FC Chernihiv
Professional football club based in Chernihiv, Ukraine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Football Club Chernihiv (Ukrainian: ФК Чернігів), also known as Football Club Chernigiv, is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Chernihiv that currently plays in the Ukrainian First League.
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| Full name | Football Club Chernihiv | ||
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| Nickname | Tigers | ||
| Founded | December 7, 2003 | ||
| Ground | Yunist Stadium Chernihiv Arena | ||
| Capacity | 500 | ||
| Owner | Yuriy Synytsya | ||
| Director | Mykola Synytsya | ||
| Manager | Andriy Polyanytsya | ||
| League | Ukrainian First League | ||
| 2025–26 | Ukrainian First League, 13th of 16 | ||
| Website | http://chernigiv.ua/ | ||
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History
Founding and establishment
Today's club was established on 18 June 2003 by Yuriy Synytsya, a businessman in the city of Chernihiv.[1][2] The original name of the club was "YSB Chernihiv," and it played at the Military Lyceum in Chernihiv. In September 2012, the club won the Super Cup of Chernihiv Oblast and the Chernihiv Oblast Football Cup.[3] In 2013, the club made its debut in the 2013 Ukrainian Football Amateur League.[4]
Stadium investment
There have been significant investments for the club, particularly regarding the team's new stadium Chernihiv Arena. In the summer of 2016, the first construction work started and after 11 months, in May 2017, the football field, the building with changing rooms and showers, all communications, roads, parking lots were ready to receive visitors.[5] Also the Chernihiv city Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko, addressing the investor of this project, Yuriy Synytsya, noted that the idea of building this facility at his own expense is worthy of admiration and imitation.[6][7]
Ukrainian Amateur League
In 2018, the club competed in Championship and finished in fourth place.[8] During the summer transfer session, few young players such as Bohdan Lazarenko, Dmytro Kulyk arrives and Oleksandr Roshchynskyi, Artem Lutchenko and Mikita Falko were released in winter. The club won the Chernihiv Oblast Football Federation in 2019.[9] In the season 2019–20, the club played also in Ukrainian Football Amateur League.[10]
Promotion to Ukrainian Second League
In 2020 the club competed in the Ukrainian Second League. The club was supported by the management and some important players arrived, including the experienced goalkeeper Anatoliy Tymofeyev.[11] and the experienced player Vyacheslav Koydan.[12] In April 2021 Vadym Postovoy resigned as coach and appointed as coach of the young team. As a coach was appointed Valeriy Chornyi as interim.[13][14][15][16] In summer 2021, the club started train in the Khimik Sport Complex.[17] The team reached the third preliminary round of 2021–22 Ukrainian Cup, winning against Chaika by penalty in Makariv and after losing to Alians Lypova Dolyna 1–5 in Chernihiv Arena.[18]
Chernihiv Arena Damaged
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In 2021, the club started train in the Khimik Sport Complex with the task of also re-evaluating the sports facility.[19] During the season the club was admitted in Ukrainian Cup and its reached the Third preliminary round of 2021–22 Ukrainian Cup, winning to Chaika by penalty, in Makariv, but after the club lost against Alians Lypova Dolyna 1–5, in Chernihiv Arena.[20] The club was quite confident and in the winter break season it was at the 10th position in the league, he competition was terminated at the PFL Council meeting on 6 May 2022 due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[21] On 9 March 2022, during the Siege of Chernihiv, the Chernihiv Arena was damaged, as well as part of the administrative building and locker rooms, the box office, the fan shop and the stele, which boasts the name of the stadium.[22][23][24]
Promotion to Ukrainian First League
In 2022 after much speculation, it became official that the club was admitted to Ukrainian First League for the first time in its history.[25][26][27][28] Due to the destruction of Chernihiv Arena, the club was forced to use the stadium Yunist Stadium. The club to reinforce the team signed several players, including Vladyslav Panko, Vyacheslav Koydan, Volodymyr Zubashivskyi, Vladyslav Shkolnyi, Oleksandr Rudenko, Myroslav Serdyuk, Roman Vovk, Dmytro Kulyk and Mykola Syrash.[29] The club's first victory was against Metalurh Zaporizhzhia in Zaporizhzhia.[30] Unexpectedly, the contracts of some players who had distinguished themselves in the previous season were interrupted, in an attempt to launch young players. Unfortunately, this strategy was not the right one and the club's defense was not good and by the middle of the league, the team was already in the last positions. In October 2023, Artem Strilets was called up to the Ukraine national student football team, playing 4 matches and becoming the first player from the club to play for one of the Ukrainian national football teams.[31][32] The club finished the 2023–24 FC Chernihiv season in 19th place and was relegated to the Ukrainian Second League.
Reorganization & Promotion
In September 2024, a new important investment was done by the management of the club with the construction of a new full-size artificial field with a modern and high-quality coating at Chernihiv Arena.[33][34] FC Chernihiv reached the third preliminary round of the 2024–25 Ukrainian Cup.[35][36][37] On 12 August the club lost against Viktoriya Sumy 0–1 and was knocked out of the competition.[38] In the first match of the league, the club started well, winning the first match 8–2 against Metalist 1925-2 Kharkiv[39][40] During the winter market, the management, in order to reinforce the club and bring it to the top positions in the league, released some players, in particular Kyrylo Kryvoborodenko, who had played for the club for 11 years.[41][42] The club signed few experienced players including Dmytro Kulyk, Dmytro Fatyeyev, Andriy Novikov, Pavlo Shushko, Yehor Shalfeyev and Yehor Kartushov.[43][44][45] On April 19, 2025, the club returns to the Chernihiv Arena after more than three years in a match against Nyva Vinnytsia for the Ukrainian Second League.[46][47] Maksym Tatarenko was nominated best goalkeeper in the Ukrainian Second League, ahead of Dmitry Mikheev and Ivan Pitsan.[48] The club returned to Ukrainian First League, after FC Chernihiv won the 2024–25 Ukrainian Second League playoffs.[49]
Ukrainian Cup Final
Following the promotion, a few players signed a new contract extension.[50][51] FC Chernihiv signed young players such us Andriy Stolyarchuk and Nikita Dorosh on loan from FC Rukh Lviv.[52][53] On 17 August 2025, thanks to three goals of Vyacheslav Koydan against Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk, the club won the first match of the season.[54]
In September, 2025, the club awarded few players such as Artur Bybik, Anatoliy Romanchenko, and Maksym Serdyuk with special jerseys for reaching 100 official appearances for the club.[55] In October 2025, FC Chernihiv qualified for the round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup.[56] On 28 October 2025, the club, after defeating FC Lisne, also reached the quarter-finals of the Ukrainian Cup for the first time in the club's history.[57] On 7 March, FC Chernihiv announced the signing of Denys Bezborodko on a contract until December 2027.[58][59] On 11 March 2026 the club signed Vladyslav Shapoval on loan from FC Kudrivka.[60] On 18 March 2026, the club qualified for the semi-final of the Ukrainian Cup by beating Feniks-Mariupol on penalties.[61]
The Guardian magazine dedicated an article to the miracle of the club, which until a few years ago played in the Ukrainian Amateur League.[62][63] In the 2025–26, FC Chernihiv reached the 2026 Ukrainian Cup final, losing to Dynamo Kyiv 1–3.[64] The club managed to stay in the Ukrainian First League for the second consecutive season.
End of Valeriy Chornyi Era
On 14 June 2026, the coach Valeriy Chornyi, after five years, resigned as head coach due to family reasons.[65] Vasyl Baranov was appointed as new coach signing one-year contract, but after four draws in the Ukrainian First League and one victory in the Ukrainian Cup, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement of the parties and replaced by Andriy Polyanytsya as interim[66][67]
Infrastructure
Stadium
The club play at Chernihiv Arena. The stadium was built in 2017 with a capacity of 5,000 spectators.[68][69]
Training centre
Since summer 2021 FC Chernihiv has trained at Khimik Sport Complex.[17] The club in the past used the Lokomotyv stadium for training. The management of the club as well as fellow local Desna Chernihiv joined in a plan to build football fields and other sports infrastructure in the city.[70]
Youth, academy and reserves
The club has few reserve teams, the main one is FC Chernihiv-2 founded in 2024.[71] In 2021, the club planned to create a children's academy. [72]
Crest and colours
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
As of 25 August 2026[76]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| President |  Yuriy Synytsya |
| General director | Mykola Synytsya |
| Sports director | Valeriy Chornyi |
| Executive director | Kostyantyn Zhyr |
| Head coach | Andriy Polyanytsya |
| Assistant coach | Artem Padun |
| Goalkeeping coach | Oleksandr Shyray |
| Physical training coach | Andriy Lakeyenko |
| Chernihiv Arena Director | Anatoliy Dudchik |
| Rehabilitation therapist | Artem Berdychenko |
| PR manager | Oleksandr Hrebennikov |
| Press attaché | Dmytro Luschay |
| Sport Doctor | Daria Rakhinskaya |
Honours
Domestic
- Ukrainian Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2025–26
- Chernihiv Oblast Football Championship
- Chernihiv Oblast Football Cup
- Winners (1): 2012[78]
- Chernihiv Oblast Super Cup:
- Winners (2): 2013,[79] 2019
Individual player and coach awards
Best Goalkeeper of Ukrainian Second League
Maksym Tatarenkoː 2024–25 (13 clean sheets)
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Records and statistics
Matches played
| # | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmytro Myronenko[82] |
2015, 2017– | 185 | 20 |
| 2 | Anatoliy Romanchenko |
2019– | 141 | 17 |
| 3 | Kyrylo Kryvoborodenko |
2015, 2017–2024 | 128 | 14 |
| 4 | Artur Bybik |
2020– | 125 | 0 |
| 5 | Maksym Serdyuk |
2017–2024, 2024– | 120 | 13 |
| 6 | Vyacheslav Koydan |
2013, 2021, 2022– | 119 | 25 |
| 7 |  Teymuraz Mchedlishvili[83] |
2011–13, 2015, 2017–2021 | 108 | 15 |
| 8 | Oleksiy Zenchenko |
2017– | 108 | 6 |
| 9 | Maksym Shumylo |
2021– | 91 | 2 |
| 10 | Dmytro Borshch |
2012–2015, 2017–2022 | 90 | 5 |
Goals scored
| # | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vyacheslav Koydan |
2013, 2021, 2022– | 119 | 25 |
| 2 | Dmytro Myronenko |
2017– | 185 | 20 |
| 3 | Anatoliy Romanchenko |
2020– | 141 | 17 |
| 4 | Teymuraz Mchedlishvili |
2011–2013, 2015, 2017–2021 | 108 | 15 |
| 5 | Kyrylo Kryvoborodenko |
2015, 2017–2024 | 128 | 14 |
| 6 | Maksym Serdyuk |
2017–2024, 2024– | 120 | 13 |
| 7 | Anatoly Kokhanovskyi |
2017–2022 | 42 | 13 |
| 8 | Pavlo Fedosov |
2013, 2023–2025 | 43 | 12 |
| 9 | Ruslan Dedukh |
2017–2018, 2020–2021 | 34 | 12 |
| 10 | Oleksandr Kravchenko |
2010–2021 | 46 | 12 |
Managers and presidents
Presidents
Managers
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League and cup history
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Other Notes 2013 4th Group 2
(Amateur Championship)2/6 10 5 3 2 9 5 18 - - - First stage 4th Group A
(Amateur Championship)4/4 3 1 0 2 2 4 3 Finals Withdrew regional competitions (Chernihiv Oblast) 2017–18 4th Group 2
(Amateur Championship)7/8 14 2 3 9 10 26 9 - - - Withdrew 2018–19 regional competitions (Chernihiv Oblast) - UAC 1⁄32 finals - 2019–20 4th Group 2
(Amateur Championship)5/12 22 9 7 6 30 23 34 - - - Admitted to SL 2020–21 3rd"A"
(Second League)10/14 24 5 6 13 19 33 21 1⁄64 finals - - - 2021–22 10/14 18 5 5 8 17 24 20 1⁄32 finals - - Admitted to FL 2022–23 2nd"B"
(First League)13/16 27 9 8 10 28 30 27 Not held - - - 2023–24 19/20 23 7 5 16 34 48 23 1⁄64 finals - - Relegated 2024–25 3rd"B"
(Second League)2/20 18 11 5 2 30 8 38 1⁄32 finals - - Promotion to Ukrainian First League via Promotion play-offs: Skala 1911 Stryi 3:2 1:0 (4-2), Relegation play-offs of 2024–25 Ukrainian First League:Metalurh Zaporizhzhia 3:0 2:0 (5-0) 2025–26 2nd
(First League)13/16 30 8 7 15 30 36 31 Runners-up - - - 2026–27 9/16 6 1 4 1 6 6 7 1⁄16 finals - - TBD
Notable players
Players who have played in the club and who have distinguished themselves in some higher leagues above the Ukrainian Second League
