Ukraine has not, since its independence, been a country that has produced exceptional footballing talents by the dozen. Yet this situation is one that has gone some way to changing, although it is something of a closely kept secret within the Eastern European nation. While Dynamo Kyiv garnered the benefit of players like Andrei Shevchenko, Sergei Rebrov, Oleh Luzhnyi and Andrei Gusin, other clubs were slow to catch up. The arrival of Shakhtar Donetsk on the scene, backed by Rinat Ahmetov’s big-money, changed things. And now Dynamo and Shakhtar have fine academy structures.
The country’s football has progressed, as has its development of youngsters, and there is great hope being placed in a generation nicknamed the "future of Ukrainian football". Here are the top 10 fledgling talents in the Ukraine:
1) Yevhen Konoplyanka – Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk – Winger/Forward – 21 years old
The brightest Ukrainian youngster of 2010. Konoplyanka shot onto the scene appearing to come from nowhere, as if he had never been a Dnipro player. With the speed of a rocket and a powerful shot, the 22-year-old has stunned defences throughout the Ukrainian Premier League. Word soon reached renowned manager Miron Markevich, then-Ukraine coach, who only needed to watch the player twice to call him up. With no equal in his position in the country, Konoplyanka is the source of most of Dnipro’s attacks. Under constant observation by Shakhtar Donetsk, Dynamo Kyiv and Metalist Kharkiv, Dnipro have vowed he will not be sold – at least to a club from the Ukraine – and extended his contract.
2) Yaroslav Rakitskiy – Shakhtar Donetsk – Defender – 21 years old
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu is often the subject of much criticism for his Brazilian-orientated approach to team-building, yet the Romanian has always worked behind the scenes on his club’s youth. Rakitskiy appeared from nowhere, just like Konoplyanka. Raised in Shakhtar’s school, Lucescu tracked the defender’s progress from his time in the club’s second team. The youngster boasts great pace and an ability to quickly get forward and support his team-mates. His left footed shooting and passing can also be counted as real strengths. Rakitskiy is a regular set piece specialist at the club and also likes to run at opponents head on, only swinging to his left as late as possible, to crack a powerful shot, with the keeper having struggled to track his progress. A senior Ukraine international, his future looks bright.
3) Andriy Yarmolenko – Dynamo Kyiv – Attacking Midfielder – 21 years old
The young attacking midfielder is known as a very controversial person and footballer. Yarmolenko hails from Dynamo’s second team and when Russian coach Yuri Semin first appeared at the Kyiv club he trusted the youngster, and continued to play him when his performances were less than perfect. Despite being considered somewhat of a tactical genius, Yarmolenko’s thoughts are sometimes only apparent to him alone. And while also a very technical player, he can often be slow on the move. Indeed, he resembles Dynamo striker Artem Milevskiy in this regard. The 22-year-old has many rivals in his position for a slot in the side, but first Semin and later Valeri Gazzaev believed in his abilities. Always keen to win individual battles against his opponents, Yarmolenko should blossom for his club and country eventually.
4) Maksym Koval – Dynamo Kyiv – Goalkeeper – 18 years old
The Soviet Union, and later Russia and Ukraine, boasted some fine goalkeeping academies and Koval is the latest in a long line of superb shot-stoppers to emerge. Noticed by Dynamo scouts at Metalurh Zaporizhya, Koval was soon the subject of attention from a whole host of Ukrainian clubs. In one game, where Metalurh Zaporizhya were facing Dynamo, Koval was the inspiration behind a simple 1-0 defeat, rather than a more obvious 9-0. From that point Dynamo did all they could to buy the youngster, paying a hefty fee. At the Ukrainian giants, the keeper has found himself in a favourable situation, as Alexander Shovkovskiy struggled to find form and another young goalkeeper Denis Boiko was not making the progress expected of him. Koval settled in from the off, with a series of fine displays. He is now one of the three national team keepers and expected to be one of the top two by Euro 2012.
5) Taras Stepanenko – Shakhtar Donetsk – Defensive/Attacking Midfielder – 21 years old
An attacking midfielder often seen assisting Dario Srna or Radzvan Rat on Shakhtar Donetsk’s flanks, Taras Stepanenko is an exciting talent. More of a battering ram to constantly go at an opponent, the midfielder is less of a technical player and more of a worker. Now getting more and more minutes on the pitch for Lucescu’s team, Stepanenko is quickly developing into a fan favourite. The 21-year-old started life as a defender, but Shakhtar have exploited his attacking instincts and he uses them to the full. Appreciated and rated by the club, the youngster is ambitious and talented in equal measure.
6) Vasyl Pryima – Metalurh Donetsk – Defender/Midfielder – 19 years old
Only really known in the Ukraine due to turning out for Metaluh Donetsk, the last two seasons have been difficult for club and player alike. Vasyl Pryima has seen coach Nikolay Kostov sacked as Metalurh slipped further and further down the Ukrainian league table. Just 19 years old, the defender has shown a certain maturity in the centre of the midfield, sitting in the middle of the pitch and acting as an anchor. Miron Markevich, a coach renowned for spotting young talent, has already cast his eye over young Priyma and is plotting to take the player to Metalist Kharkiv.
7) Bohdan Butko – Volyn Lutsk – Defender – 20 years old
Another talent raised in the Shakhtar academy, but now turning out for Volyn. Yet this does not mean Bohdan Butko should be discounted as so many youngsters pass through the Donetsk club that a fair few of them need to be loaned out – and Butko is in this category. Not yet a senior Ukraine national team player, but having passed through the Under-16, 17, 18, 19 and 21 teams, Butko is an ambitious youngster who is characterised by his hard-working approach to the game. Still to show he can hold down a place at Shakhtar, the defender is quickly improving and has a steely determination to make it at the highest level.
8) Roman Bezus – Vorskla Poltava – Midfielder – 20 years old
Vorskla Poltava, a club from a town near Kharkiv, have always invited a host of youngsters from across Ukraine to prove their worth. Coach Valeryi Pavlov and the club’s owners believe passionately in nurturing Ukrainian talent and in Bezus they have a gem. Brimming with energy on the pitch, Bezus matches it with a footballing brain, always ready to join the battle on the pitch. With a powerful shot and bundles of pace, the midfielder still has to work on keeping possession, as often he loses the ball too easily. However, Pavlov trusts in the youngster and regularly sends him on to make a difference from the bench, where his fresh legs, enthusiasm and pace can prove too much for opponents. While Bezus does not yet have a host of admirers, he is set to play a big part in Vorskla’s future.
9) Vitaliy Vitsenets – Shakhtar Donetsk – Defensive/Attacking Midfielder/Forward – 20 years old
Vitaly Vitsenets has made rapid progress with Shakhtar since returning to the club from Zorya Luhansk, a team that is now struggling to survive in the Premier League. When the youngster turned out for the Luhansk-based side, he was counted as one of the bright spots in their play, producing displays that soon caused Lucescu to summon him back to Donetsk. Although he was an attacking midfielder at Zorya, Lucescu wanted to deploy the player on the flank and Vitsenets did not argue. His performances since his return, and in particular his tactical discipline to help Lucescu’s side hold their shape, has been noted. While not a regular starter, Vitsenets is often turned to by Lucescu as an important option off the bench and his mature attitude to his career ensures that he will continue to make progress.
10) Borys Taschy – Chernomorets Odesa – Midfielder – 17 years old
This young midfielder does not have an easy route to the top, turning out as he does for a side which is not in the Premier League any more. While Borys Taschy is still too young to show real consistency, some of his abilities mark him out as one to watch in the future. An aggressive performer, Taschy has boundless reserves of energy and pops up right across the pitch to help his team – one moment in defence and the next in attack. Hoping to help his side regain their top flight status, the 17-year-old has already attracted scouts from Dynamo Kyiv, and though they would be unlikely to push him straight into their senior side, a spot in Dynamo’s second side is sure path to greater things.
