FC Zorya Luhansk

FC Zorya Luhansk is a Ukrainian football team. Zorya Luhansk was based in the city of Luhansk, Ukraine. However, due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the team currently plays its games at Slavutych-Arena in Zaporizhzhia.
The modern club as a team of masters was established on 10 April 1964 by the Football Federation of the Soviet Union merging the October Revolution Plant sports club Zorya and the Luhansk regional branch of the "Trudovye Rezervy" sports society. In 1972, as Zaria Voroshilovgrad, the club became the first provincial Soviet club to win the Soviet Top League title. Today, the modern club considers its predecessor the football team of the Luhansk Steam Locomotive Plant that was established back in 1923, however due to poor performance of the factory team in the 1950s which played at republican level, the playing record of "Trudovye Rezervy" which played at all-Union level is also considered part of the club's history.
The club is a flagman club in Luhansk Oblast and one of three Ukrainian football "teams of masters" that won the Soviet Top League. The name Zorya roughly means "dawn" in Ukrainian or more precisely the red skies phenomenon.

WWW Official Site FB FCZoryaLuhansk

History

The modern professional team of Zorya Luhansk, during its Soviet period known also as Zaria Voroshilovgrad/Lugansk and for a short period Zorya-MALS, was created in 1964 as the city's team of masters by merging the factory team with another team of masters "Trudovye Rezervy". Before 1964, the factory team played mostly in republican competitions of the Ukrainian SSR.
The history of football in the city of Luhansk begins in the early 20th century.
The first Luhansk team was created in the Russian Empire in 1908 when the workers of the Russischen Maschinenbaugesellschaft Hartmann created the "Society of Rational Recreations". One of the disciplines was a game of kickball headed by the Czech specialist Henrich Drževikovski from Prague, who originally was an instructor of gymnastics of the factory's ministerial school. That team played its games and conducted its training on the empty lot near the factory where today the sport hall "Zorya" is located.
The first mention of games involving the Luhansk team dates back to 1911. In 1913 in Kostyantynivka the first regional football league of Donets basin was created. During World War I and the subsequent Soviet and German hostilities, the league was suspended until 1920, by which time the situation in the region had stabilized.
In 1922 in the city of Luhansk was built a new stadium, possibly "on the personal order" of Vladimir Lenin and later named after him. In 1923 the workers of the Luhansk steam train factory of the October Revolution organized their football team "Metalist" which became the forerunner of today's Zorya. The following year there the championship of the newly created Luhansk okruha was created. In the final game the collective city team of Luhansk was victorious against their rivals from the city of Snizhne, winning the title after extra time 1–0. In 1926, the All-Ukrainian Committee of the Mining Workers' council organized a team of Donbass miners, players from Kadiivka, for a tour in Germany. There the Donbass team won four of their eight games. The following year an international game took place in Luhansk, in which the city team was challenged by their rivals from Austria. The Donbas players lost the game.
In 1936 the football teams "Metalist" and "Dynamo" merged to form the united Luhansk city-team which the following year was named Dzerzhynets. The name "Dzerzhynets" derives from the steam locomotive that was produced at the steam train factory FD – "Felix Dzerzhinsky". That year "Dzerzhynets" reached 3rd place in the Ukrainian second league.
In 1937 "Dzerzhynets" won Ukrainian's second league and was promoted to the first. Moreover, it reached the 1/8 final of the Ukrainian Cup and the 1/16 final of the Soviet Cup. The team consisted of the following players: Klad'ko, Hrebenyuk, Svidyns'kyi, Mazanov, Morozov, Krasyuk, Nosko, Movchan, Brovenko, Chernyavs'kyi, Voloschenko, Lokotosh, Sytnikov, Yevdokymov, Myroshnikov, Ishchenko.
In 1938 "Dzerzhynets" became champions of Ukraine after having won 9 games and drawn two. It was thus admitted to all-Union competitions, the 1939 Soviet Football Championship Gruppa B. It made its debut on Friday, 12 May 1939 in away match in Dnipro against Stal Dnipropetrovsk which Dzerzhynets lost 0:1. The goal was scored by Vasyl Hotselyuk. The team was composed of the following players: Pavlo Svidynskyi, Mykhailo Sukharev, Semen Myroshnikov, Oleksandr Kulahin, Hryhoriy Nosko, Mykola Krasyuk, Artavazd Akopyants, Kostiantyn Pyrohov, Pyotr Buyanov, Mykola Lokotosh, Petro Yurchenko.

Post war revival

After World War II, the club was not revived right away. The city of Luhansk was represented by Dynamo Luhansk, while in 1949–1951 there was as well a team of the Luhansk regional party administration "Trudovi Rezervy". In 1950 Dynamo Luhansk merged into Trudovi Rezervy. In 1951 the chief of Trudovi Rezervy's regional administration, Ivan Lomakin; went on trial and the team was liquidated.
In 1948 "Dzerzhynets" was re-established in the lower leagues of the Ukrainian championship. Due to the liquidation of Trudovi Rezervy, Dzerzhynets was allowed to compete among the "mater teams". Few players from Trudovi Rezervy joined the factory team. In 1954, Dzerzhynets was transferred under the administration of the Republican Volunteer Society of "Avanhard" which continued its participation in competitions until 1959.
Due to a bleak performance of "Avanhard" in 1957 in the city of Voroshilovhrad, it was revived as another club "Trudovi Rezervy" which this time comprised students from the Leningrad Technicum of Physical Culture and Sports.
After the liquidation of Avanhard in 1959, in 1960 in Luhansk the October Revolution Factory team. was established.

Modern period

During the already ongoing 1964 season and playing several rounds, on 10 April 1964 the Soviet Football Federation issued its decision about merger of two clubs "Trudovi Rezervy" and OR Factory team into FC Zorya Voroshilovhrad.
In 1972 Zorya did not only win its only Soviet championship, but also represented, re-enforced with only three players from other clubs, the USSR at the Brazilian Independence Cup mid-year. However, only Volodymyr Onyshchenko represented the club at the Final of the European Football Championship few weeks earlier.
In 1992 the club was acquired by a Moscow Science-Production Association "MALS" and participated in the competition of the Ukrainian Top League.
In the season 2005–06 the team won first place in the Persha Liha, and had been promoted to the Vyscha Liha. Zorya was one of the original twenty teams to debut for the first season of the Ukrainian Premier League. The team played for five seasons until the 1995–96 season in which they finished eighteenth and were sent down to the Persha Liha. Zorya relegated to Druha Liha in 1996–97 season but she returned to Persha Liha in 2003–04 season.
The War in Donbas which started in 2014 made the team relocate to Zaporizhzhia, as Luhansk was seized by the Russian-backed Luhansk People's Republic forces. In 2016 the team had advanced sufficiently in the standings that they were involved in the European wide play-offs in the UEFA Europa League. In the 2016-17 Europa League season, Zorya Luhansk played group matches against Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, and Manchester United.

Names

;Predecessors

1923–35: FC Metallist Lugansk '
1936–40: FC Dzerzhinets Voroshilovgrad '
1948–53: FC Dzerzhinets Voroshilovgrad '
1953–59: FC Avangard Voroshilovgrad '

;Trudovi Rezervy

1949–51: Trudovye Rezervy Voroshilovgrad '
1957–64: Trudovye Rezervy Lugansk '

;Zorya

1960–64: SC Zaria Lugansk '
1964–70: FC Zaria Lugansk '
1970–90: FC Zaria Voroshilovgrad '
1990–91: FC Zaria Lugansk '
1992–96: FC Zorya-MALS Luhansk
1996–present: FC Zorya Luhansk ''''

Colours and badge

The clubs colours are black and white. In 2010 the club adopted own mascot, a black-white cat which after the club's relocation also moved to Zaporizhia.
The club's current badge was adopted after 2010 and was completely redesigned. In early 1990s the club's badge also carried the brand of local company "MALS". Earlier badges had a silhouette of an oncoming locomotive.

Stadium(s)

The oldest stadium in Luhansk is Lenin Stadium, built in 1922, and for long time was the main city stadium.
In March 1951, the Voroshilov Stadium was opened in Luhansk, with a capacity of 7,447 seats. The stadium belonged to the Lokomotiv production association Luhanskteplovoz. In 1961 it was renamed "Avanhard". Since 1962 it became the home for Trudovi Rezervy and later Zorya. In 2000–2002, the stadium was sold and became the property of the city. In 2003, Avanhard was fully renovated.
Following the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in 2014 Zorya relocated to Zaporizhia where it plays at Slavutych Arena.

Reserve team

The reserve team of Zorya, Zorya Luhansk Reserves are playing in the Ukrainian Premier Reserve League.

Honours

Since 1960 the football championship of the Ukrainian SSR among "teams of masters" was conducted as part of the Class B competitions which at first were second tier and later third tier until completely phased away. Afterwards, Ukrainian football competitions were adopted into one of zones of the Soviet Second League.
Another all-Ukrainian football competitions among "collectives of physical culture" were conducted since 1964 that were ongoing until 1991 and sometimes are confused for the actually championship mentioned before. Neither Trudovi rezervy or Zorya played in competitions among collectives of physical culture", but did play in football championship of Ukrainian SSR which until 1959 was not considered as a competition among teams of masters.

Domestic competitions

Soviet Union

Soviet Top League

* Winners : 1972Soviet Cup
* Runners-up : 1974, 1975Soviet First League
* Winners : 1962, 1966Soviet Second League
* Winners : 1986 [Soviet Second League, Zone 6|1986]
* Runners-up : 1991 Ukrainian SSR
* Winners : 1938, 1962, 1986
* Runners-up : 1950,

Ukraine

Ukrainian Cup

* Runners-up : 2015–16, 2020–21Ukrainian First League
* Winners : 2005–06Ukrainian Second League
* Winners : 2002–03
* Runners-up : 1998–99

Coaches and administration

Presidents and owners

Source:

1989–90: Administration Chairman Oleksiy Vintun
1990: Club Chairman I. Shyrokyi
1990: Club Chairman O. Lyakhov
1990–92: President Yuriy Koniayev
1992–96: President Volodymyr Tarasenko
1996–01: President Dmytro Makarenko
2001–02: President Volodymyr Makarov
2002–05: President Yuriy Sevastianov
2005–07: President Valeriy Shpichka
2007–09: President and owner Valeriy Bukayev
2009: Owner Marina Bukayeva
* 2009: President Oleksandr Yehorov
* 2009: President Manolis Pilavov
2009–present: President and owner Yevhen Heller

General directors

2009–2020 Serhiy Rafailov
2020–2023 Stanislav Ohanov
Ihor Huz

Managers

Reserve team

Volodymyr Mykytyn

Longest serving coaches

Last Updated after 2020/21 season

No.

Name

Nation

Time period

Achievement

Vadym Dobizha

Soviet Union

League and Cup history

FC Zorya Luhansk spent 14 seasons in the Soviet top tier including the Class A Group One and the Top League. The club managed to become champions of the Soviet Union in 1972. Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ukrainian club Zorya spent 20 seasons in the Ukrainian top tier including the Top League and the Premier League.
The statistics is based on information from the club's official website.

Metalist, Dzerzhinets, Avanhard, Zorya

Soviet Union

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from:01/07/1937 till:01/07/1938 shift: text:1
from:01/07/1938 till:01/07/1939 shift: text:16
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from:01/07/1955 till:01/07/1956 shift: text:6
from:01/07/1956 till:01/07/1957 shift: text:6
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from:01/07/1966 till:01/07/1967 shift: text:16
from:01/07/1967 till:01/07/1968 shift: text:13
from:01/07/1968 till:01/07/1969 shift: text:11
from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 shift: text:5
from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1971 shift: text:4
from:01/07/1971 till:01/07/1972 shift: text:1
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from:01/07/1973 till:01/07/1974 shift: text:14
from:01/07/1974 till:01/07/1975 shift: text:9
from:01/07/1975 till:01/01/1976 shift: text:16
from:01/01/1976 till:01/07/1976 shift: text:12
from:01/07/1976 till:01/07/1977 shift: text:9
from:01/07/1977 till:01/07/1978 shift: text:9
from:01/07/1978 till:01/07/1979 shift: text:17
from:01/07/1979 till:01/07/1980 shift: text:10
from:01/07/1980 till:01/07/1981 shift: text:15
from:01/07/1981 till:01/07/1982 shift: text:6
from:01/07/1982 till:01/07/1983 shift: text:13
from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1984 shift: text:20
from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1985 shift: text:13
from:01/07/1985 till:01/07/1986 shift: text:1
from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1987 shift: text:16
from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1988 shift: text:20
from:01/07/1988 till:01/07/1989 shift: text:4
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from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1986 color:rs shift: text: "Vtoraya Liga"
from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1988 color:bl2 shift: text: "Pervaya Liga"
from:01/07/1988 till:01/07/1991 color:rs shift: text: "Vtoraya Liga"

Ukraine

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from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 shift: text:16
from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 shift: text:18
from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1997 shift: text:20
from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 shift: text:19
from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 shift: text:2
from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 shift: text:3
from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2001 shift: text:5
from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2002 shift: text:9
from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2003 shift: text:1
from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 shift: text:15
from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 shift: text:3
from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 shift: text:1
from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 shift: text:11
from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 shift: text:13
from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 shift: text:13
from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 shift: text:12
from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2012 shift: text:13
from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2013 shift: text:10
from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2014 shift: text:7
from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015 shift: text:4
from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2016 shift: text:4
from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 shift: text:3
from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 shift: text:4
from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2019 shift: text:5
from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1996 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vyshcha Liha"
from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1998 color:bl2 shift: text: "Persha Liha"
from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2003 color:rs shift: text: "Druha Liha"
from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:bl2 shift: text: "Persha Liha"
from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2019 color:bl1 shift: text: "Vyshcha Liha / Premier Liha"

Trudovi Rezervy

European record

Season

Competition

Round

Opponent

Home

Away

Aggregate

Qual.

1973–74

European Cup

UEFA club coefficient ranking

Rank

Team

Points

102

Football Club Elo ranking

Rank	Team	Points
189	Books 1 Wuthering Heights 118,587 2 Tales of Dunk and Egg 23,854 3 Project Hail Mary 12,936 4 Lord of the Flies 11,294 5 A Song of Ice and Fire 10,337 6 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 10,100 7 Nobody's Girl (memoir) 7,986 8 Hamlet 7,026 9 Frankenstein 6,782 10 Dungeon Crawler Carl 6,600 Films 1 Wuthering Heights (2026 film) 95,843 2 Marty Supreme 50,577 3 The Housemaid (2025 film) 49,096 4 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 48,316 5 Dhurandhar 45,834 6 One Battle After Another 33,762 7 Goat (2026 film) 33,528 8 XXX (2002 film) 29,905 9 Psycho Killer (film) 29,842 10 Toy Story 5 27,866 Programming Languages 1 C (programming language) 3,639 2 Python (programming language) 3,490 3 C++ 1,676 4 JavaScript 1,631 5 Rust (programming language) 1,504 6 Go (programming language) 1,434 7 R (programming language) 1,421 8 Scratch (programming language) 1,374 9 Java (programming language) 1,333 10 Assembly language 899 TV Series 1 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (TV series) 104,072 2 The Night Agent 73,897 3 Love Story (2026 TV series) 64,192 4 Famous Last Words (TV series) 64,170 5 America's Next Top Model 53,934 6 The Pitt 44,764 7 Heated Rivalry 36,398 8 Euphoria (American TV series) 33,909 9 How to Get to Heaven from Belfast 33,789 10 Grey's Anatomy 32,330 Video Games 1 Ecco the Dolphin (video game) 39,935 2 Wordle 26,024 3 Poppy Playtime 18,118 4 Resident Evil Requiem 15,300 5 Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen 13,433 6 Roblox 12,144 7 Minecraft 10,844 8 Grand Theft Auto V 9,575 9 Reanimal 9,006 10 Pokémon (video game series) 8,881 © 2026 OWIKI.org. Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Status: ONLINE Version: 1.03

FC Zorya Luhansk

History

Post war revival

Modern period

Names

Colours and badge

Stadium(s)

Reserve team

Sponsors

Honours

Domestic competitions

Soviet Union

Ukraine

Coaches and administration

Presidents and owners

General directors

Managers

Reserve team

Longest serving coaches

League and Cup history

Metalist, Dzerzhinets, Avanhard, Zorya

Soviet Union

Ukraine

Trudovi Rezervy

European record

UEFA club coefficient ranking

Football Club Elo ranking