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Ukrainian Premier League

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Article Genealogy
Parent: FC Dynamo Kyiv Hop 4
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Ukrainian Premier League
Current season2023–24 Ukrainian Premier League
SportAssociation football
Founded1991
Teams16
CountryUkraine
ConfedUEFA
ChampionShakhtar Donetsk (14th title)
Most champsDynamo Kyiv (16 titles)
Domest cupUkrainian Cup
SupercupUkrainian Super Cup
Confed cupUEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Europa Conference League
CeoYevhen Dykyi
TvSetanta Sports MEGOGO

Ukrainian Premier League. It is the top division of professional association football in Ukraine, operating under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Association of Football. Founded in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the league has established itself as the premier domestic competition, featuring clubs from across the nation. The competition is a cornerstone of the Ukrainian football league system and serves as the primary pathway for clubs to qualify for prestigious UEFA tournaments.

History

The league was officially formed in 1991 as the Vyshcha Liha, succeeding the Soviet Top League in Ukraine after the country declared independence. The inaugural 1992 season was contested in a unique two-group format, with Tavriya Simferopol becoming the first champion. The 1990s were dominated by Dynamo Kyiv, which won nine consecutive titles under managers like Valeriy Lobanovskyi and Mykhaylo Fomenko. The early 2000s saw the rise of Shakhtar Donetsk, backed by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, initiating a fierce rivalry with Dynamo. The league has faced significant challenges, including the Revolution of Dignity, the annexation of Crimea, and the War in Donbas, which led to the relocation of clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk and Zorya Luhansk. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 caused the suspension of the 2021–22 season, with competitions resuming in a modified format.

Format and competition structure

The league typically operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Ukrainian First League, though this has been suspended during periods of conflict. Since the 2020–21 season, the standard format involves 16 clubs playing a double round-robin schedule, totaling 30 matches per team. The season traditionally runs from late summer to the following spring, aligning with the UEFA calendar. At the season's conclusion, the champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, with other European spots allocated to the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League. The bottom two clubs are normally relegated, replaced by the top two from the Ukrainian First League, though these rules have been adapted due to martial law.

Clubs

A total of 47 different clubs have competed since the league's inception. The most successful and enduring members are Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk, which have never been relegated. Other long-standing participants include Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Chornomorets Odesa, and Vorskla Poltava. Notable clubs that have ceased to exist or merged include Metalist Kharkiv and Arsenal Kyiv. The 2023–24 season features clubs such as Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, Kolos Kovalivka, and LNZ Cherkasy, with matches being held in various stadiums across central and western Ukraine due to security concerns.

Champions and records

Dynamo Kyiv holds the record for most titles with 16, followed by Shakhtar Donetsk with 14. Other past champions include Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Tavriya Simferopol. The all-time top scorer is Maksim Shatskikh, while Oleksandr Shovkovskyi holds the record for most appearances. The highest-scoring match occurred in 1997 between CSKA Kyiv and Karpaty Lviv. Andriy Shevchenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Mykhaylo Mudryk are among the notable players who began their careers in the league before moving to clubs in the Premier League and Serie A.

UEFA competitions performance

Clubs from the league have achieved significant success in European tournaments. Dynamo Kyiv reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 1999 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals in 1990. Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup in 2009 under manager Mircea Lucescu and has frequently progressed to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk was a runner-up in the UEFA Europa League in 2015. These performances have contributed to Ukraine's UEFA coefficient, which determines the number of qualification slots for its clubs. The ongoing war has presented severe logistical challenges for clubs participating in European competitions.

Sponsorship and naming

The league has had several title sponsors throughout its history, leading to official naming changes. It was known as the Vyshcha Liha until 2008 when it was rebranded as the Premier League. Sponsorship deals with companies like Ukrtelecom and Liga Parimatch have provided significant financial support. The current naming rights holder is VBET, a betting company, under an agreement with the Ukrainian Association of Football. These partnerships are crucial for broadcasting revenue, with domestic rights held by Setanta Sports and MEGOGO, and international distribution managed by UEFA's agency. The league's branding and commercial strategy continue to evolve to enhance its profile and sustainability.

Category:Ukrainian Premier League Category:Football leagues in Ukraine Category:Top level football leagues in Europe Category:UEFA member association top-level football leagues