FC Polissya Zhytomyr

Polissya Zhytomyr is a Ukrainian football club based in Zhytomyr, Polissya. As of the 2023–24 season, it will play in the Ukrainian Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football, following promotion from the 2022–23 Ukrainian First League.

Polissya Zhytomyr
Full nameFootball Club Polissya Zhytomyr
Founded1959
GroundTsentralnyi Stadion, Zhytomyr
Capacity5,928
OwnerHennadiy Butkevych
General DirectorVolodymyr Zahurskyi
ManagerYuriy Kalitvintsev
LeagueUkrainian Premier League
2022–23Ukrainian First League, 1st of 16 (champions)
WebsiteClub website

History

The club traces its history back to 1959 when there was created the first "team of masters" (Soviet terminology of professional team). However, the team functioned before 1959 at republican level which was considered to be amateur. In 1958 Avanhard Zhytomyr became a champion of Zhytomyr Oblast.

In Soviet times the club carried the name Avtomobilist (car maker), then it changed to Polissya (the name for the local region (Polesie), which means (roughly) the wooded area). In the Ukrainian soccer competitions the club was called Khimik (chemist) for a few seasons, then again changed back to Polissya. Note that during the Soviet times sometime in the 1970s in Zhytomyr there was another club FC Khimik Zhytomyr that was sponsored by the local chemical factory, the latter fate of which is not known. The same factory has supported Polissya already in times of the independent Ukraine for few seasons giving the club the name of its own former football representative, which already was mentioned before.

After the disastrous season of 2005, it became defunct. However soon after the reorganization two clubs were created and were admitted to the Second League for the 2005/06 season – MFK Zhytomyr and FC Zhytychi Zhytomyr. In March 2006, the municipal administration stopped funding of MFK Zhytomyr, and the team was dissolved on 30 April 2006. FC Zhytychi Zhytomyr finished 8th in the Second League'06, but next year they failed to submit their license and stopped their participation on the professional level.

The highest position the club achieved was fourth place in the Persha Liha, twice. Because of this, in 2002 it was awarded to play a play-off match with PFC Olexandria in Kyiv to receive the promotion to the Vyscha Liha. Polissya lost it 0:1. Subsequent seasons have brought progressively worse results with every year.

In 2005 an attempt to create the municipal club took place on initiative of Hennadiy Zabrodsky soon after the dissolution of FC Polissya Zhytomyr. At that time facing a danger of losing professional football team, Zhytomyr paradoxically witnessed creation of two teams in the place of one. The new club was created in place of the existing amateur FC Arsenal Zhytomyr. The creation of the city club was supported by the city's government as part of local elections, which, however, after the city mayor lost, the club, after playing first half of the season, was dissolved. Some players moved to the regional club OFC Zhytychi Zhytomyr.

Current rendition (since 2016)

In November 2015 FC Polissia Zhytomyr applied for the 2016–17 Ukrainian Second League.[1] On 23 March 2016 the deputy mayor of Zhytomyr Matviy Khrenovu announced in his Facebook that new director of MFC Zhytomyr became a head of Zhytomyr Rayon Football Federation Ruslan Pavlyuk.[2]

In March 2017, the club was renamed into FC Polissya Zhytomyr.[3] The club also adopted a new logo with 1959 year of establishment thus claiming heritage of the original FC Polissya Zhytomyr.[4]

Since mid of 2021, the club began to be financed by the BGV Group which controls a network of ATB-Market retail stores.[5]

Stadium
The Tsentralnyi Stadion is the main football arena of Zhytomyr Oblast.

MFC Zhytomyr started to play at Tsentralnyi Stadion (Central Stadium), however soon at the stadium started renovations and the club moved to smaller Kolos Stadion.[6]

In 2017, the club temporarily moved to Korosten to play at the local Spartak Stadion which was approved by the Football Federation of Ukraine and Professional Football League.

In March 2021, Polissya returned to Tsentralnyi Stadion after 16 years of reconstruction.[7]

Players

First team squad
As of 17 October 2023[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Ukraine UKR Oleh Kudryk
2 DF The Gambia GAM Moses Jarju
4 DF Ukraine UKR Andriy Hitchenko
5 DF Ukraine UKR Mykyta Kravchenko (on loan from Dynamo Kyiv)
6 MF Ukraine UKR Vyacheslav Tankovskyi
7 FW Ukraine UKR Oleksandr Nazarenko
8 MF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Ohirya (captain)
9 MF Ukraine UKR Yevheniy Morozko
10 FW Ukraine UKR Denis Yanakov
11 DF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Shapoval
12 GK Nigeria NGA Chijioke Aniagboso
13 DF Brazil BRA Lucas Taylor
18 FW Republic of the Congo CGO Béni Makouana
20 MF Ukraine UKR Yevheniy Mykytyuk
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 MF Ukraine UKR Vasyl Hrytsuk
23 FW Ukraine UKR Dmytro Shastal
28 FW Ukraine UKR Pylyp Budkivskyi
29 DF Ukraine UKR Artem Smolyakov
30 DF Ukraine UKR Artem Shabanov
33 GK Ukraine UKR Artem Pospyelov
44 DF Ukraine UKR Serhiy Chobotenko
55 DF Ukraine UKR Borys Krushynskyi
59 MF Ukraine UKR Artem Kozak
71 GK Ukraine UKR Denys Boyko
77 DF Ukraine UKR Bohdan Kushnirenko
95 MF Azerbaijan AZE Emil Mustafayev
99 FW Brazil BRA Arielson (on loan from Cruzeiro)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Ukraine UKR Nikita Petruk (at Zviahel until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Vakula (at Chornomorets Odesa until 30 June 2024)

Managers

Chairmen
  • Ruslan Pavlyuk, 2016–2017
  • Vitaliy Lyaskovskyi, 2017–present

League and cup history

Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR)
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes
Avanhard Zhytomyr
1958 Rep "2" 6/8 13 3 5 5 18 22 11 1⁄16 finals Admitted to Class B
1959 2nd "2" 9/15 28 9 9 10 41 34 27 SU Conference Final
Polissia Zhytomyr
1960 2nd "1" 7/17 32 16 6 10 58 38 38
won relegation playoff over Shakhtar Korostyshiv
1961 2nd "1" 6/18 34 13 8 13 47 41 34 SU Conference 1⁄2 finals to 11th place playoff
lost two-leg playoff to Shakhtar Horlivka placed 12th
won relegation playoff over Chervona Zirka Malyn
1962 2nd "1" 2/13 24 14 3 7 33 24 31 SU Conference 1⁄8 finals to 1st place group
5/6 10 3 2 5 10 15 8 placed 5th / Relegated
1963 3rd "1" 4/20 38 21 7 10 58 36 49 SU Conference 1⁄2 finals to 7th place playoff
won two-leg playoff over Burevisnyk Melitopol placed 7th
1964 3rd "1" 1/16 30 18 8 4 32 11 44 SU Conference 1⁄4 finals to 1st place group
3/6 10 4 3 3 9 7 11 placed 3rd
1965 3rd "2" 8/16 30 12 5 13 34 33 29 SU Conference 1⁄8 finals to 19th place group
4/6 10 3 4 3 6 8 10 placed 22nd
1966 3rd "1" 10/20 38 14 11 13 33 27 39 to 19th place playoff
lost two-leg playoff to Bukovyna Chernivtsi placed 20th
Avtomobilist Zhytomyr
1967 3rd "1" 1/21 40 23 13 4 45 12 59 SU 1⁄32 finals to Final group
1/6 5 4 1 0 7 2 9 Champions / Promoted
1968 2nd "1" 4/21 40 17 16 7 38 19 50 SU 1⁄32 finals
1969 2nd "3" 4/22 42 21 9 12 57 31 51 SU 1⁄8 finals Relegated
1970 3rd 3/22 42 20 15 7 61 27 55 SU 1⁄16 finals
1971 3rd 3/26 50 25 15 10 58 30 65
1972 3rd 8/24 46 19 15 12 44 31 53 Winner
1973 3rd 2/23 44 25 3/(2) 14 62 36 53 1⁄4 finals
1974 3rd 8/20 38 15 11 12 50 39 41 Finalist
1975 3rd 2/17 32 13 14 5 41 21 40 1⁄16 finals
1976 3rd 6/20 38 14 14 10 44 31 42 1⁄2 finals
Spartak Zhytomyr
1977 3rd 8/23 44 18 14 12 51 34 50
1978 3rd 10/23 44 19 7 18 50 40 45
1979 3rd 6/24 46 22 12 12 57 41 56
1980 3rd 7/23 44 17 17 10 55 43 51
1981 3rd 11/23 44 15 13 16 38 47 43
1982 3rd 7/24 46 23 8 15 68 46 54
1983 3rd 7/26 50 21 14 15 66 50 56
1984 3rd 9/13 24 10 6 8 32 29 26 First stage Group 1
4/14 38 14 11 13 50 48 39 Consolation tournament
1985 3rd 14/14 26 4 5 17 17 40 13 First stage Group 1
12/14 40 9 13 18 31 50 31 Consolation tournament
1986 3rd 9/14 26 8 8 10 27 29 24 First stage Group 2
6/14 40 14 10 16 46 48 38 Consolation tournament
1987 3rd 12/27 52 22 12 18 72 59 56
1988 3rd 13/26 50 18 15 17 55 58 51
Polissya Zhytomyr
1989 3rd 15/27 52 16 16 20 59 62 48 Relegated
1990 4th Zone 1 4/19 50 28 13 9 67 38 69 Winner
1991 4th Zone 1 10/26 50 22 7 21 64 66 51 1⁄8 finals fall of the Soviet Union

Ukraine
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes
Polissia Zhytomyr
1992 2nd Gr. "A" 10/14 26 10 5 11 30 31 25 Relegated
Khimik Zhytomyr
1992–93 3rd 2/18 34 20 9 5 53 29 49 Promoted
1993–94 2nd 10/20 38 14 8 16 39 47 36
1994–95 2nd 4/22 42 20 15 7 61 37 75
1995–96 2nd 14/22 42 16 10 16 55 57 58
1996–97 2nd 18/24 46 15 10 21 44 61 55
Polissya Zhytomyr
1997–98 2nd 6/22 42 21 5 16 58 64 68
1998–99 2nd 12/20 38 15 7 16 40 55 52
1999–00 2nd 15/18 34 11 7 16 36 51 40 Relegated
2000–01 3rd 1/16 30 22 4 4 61 17 70 Promoted
2001–02 2nd 4/18 34 17 10 7 43 33 58 Lost promotion play-offs
2002–03 2nd 11/18 34 12 7 15 30 38 43
2003–04 2nd 18/18 34 3 7 24 22 67 16 Avoided relegation
2004–05 2nd 18/18 34 0 2 32 5 39 2 withdrew Relegated

Zhytychi Zhytomyr (2005–2006)
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes
2005–06 3rd 8/16 28 10 11 7 38 34 41 withdrew

Polissya Zhytomyr (revived)
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Other Notes
MFC Zhytomyr
2016 4th
(Amateur Championship)		 3/4 6 3 1 2 6 5 10 Group 1
2016–17 6/12 20 7 5 8 13 18 26 UAC 1⁄16 finals Group 2
Admitted to SL
Polissia Zhytomyr
2017–18 3rd "A" 8/10 27 9 3 15 31 44 30 1⁄32 finals
2018–19 3/10 27 13 6 8 23 21 45 1⁄64 finals
2019–20 2/11 20 11 6 3 28 11 39 1⁄64 finals Promoted
2020–21 2nd 11/16 30 9 8 13 32 37 35 1⁄16 finals
2021–22 2nd 9/16 18 7 4 7 21 17 25
2022–23 2nd "A" 1/8 14 13 1 0 34 6 40 to Promotion group
1/8 14 10 2 2 25 9 32 Promoted

Awards

Leader
Footballer with the most games played for the club
Place Footballer Games Years in club
1. Volodymyr Shyshkov 469 1974, 1978, 1981—1993
2. Stefan Baran 458 1981—1992
3. Yuriy Strykharchuk 391 1982—1985, 1987—1992
4. Serhiy Yermakov 361 1977—1987
5. Mykola Batyuta 348 1969, 1971, 1973—1981
6. Ihor Talko 340 1977, 1980—1983, 1989—1992, 1993
7. Andriy Zheltonosov 326 1981—1983, 1985—1991
8. Vitaliy Horbach 305 1969—1976
9. Ihor Rutkovskyi 299 1981—1983, 1986—1995
10. Yuriy Leonov 294 1982—1983, 1986—1991, 1992—1994, 1997—1998
Footballers with the most goals scored for the club
Place Footballer Goals Years in club
1. Volodymyr Shyshkov 192 1974, 1978, 1981—1993
2. Pavlo Parshyn 82 1998—2004
3. Yuriy Leonov 68 1982—1983, 1986—1991, 1992—1994, 1997—1998
4. Yevhen Naumov 66 1974—1981
5. Stefan Baran 59 1981—1992
6. Valeriy Sofilkanych 58 1993—2002
7. Ihor Talko 54 1977, 1980—1983, 1989—1992, 1993
8. Yuriy Nesmiyan 49 1970—1972
9. Anatoliy Lukashenko 49 1985, 1988—1995, 1999
10. Mykola Vasyutin 48 1969—1976

Polissya-2 Zhytomyr

It is a team of the Specialized sports school of Olympic Reserve Polissya.

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Europe Notes
2008 4th 2 8 5 0 3 11 9 15

References
  1. ФСК«Львів» та ФК «Рух» планують виступати у другій лізі України. zaxid.net. 11 November 2015
  2. Руслан Павлюк очолив КП «Муніципальний футбольний клуб «Житомир». 1.zt.ua. 23 March 2016
  3. At last under its name MFC Zhytomyr, the club will play its official games on March 4-5. (Востаннє під назвою МФК "Житомир" клуб зіграє офіційні матчі 4-5 березня). FC Polissya Zhytomyr. 28 February 2017
  4. Polissya conducted a small rebranding of its logo (Полісся провело невеличкий ребрендинг емблеми). UA-Football. 6 February 2018
  5. Власник АТБ почав фінансувати футбольний клуб на Житомирщині, де у нього родовище берилію (додано). nashigroshi.org.
  6. How the Zhytomyr stadium "Polissya" will look (Як виглядатиме житомирський стадіон «Полісся». ФОТО). MFC Zhytomyr. 4 August 2016
  7. After 16 years Polissya returns to home stadium (Здійснилося. Полісся через 16 років повертається на рідний стадіон). UA-Football. 22 March 2021
  8. "Player Profiles - FC Polissya Zhytomyr. Official club website". polissyafc.com.
  9. "Polissya". pfl.ua.
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