The 2008–09 Ukrainian Premier League season was the eighteenth since its establishment. Shakhtar Donetsk were the defending champions, having won their fourth league title. The season began on 16 July 2008 with a scoreless draw between Tavriya and Dnipro. The last round of matches were played on 26 May 2009. A total of sixteen teams participated in the league; fourteen of them had contested in the 2007–08 season while the remaining two were promoted from the Persha Liha.
Vorskla Poltava's Ahmed Yanuzi scored the first goal of the tournament on 18 July 2008 in the 72nd minute of an away match against FC Kharkiv. Dynamo Kyiv won their title several games before the end of the season after a home win against Tavriya Simferopol. Dynamo finished with a fifteen point lead over the defending champions and current runners-up Shakhtar Donetsk.
[edit] Team changes from previous season
FC Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka and Zakarpattya Uzhhorod were demoted to Ukrainian First League after the 2007-08 season for finishing in 15th and 16th place respectively. They were replaced by First League champions FC Illichivets Mariupol and runners-up FC Lviv.
[edit] Qualification to European competitions for 2009–10
- Dynamo Kyiv qualified for the UEFA Champions League after Round 25 and were crowned Ukrainian champions two rounds later. As a consequence, they will enter the Champions League directly at the group stage.
- Shakhtar Donetsk also qualified for the UEFA Champions League after Round 28. They will enter the competition in the third qualifying round.
- After Round 28, Metalist Kharkiv and Vorskla Poltava qualified for the UEFA Europa League; Metalurh Donetsk gained access after Round 30. The exact distribution of the three Ukrainian Europa League spots will be dependent on the outcome of the Ukrainian Cup 2008–09 final, which will be played between Shakhtar and Vorskla.
- Vorskla Poltava as Ukrainian Cup winners, enter the Europa league play-off round with Metalist entering the third and Metalurh entering the second qualifying round.
[edit] League table
Source: Premier League website (Ukrainian)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd overall wins; 3rd goal difference; 4th goals scored.
1Chornomorets were deducted 6 points for failing to satisfy contractual obligations with Bosnian player George Indjic.[1]
2On 6 May 2009 FC Kharkiv were deducted 3 points by the Disciplinary Committee of the FPL.[2]
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (Q) = Qualified to respective phase of tournament; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
[edit] Results
Source: Premier League website (Ukrainian)
1The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
[edit] Round by Round
The following table is a historic representation of the team's position in the standings after the completion of each round.
| Team \ Round | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Arsenal Kyiv | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
| Chornomorets Odessa | 11 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk | 9 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Dynamo Kyiv | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Illichivets Mariupol | 15 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
| Karpaty Lviv | 11 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 |
| FC Kharkiv | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih | 3 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| FC Lviv | 1 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Metalurh Donetsk | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Metalurh Zaporizhya | 11 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 15 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Tavriya Simferopol | 9 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Vorskla Poltava | 3 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Zorya Luhansk | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Source: kicker.de (German)
[edit] Top scorers
[edit] Stadia
Locations of teams home grounds in Ukrainian Premier League 2008–09
FC Kharkiv played in Sumy, because Dynamo Stadium in Kharkiv which was recently bought by the club requires major renovations. The club returned to their home ground in April for their 24th Round game against Tavriya. FC Arsenal Kyiv, who also has a chronic problem with obtaining its own home ground, shared three stadiums in the first half of the season. Initially allowed to play at Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium, Arsenal was forced to seek another home venue during its times financial hardship. Arsenal was spotted by FC Obolon Kyiv that let the club utilize the Obolon Stadium. As the problem continues to be unresolved with Arsenal's home field, they could possibly relocate from Kiev, with some speculations of moving to Sumy Oblast.
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk has moved this season to the newly built Dnipro Stadium, but still played some of its games at Meteor time to time. Also FC Shakhtar Donetsk plans to move to the newly built Donbas Arena once it is completely built. FC Chornomorets Odessa, due to renovations at Chornomorets Stadium played its games in the second half of the season at Spartak Stadium.
Newly promoted FC Lviv decided to use Ukraina Stadium expecting to attact extra fans in Lviv. However, economic factors as well as poor performances and lack of support in the area the club decided after the winter break to return back to their original home ground Kniazha Arena in Dobromyl. After one home game in atrocious conditions in early spring which damaged the pitch the club was forced to look to other venues (including Avanhard Stadium in Lutsk and Bannikov Stadium in Kiev).[3] Late in April FC Lviv returned for a home fixture at Kniazha Arena.
| Rank | Stadium | Capacity | Club | Notes |
| 1 | Tsentralnyi-Chornomorets Stadium | 34,362 | Chornomorets Odessa | Currently undergoing renovations in preparations for Euro 2012 |
| 2 | Dnipro Stadium | 31,003 | Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk | Moved from 24,381-seat Stadium Meteor on 14 September 2008 |
| 3 | OSK Metalist | 30,133 | Metalist Kharkiv | While upgrades are taking place, maximum capacity is at 22,757 (planned capacity is 42,000+) |
| 4 | Metalurh Stadium | 29,783 | Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih | |
| 5 | Yuvileiny Stadium (Sumy) | 29,300 | FC Kharkiv | FC Kharkiv leased this stadium for their home games until April 2009 |
| 6 | Ukraina Stadium | 28,051 | Karpaty Lviv
FC Lviv | Plans to upgrade to around 40,000 seats in preparations for Euro 2012, the ground was lent to FC Lviv in the first half. |
| 7 | RSK Olimpiyskiy | 25,831 | Shakhtar Donetsk | Moving to new UEFA 5-star 50,000-seat venue in 2009 |
| 8 | Vorskla Stadium | 25,000 | Vorskla Poltava | |
| 9 | Stadium Meteor | 24,381 | Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk | Moved to new home ground during the season |
| 10 | Avanhard Stadium | 22,320 | Zorya Luhansk | |
| 11 | Lokomotiv Stadium | 19,978 | Tavriya Simferopol | |
| 12 | Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium | 16,873 | Dynamo Kyiv
Arsenal Kyiv | Temporarily leased to FC Arsenal |
| 13 | Illichivets Stadium | 12,680 | Illichivets Mariupol | |
| 14 | Slavutych Arena | 11,983 | Metalurh Zaporizhya | |
| 15 | Avanhard Stadium[4] | 11,574 | FC Lviv | Lent to FC Lviv after home ground's pitch in Dobromyl was damaged and was unfit to host a home fixture. Actual home ground of First Division side FC Volyn Lutsk. |
| 16 | Dynamo Stadium (Kharkiv)[5] | 9,000 | FC Kharkiv, Metalist Kharkiv | FC Kharkiv's home ground |
| 17 | Metalurh Stadium | 5,300 | Metalurh Donetsk | |
| 18 | Spartak Stadium[6] | 5,000 | Chornomorets Odessa | Chornomorets secondary home ground. |
| 19 | Obolon Stadium[7] | 4,300 | Arsenal Kyiv | Lent to FC Arsenal by Obolon Kyiv |
| 20 | Kniazha Arena | 3,220 | FC Lviv | FC Lviv's home ground in Dobromyl |
| 21 | Bannikov Stadium | 1,678 | Arsenal Kyiv [8], FC Lviv[9] | Lent to Arsenal and FC Lviv by FFU, training ground for the Ukrainian national teams. |
| 22 | Dynamo Club Stadium[10] | 750 | Arsenal Kyiv | Lent to Arsenal by Dynamo Kyiv. Located at Dynamo's training facility outside of Kiev in the village of Chapayivka. |
[edit] Managers and captains
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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| 2008–09 in European Football (UEFA) | | | Domestic leagues | | | | Domestic cups | | | | League Cups | | | | UEFA competitions | | |
