FK Metalurh Zaporizhya - last updated on 8 October 2008
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: FK Metalurh Zaporizhya
(ФК Металург Запоріжжя
)
Foundation: 1935
City: Zaporizhya
(Запоріжжя
)
Colours: Red and white
Website: www.fcmetalurg.com
Honours:
FK Metalurh Zaporizhya has currently no honours.
A bit of history:
The history of Metalurg began in 1935 when a steel production company, Zaporizhstal, formed the football club 'Stal'. By the end of the year a local sports union gave Stal the status of a main club in the region. Throughout the 1930s the team appeared regularly in domestic competitions and often played against clubs from the Soviet Top League, the most notable of which was FC Spartak Moscow. The tough times of World War II soon followed, however, bringing decline to both Zaporizhstal and its team. Nonetheless, in 1946 the club was revived and in 1949 Stal won the cup in Zaporizhia Oblast.
In October 1949 the team was renamed to 'Metalurg'. In 1950 Metalurg debuts in the USSR Cup and in the round of 64 they defeated Lokomotiv Petrozavodsk with the score of 5:0, but go out in the next stage, losing 2:3 to Torpedo Stalingrad. However, the very next year club went to eighth-finals, notably defeating FC Dynamo Minsk 1:0 and FC Lokomotiv Moscow 4:0 on the way. In 1953 the club debuted in the USSR Championship. From 1953 to 1962 Metalurg played in USSR Championship division 'B'.
In 1963 Metalurg won a place in USSR Championship division 'A' and had some moderate success. They stayed there until 1971, when in the 1970 season club secured a position in division 'A' and a place in the USSR First League. In their first season they came in fourth place, which became the club's highest achievement in the USSR Championships.
In 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine became independent and Ukrainian Premier League was formed. Metalurh was among the founders of the League. The club has remained in the Vyshcha Liga for all 16 seasons with their highest achievement in the 1995/1996 season, taking 5th place. Clubs best performance in a domestic cup came in 2006, when Metalurh reached the final, there they met with Dynamo Kyiv and were beaten 2 goals to none, however this performance allowed them to enter the UEFA Cup next season. Zaporizhstal still remains as a largest club sponsor and actively finances most of club's ecpences.
Throughout it's history in Ukrainian Premier League, Metalurh has entered the UEFA Cup on two occasions; the first in 2002-03 after finishing fourth in the league the previous season. In the qualifying round they beat Maltese side Birkirkara F.C. 3-0 on aggregate, before losing 2-1 to English side Leeds United in the first round.
The second time club had to wait 4 years to qualify again. After finishing as runners-up in the Ukrainian Cup in 2006, Metalurh secured a place in the 2006-07 UEFA Cup. Club entered the competition In the second qualifying round, Metalurh defeated Moldavian side Zimbru Chişinău 3-0 over two legs. However, Metalurh went out in the first stage, losing to Greek club Panathinaikos.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
FK Metalurh Zaporizhya
