FC Chornomorets Odesa

FC Chornomorets Odesa is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Odesa, Ukraine.
According to the club's website, it was formed in 1936 as Dynamo, but until 2002 it carried a logo with 1958 and 1959 listed as the club's years of foundation on its shield, which is when the club received its current name. The club's shield is very similar to the shield of Romanian FC Farul Constanța.
For over 30 years, the club was sponsored by the Black Sea Shipping Company. The club was among top 20 Soviet clubs that competed in Soviet Top League. The club's home ground is Chornomorets Stadium and has been opened in 2011.

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History

Naming history

Officially in the Soviet Union Ukrainian teams carried both names in Russian and Ukrainian.

1926: Club formed FC Dynamo Odesa
1936: Dynamo was admitted to the All-Union competitions
1936: KinAp Odesa entered league competitions at republican level
1938: Pischevik / Kharchovyk Odesa entered league competitions at republican level
1940: Dynamo football team dissolved, its players joined Kharchovyk which admitted to the All-Union competitions
1941: Club renamed Spartak Odesa
1942: World War II
1944: Club revived as Dynamo Odesa which qualified for final stage of the Cup of the Ukrainian SSR
1945: Club reformed as Kharchovyk Odesa admitted to the All-Union competitions
1950: Kharchovyk relegated and dissolved
1951: Metalurh Odesa promoted to the All-Union competitions
1955: Club split reviving Kharchovyk Odesa in the All-Union competitions
1958: Club renamed Chornomorets Odesa as part of the Odesa Rope Factory

Black Sea (pre-history)

At the beginning of the 20th century, in Odesa, within limits of Alexander Park, a construction started of what was supposed to become a pond. However, after the pit for the pond was dug out, the funding stopped and so did the construction. Soon the hole began to serve as a field for one of city's non-league teams. As the hole resembled a shape of the Black Sea, that was the nickname given to the field, and the team was named "Чорне море" Chorne more. And although that team is unrelated to the today's club, it was the first team in Odesa to play under that name.

Dynamo and previous names

The official date of foundation of Chornomorets Odesa is considered to be 26 March 1936 as Dynamo Odesa. Dynamo Odesa, however, participated before that in the city championship since 1923 winning it in 1933. Dynamo Odesa itself was first called Spartak Odesa until 1926. In 1940, after relegating from the Top level, the club was merged with that participated in the republican competitions and replaced Dynamo in next competitions. In 1941, the club was reformed again when it was included into the War Championship under the name of Spartak Odesa.
Concurrently in league competitions of the Ukrainian SSR, since 1936 in Odesa played another team Kharchovyk Odesa.
Until Chornomorets Odesa was bought out by Leonid Klimov sometime in 2001, the club's foundation was considered to be 1958.

Post WWII and Kharchovyk / Pischevik

After World War II the club was reestablished as Kharchovyk Odesa in the lower Soviet division. In 1950, the club lost its place in the play-offs to Spartak Uzhhorod and was dissolved. In 1953, upon the enlargement of the "Class B" competitions, the city of Odesa was represented by Metalurh which soon was replaced again with already more familiar Kharchovyk Odesa. In 1957–58, there was established Avanhard sports society which adopted number of other smaller societies in Ukraine under its umbrella. In 1958, the Odesa city team adopted the name Chornomorets and represented the city's Rope Factory.

Chornomorets (Black Sea Shipping Company)

In 1959, Chornomorets was handed over to the Black Sea Shipping Company which was a member of Vodnik sports society. Since then its emblem corresponded with the main emblem of Vodnik society.
In the last season of the Soviet Top League, Chornomorets earned fourth place, the only time it ever placed above the big clubs in Ukraine, Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Recent history

The club was a founding member of the Ukrainian Premier League, winning the Ukrainian Cup and finishing 5th in the inaugural 1992 season. Chornomorets finished 3rd the next two seasons and 2nd during the following two seasons. They also won another domestic Cup in 1994. The club's most successful spell was achieved under the guidance of Viktor Prokopenko, and later under Leonid Buryak. At the end of the 1997–98 season, following big financial troubles and the sale of a number of leading players, the club was relegated to the First League.
They won promotion the following 1998–99 season, but finished in the second last place next year and were relegated again. Sometimes in 2001, the Klimov's Primorie company which owned SC Odesa along with Imexbank acquired the city's main team. In 2002 SC Odesa was merged with Chornomorets. Chornomorets came back up again for the 2002–03 season and enjoyed several decent seasons in the Premier League. They finished third in the 2005–06 season and took part in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup tournament.
Chornomorets were deducted 6 points by FIFA on 6 November 2008. It was confirmed by Ukrainian Premier League on 2 March 2009. The club managed to finish the 2008–09 season in 10th place despite the deduction. The 2009–10 season started badly with a 5–0 loss to Dynamo Kyiv and a poor run of form that saw the team finish the first half of the season in 13th place, just two spots away from the relegation zone. The club was relegated to the First League at the end of the season. It took, however, just a year for Chornomorets to return to the Ukrainian top flight for the 2011–12 season.
Following a loss in relegation playoffs on 27 May 2018 Chornomorets fans attacked the head coach of the club.

League and Cup history

The scheme below shows performance of a team which carried names Kharchovyk and Chornomorets only.

Soviet Union

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PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/07/1937 till:01/07/1962
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1938
Colors =
id:bl1 value:rgb
id:bl2 value:rgb
id:rs value:rgb
id:rn value:rgb
PlotData=
bar:Position width:15 color:white align:center
from:01/07/1937 till:01/07/1938 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1938 till:01/07/1939 shift: text:2
from:01/07/1939 till:01/07/1940 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1940 till:01/07/1941 shift: text:10
from:01/07/1941 till:01/07/1944 shift: text:N/A
from:01/07/1944 till:01/07/1945 shift: text:7
from:01/07/1945 till:01/07/1946 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1946 till:01/07/1947 shift: text:3
from:01/07/1947 till:01/07/1948 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1948 till:01/07/1949 shift: text:3
from:01/07/1949 till:01/07/1950 shift: text:8
from:01/07/1950 till:01/07/1951 shift: text:
from:01/07/1951 till:01/07/1952 shift: text:
from:01/07/1952 till:01/07/1953 shift: text:
from:01/07/1953 till:01/07/1954 shift: text:
from:01/07/1954 till:01/07/1955 shift: text:12
from:01/07/1955 till:01/07/1956 shift: text:15
from:01/07/1956 till:01/07/1957 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1957 till:01/07/1958 shift: text:12
from:01/07/1958 till:01/07/1959 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1959 till:01/07/1960 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1960 till:01/07/1961 shift: text:1
from:01/07/1961 till:01/07/1962 shift: text:2
from:01/07/1937 till:01/07/1939 color:rn shift: text: "Ukrainian SSR"
from:01/07/1939 till:01/07/1940 color:bl2 shift: text: "Gr B"
from:01/07/1940 till:01/01/1941 color:bl1 shift: text: "Gr A"
from:01/01/1941 till:01/07/1944 color:white shift: text: "World War II"
from:01/07/1944 till:01/07/1950 color:bl2 shift: text: "Vtoraya Gruppa / Class B"
from:01/07/1950 till:01/07/1954 color:white shift: text: " "
from:01/07/1954 till:01/07/1962 color:bl2 shift: text: "Class B"

ImageSize = width:900 height:60
PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/07/1962 till:01/07/1991
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1963
Colors =
id:bl1 value:rgb
id:bl2 value:rgb
id:rs value:rgb
id:rn value:rgb
PlotData=
bar:Position width:15 color:white align:center
from:01/07/1962 till:01/07/1963 shift: text:6
from:01/07/1963 till:01/07/1964 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1964 till:01/07/1965 shift: text:14
from:01/07/1965 till:01/07/1966 shift: text:14
from:01/07/1966 till:01/07/1967 shift: text:18
from:01/07/1967 till:01/07/1968 shift: text:8
from:01/07/1968 till:01/07/1969 shift: text:8
from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 shift: text:15
from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1971 shift: text:3
from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 shift: text:3
from:01/07/1972 till:01/07/1973 shift: text:1
from:01/07/1973 till:01/07/1974 shift: text:3
from:01/07/1974 till:01/07/1975 shift: text:12
from:01/07/1975 till:01/01/1976 shift: text:10
from:01/01/1976 till:01/07/1976 shift: text:9
from:01/07/1976 till:01/07/1977 shift: text:7
from:01/07/1977 till:01/07/1978 shift: text:7
from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 shift: text:11
from:01/07/1979 till:01/07/1980 shift: text:7
from:01/07/1980 till:01/07/1981 shift: text:11
from:01/07/1981 till:01/07/1982 shift: text:10
from:01/07/1982 till:01/07/1983 shift: text:8
from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1984 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1985 shift: text:15
from:01/07/1985 till:01/07/1986 shift: text:15
from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1987 shift: text:1
from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1988 shift: text:13
from:01/07/1988 till:01/07/1989 shift: text:6
from:01/07/1989 till:01/07/1990 shift: text:9
from:01/07/1990 till:01/07/1991 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1962 till:01/07/1964 color:bl2 shift: text: "Class A 2a Gruppa"
from:01/07/1964 till:01/07/1970 color:bl1 shift: text: "Class A Pervaya Gruppa"
from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1973 color:bl2 shift: text: "Pervaya Liga"
from:01/07/1973 till:01/07/1986 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vysshaya Liga"
from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1987 color:bl2 shift: text: "1a Liga"
from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1991 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vysshaya Liga"

Ukraine

ImageSize = width:900 height:60
PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2025
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992
Colors =
id:bl1 value:rgb
id:bl2 value:rgb
id:rs value:rgb
id:rn value:rgb
PlotData=
bar:Position width:18 color:white align:center
from:01/01/1992 till:01/07/1992 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1992 till:01/01/1993 shift: text:3
from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 shift: text:3
from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 shift: text:2
from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 shift: text:2
from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1997 shift: text:7
from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 shift: text:15
from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 shift: text:2
from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 shift: text:15
from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2001 shift: text:6
from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2002 shift: text:2
from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2003 shift: text:8
from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 shift: text:5
from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 shift: text:6
from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 shift: text:3
from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007 shift: text:6
from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 shift: text:7
from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 shift: text:10
from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 shift: text:15
from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 shift: text:2
from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2012 shift: text:9
from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2013 shift: text:6
from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2014 shift: text:5
from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2016 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 shift: text:6
from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2019 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2020 shift: text:10
from:01/01/2020 till:01/01/2021 shift: text:2
from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2022 shift: text:13
from:01/01/2022 till:01/01/2023 shift: text:10
from:01/01/2023 till:01/01/2024 shift: text:12
from:01/01/2024 till:01/01/2025 shift: text:16
from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1998 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vyshcha Liha"
from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:bl2 shift: text: "1a"
from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vyshcha"
from:01/01/2000 till:31/12/2001 color:bl2 shift: text: "1a Liha"
from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2010 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vyshcha Liha / UPL"
from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 color:bl2 shift: text: "1a"
from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2019 color:bl1 shift: text: "UPL"
from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2021 color:bl2 shift: text: "1a Liha"
from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2025 color:bl1 shift: text: "UPL"

UPL – Ukrainian Premier League

European record

Chornomorets Odesa participates in European competitions since 1975 after playing its first game against S.S. Lazio in the UEFA Cup 1975/76.

Stadium and infrastructure

The main stadium of club is traditionally considered Chornomorets Stadium that until 2012 was called as the Central Stadium of the Black Sea Shipping Company. The stadium is located in the Shevchenko Park.
Among other stadiums Chornomorets also used Stadion "Dnister" imeni V.Dukova in Ovidiopol at the Dnister Liman, Spartak Stadium in Odesa, Chornomorets Training Base in Lymanka.

Crest

The club's emblem dates back to the Union of Labor Black Sea Cities, whose official colors were blue, black, and white.
According to heraldic canons, the elements of the crest mean:

Blue color – symbolizes generosity, honesty, loyalty and impeccability or simply the sky.
Black and white colors – mean two elements: earth and air.
Seagull – means pride.

Colours

Kit sponsors and suppliers

Chornomorets' kit was produced by local manufacturers until 1970, when Adidas became the first kit supplier.

Period

Kit sponsor

Sleeve sponsor

Back sponsor

Shorts sponsor

1958–1989

Honours

Domestic achievements

Ukrainian Premier League

* Runners-up : 1994–95, 1995–96
* Third place : 1992–93, 1993–94, 2005–06Ukrainian First League
* Runners-up : 1998–99, 2001–02, 2010–11, 2020–21Ukrainian Cup
* Winners : 1992, 1993–94
* Runners-up : 2012–13Ukrainian Super Cup
* Runners-up : 2013Soviet Top League
* Third place : 1974Soviet First League
* Winners : 1961, 1973, 1987
* Runners-up : 1962Soviet Top League Cup
* Winners : 1990

International achievements

UEFA Intertoto Cup

* Runners-up : 2007

Walk of Fame

On September 1, 2012, the Walk of Football Fame of FC Chornomorets Odesa was solemnly opened near the central arch of the Chornomorets Stadium in Odesa. On this day, eleven nameplates with memorable "stars" were laid in honor of those who made a great contribution to the success of the Sailors' team — Viktor Prokopenko, Tymerlan Huseynov, Volodymyr Ploskina, Akhmed Aleskerov, Igor Belanov,,,,, Semen Altman, Leonid Sevasteyev. Another plate is dedicated to the "12th player" — loyal fans of "Chornomorets" Odesa of all time. Exactly one year later, on September 1, 2013, two nameplates were added in honor of Viktor Hryshko and. On February 19, 2014, two more plates were added to the walk of fame in honor of Valeriy Porkujan and Roman Grigorchuk. On September 13, 2014, four new nameplates appeared on the walk in honor of Ilya Tsymbalar, Vyacheslav Leshchuk, and Vasyl Ishchak.
On September 13, 2015, the walk of fame was replenished with two new nameplates in honor of Leonid Buryak and Volodymyr Nechayev. On September 11, 2016, two new nameplates appeared on the walk in honor of Volodymyr Sokolov and Vitaly Serafimov. In September 2017, two nameplates in honor of Viktor Zubkov and Oleksandr Ruga replenished the walk. A year later, a nameplate in honor of Volodymyr Fink appeared on the walk. On September 17, 2023, the alley of fame was replenished with two new nameplates in honor of and. On 14 September 2024, before the match of the 6th round of the 2024–25 Ukrainian Premier League between FC Chornomorets and FC Ingulets on the Walk of Football Fame of the FC Chornomorets Odesa was held a solemn ceremony of opening a new nameplate in honor of Anatoliy Doroshenko. On September 13, 2025, a new nameplate appeared on the walk in honor of Edward Luchin.

Players

Current squad

Notable players

Note: Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Chornomorets Odesa.
;Soviet Union

; Soviet Union / C.I.S. / Ukraine