UKRAINE Premier League
The Ukrainian Premier League is the top professional football league in Ukraine.
The league was founded in 1991, following the breakup of the Soviet Union. It is currently contested by 16 teams.
The Ukrainian Premier League has been affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014. Several teams that are based in or near the conflict zone, including Shakhtar Donetsk, have had to temporarily relocate to other cities in Ukraine. In addition, some players and staff of these teams have been unable to return to their homes due to the ongoing violence. The league has also had to deal with the challenge of hosting matches in a safe and secure environment, given the threat of violence and the potential for disruptions. Despite these challenges, the Ukrainian Premier League has continued to operate and the teams have persevered in the face of adversity.
The team with the most Ukrainian Premier League titles is Dynamo Kyiv.
The top team is automatically qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The second and third-placed teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The bottom team in the league is relegated to the second division,
The Ukrainian Premier League is known for its competitive balance, with several teams consistently contending for the title. Some of the more popular teams in the league include Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
Great players have played in the league:
• Andriy Shevchenko is considered one of the greatest players in Ukrainian history. He played for Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team before going on to have a successful career at European clubs such as Milan and Chelsea. Shevchenko won the Ballon d'Or in 2004.
• Serhiy Rebrov is considered one of the greatest players in Ukrainian history. He played for Dynamo Kyiv, Tottenham Hotspur, and the Ukrainian national team before going on to manage several clubs in Ukraine and Russia.
• Andriy Voronin played for clubs such as Dynamo Kyiv, Liverpool, and Hertha Berlin. He also represented the Ukrainian national team.
• Anatoliy Tymoshchuk played for clubs such as Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. He also represented the Ukrainian national team.
• Yevhen Konoplyanka currently plays for Ekstraklasa club Cracovia. He has previously played for the Ukrainian national team, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Sevilla, Schalke 04 and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Oleh Blokhin is Ukrainian representative of Soviet football. Blokhin played for Dynamo Kyiv, won eight Soviet league titles, five national cups and two European Cups. In 1975, Blokhin won the Ballon d'Or.