1 A patriot for me is not a person who was season there were offensive banners at the born and grew up in Ukraine, but one who stadium, we started Ukrainian Champion- works for its benefit. Being keen on integra- ship not so well… But I am convinced that Rinat Akhmetov: tion into the European football, we invite the Donbass Arena capacity crowd will have FC Shakhtar President the European professionals, who will help a chance to applaud Mr. Lucescu’s team us live up to our expectations and achieve upright. Mister has already been working results as soon as possible. Thus, my great for Shakhtar for five years, after winning appreciation goes to our players. All of three trophies in Ukrainian Championship, ‘A patriot for me is a person, them are dear to my heart. Despite the coun- we also grabbed the European Cup. When try they came from, they play for Shakhtar the head coach came under a high pressure, Donetsk and uphold the honour of our I did my best to relieve it. Mr. Lucescu made who works for prosperity country in the international arena. They left a decision to remain at Shakhtar and it is their motherlands and came here. My aim very good. When the referee called an end is to make them feel comfortable, right at to the UEFA Cup final, I was the happiest home... I have always trusted Mircea Luces- person in the world as well as the coaching of Ukraine’ cu and keep on putting my trust in him. Last staff, players and our supporters. 2 2 3 3 Contents 6 CEO 8 Head Coach 10 Reflections on the 2008/2009 Season 16 The UEFA Cup Campaign 52 Gilded Youth 54 The Academy 58 Medical Service 60 The Kirsha Training Camp 62 Secretary-General 64 HR 66 Legal Department 68 Brand Promotion 72 Financial Highlights 76 Our Fans 80 Public Relations 84 Our Projects 88 The Donbass Arena Home Ground 98 Figures Only 4 5 5 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 «Все только 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 начинается» 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 The 2008/2009 season will make, and even has already made 1984 history for Shakhtar Donetsk as well as for the whole country. For the first time in the modern history Ukrainian football club 1985 has won a prestigious European trophy. The UEFA Cup was 1986 Sergiy Palkin: 1987 a fitting end to great job made by hundreds of people. That day millions of fans’ dreams came true. It was not the easy 1988 FC Shakhtar CEO season at that. The coaching staff, our players and all the Club 1989 employees faced serious trials and tribulations. But still that 1990 has been the season finished with another title — the UEFA 1991 Cup Winner, almost completed five-star stadium and Shakhtar 1992 recognition in Europe… It means all the things were worth 1993 efforts. You will never find a better appraisal of your utmost, 1994 than its equal result. Meanwhile, the Club’s serious achieve- 1995 ments in the 2008/2009 season are not the summit of our 1996 activities. On the contrary, everything has just begun. We laid ‘Everything 1997 the foundations for our future magnificent victories. With this 1998 annual report, you are looking though at the moment, we have tried to recap another FC Shakhtar activity stage, being aware 1999 of the next following ones must be not less impressive. 2000 2001 has just begun’ 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 6 7 2007 2008 2009 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 Mircea Lucescu: 1949 FC Shakhtar Head Coach 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 ‘My philosophy is 1957 1958 1959 1960 to build up the team’ 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Shakhtar won the EUFA Cup. This is the Europe: SCKA, Zenit, Galatasaraj and now 1983 reason for joy and sincere appreciation, first Shakhtar. I suppose there is a future in such of all, for the President, the coaching staff clubs. Shakhtar contributed many points to 1984 and players. When I am asked whether I have Ukraine. I hope this result will give the whole 1985 been waiting for such success for long, my an- country strength to get ready for Euro 2012. 1986 swer is no. I just wanted to gain the positive And perhaps then, many things in Ukrainian 1987 result. My philosophy is to build the squad, football will get better. As for our squad, it 1988 to bring up and develop the players and is already striving for new goals. We want to 1989 youngsters. It is much more important than reach much in the Champions League. Both 1990 winning a trophy. The coach’s primary aim is our supporters and the President strive for 1991 to build up the team that could be even better it. The UEFA Cup will add confidence that 1992 than we have it now. Nowadays great funds we are also able to enjoy great success in the 1993 are attracted to football clubs in Eastern Champions League. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20078 8 9 2008 2009 Reflections on 2008/2009 Shakhtar the UEFA Cup Winner New Chapter 2008/2009 season had the positive As a result, this year Shakhtar have moments as well. Shakhtar topped finished with 64 points. The Pitmen opened a new chapter their European best score against in their glorious history. Shakhtar Basel home. became the first Ukrainian club to win The fixtures with the Catalans will be Ukrainian Cup the UEFA Cup in the competition’s living long in supporters’ memory. In When Ardour Did Not Last Long The 2008/2009 season turned out final edition. Moreover, it turned the first leg Donetsk side was taking to be a ‘runner-up’ one for Mircea out to be the remarkable event for their lead throughout the game — 1- Lucescu’s men in the domestic the whole Ukrainian football. And 0; yet they managed to concede two campaign. Shakhtar held the second personal victories also no doubt added goals in the dying minutes that turned spot in Ukrainian Cup as well as in it to the current campaign. Mircea out a bit contradictory. On the last the Championship. Despite a 1-0 win Lucescu was recognized to be the GS matchday Mircea Lucescu’s men in the hardest clash against Dynamo Premier League Best Coach and Darijo earned a valuable victory over Barca Kyiv in the semi-final, the Pitmen Srna, the team captain, being as well at the Camp Nou that only a few did unexpectedly yielded to Vorskla the real team leader, was awarded the so. As a result, Shakhtar held third Poltava in the final. On the one hand title of the Best Football Player in the place in the group, having taken out the result is negative, but on the other, 2008/2009 Ukrainian Championship. a right to appear in the UEFA Cup. two silvers gained a tint of gold in the The successful season adds confidence, The old proverb says if it were not for aggregate of European Cup triumph. opens up prospects and reveals new bad luck… If the Pitmen qualified for You would hardly find a club, which ambitions. The UEFA Cup title spurs the Champions League Round of 16, refused such achievements at the us on to the new achievements. the UEFA Cup trophy would surely be grabbed by someone else and would end of the season. After an eagerly never come to Donetsk. awaiting win over Werder Bremen Champions League in the UEFA Cup final the team was If It Were Not For Bad Luck … exhausted emotionally and lacked Ukrainian Championship spur to gain a decisive victory in the Every year Shakhtar set an aim to Paled Before the Luster national Cup. get to the knock out phase in the most prestigious tournament of the Unsuccessful launch of the Old World. This season the Pitmen Premiership struck out all efforts Ukrainian Super Cup successfully qualified for the group in the second term of the season. Practice Makes Perfect stage, having won 5 - 1 on aggregate Shakhtar finished second in the 15 July 2008 Shakhtar won their against Dinamo Zagreb. Barcelona Premier League. But all failures paled first trophy in the season. The Pitmen (Spain), Basel (Switzerland) and before the luster of the UEFA Cup. beat Dynamo Kyiv in Super Cup. Sporting (Portuguese) were drawn at Sometimes you have to sacrifice those The penalty shoot-outs sealed the the group stage. The Matchdays 4 and summits you have already reached. fate of the clash at the neutral venue 5 turned out to be decisive ones, as The Club played 30 competitive games in Poltava. Shakhtar’s Brazilian the Pitmen lost 1-0 to Sporting twice, throughout the year and amassed international, Brandao became an their direct rival for qualifying. The 19 wins, 7 draws and only 4 defeats. author of the decisive goal. 10 10 11 11 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 18 (Pyatov —15, Khudzhamov—3); Clean sheets: 1972 Referees: 17 Most appearances: Venger (Kyiv), Gerenda (Kalush) and 1973 Godulyan (Odesa) — 3; 1974 Ukrainian Championship Biggest wins: 6 (Shakhtar gained a 3-0 win); 1975 Most successful match: 18.10.2008 Shakhtar 4 — 2 1976 Shakhtar 4 out of 5 (80%); Kryvbas; Penalty: 1977 Position: Runner-up Rivals —no; 1978 P W D L F-A Pts 1979 Gutsy wins: 2; Bookings: Shakhtar (39); 1980 Matches played 30 19 7 4 47-16 64 Score variations: ; 9 Most bookings against Vorskla and Metalurh D (5 each); no 1981 Most popular score: 1—0 (9); Home 15 12 3 0 30-8 39 bookings against Dnipro; 1982 In aggregate, Shakhtar sealed a 1-0 and 3-0 wins six times, Most booked: Srna and Brandao ( each); Away 15 7 4 4 17-8 25 5 1983 and lost three times; Rivals — * 65 1984 Time when Shakhtar took the lead at the match: 1,064 Most booked Metalurh Z (8); 1985 Attendance minutes (39.4%); Least booked: Tavriya; Overall: 411, 900; Average attendance: 13, 730; Time when it drew: 1,277 minutes (47.3%); Send-offs: Shakhtar (4), Jadson (2); 1986 Home: 230, 800; Average attendance: 15, 387; Time when Shakhtar yielded: 359 minutes (13.3%); Rivals: —1; 1987 Away: 181,100; Average attendance: 12, 073.