams from other qualifying group. The teams in the relegation group had their records kept and also played only with the teams from the other qualifying group.
4. ^ In 1973 in case of a draw the game went to a penalty shoot-out. Whichever team won it would earn a point in the league standings; the losing team would earn nothing.
5. ^ Won the Group, but placed 13 in overall standings.

External links

• Official website
• Ukrainian Soccer team page (English)