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Andriy Yarmolenko.Photo by 袘芯谐写邪薪 袟邪褟褑.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Andriy Yarmolenko

Andriy Mykolayovych Yarmolenko is a Russian-born Ukrainian professional footballer who is the captain of the Ukrainian national team.

He currently plays as a winger or forward for Al Ain Football Club based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Andriy played at UEFA Euro 2012, Euro 2016, and Euro 2020 and has been a full international for Ukraine since 2009 during which he has scored 45 goals in 109 matches.

The 10 fascinating facts about Andriy Yarmolenko include the following.

1. Andriy鈥檚 Interest In Football Began At The Age of Between 4-5 Years

As far as his mother could remember, Andriy began to play the ball at between 4 to 5 years of age and had to play with a self made ball.

Andriy鈥檚 parents were poor and could not therefore afford to buy a proper ball for their son to play with as football was considered a luxury during Andriy鈥檚 formative years.

Andriy鈥檚 potential in playing the game of football was spotted by Mykola Lypoviy, his first coach, who invited him to Yunist in Chernihiv.

Yunist is a youth sports school located in Chernihiv in Ukraine.

2. Andriy Failed To Meet Physical Requirements To Train At Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy

Chernihiv. Photo by Sergiy Klymenko.

After training at Chernihiv Youth Sports School “Yunist” for a while, at 13 years of age, Andriy decided to train at Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy in Kyiv.

However, he was unable to meet physical training requirements in training and after a year he returned to Chernihiv.

Andriy graduated from the Chernihiv Youth Sports School “Yunist” and played for Yunist Chernihiv and Desna Chernihiv among others.

3. Andriy Initially Joined The Second Team of FC Dynamo Kyiv

FC Dynamo Logo. Photo by Maria Priydan, Sergey Melnik.

Andriy joined FC Dynamo Kyiv in 2007 after graduating from Chernihiv Youth Sports School “Yunist” and playing for several clubs in Chernihiv.

Andriy initially joined FC Dynamo Kyiv鈥檚 second team, Dynamo-2 and played for a couple of seasons in lower leagues.

Andriy was praised by both journalists and Yozhef Sabo, who was then the vice-president of Dynamo.

Andriy was praised for his speed, qualities of good physique and his shots to goal. 

4. Andriy Debut For Dynamo鈥檚 First Team Was Outstanding

Vorskla Poltava. Photo by 袨谢械谐 袛褍斜懈薪邪.

Due to exceptional qualities, Andriy debuted for Dynamo鈥檚 first team in its match against  Vorskla Poltava where he scored the winning goal in 2-1 victory in May of 2008.

In the first season he scored 7 goals in 21 games and 11 goals in the second season of the premier league.

Since he joined Dynamo鈥檚 first team, he became the best player with a total of 247 appearances at 25 years of age.  

During his debut for Dynamo first team, Andriy was known for his nifty ball handling and left footed strike which enabled him to become the top scorer in season one and two of the premier league.

5. Andriy Almost Broke The Leg Of Shakhtar Donetsk player Taras Stepanenko

Taras Stepanenko and Andriy Yarmalenko. Photo by Aleksandr Osipov.

Andriy almost broke the leg of Shakhtar Donetsk player Taras Stepanenko in a dangerous challenge in a match in October 2015.

Andriy seemed to reconcile with Taras Stepanenko after the game as they exchanged jerseys.

However, while thanking Dynamo fans later, he threw Stepanenko jersey down to the ground.

The beef between the two players continued as in a game in 2016 where Shakhtar Donetsk beat Dynamo 3-0, Andriy kicked Stepanenko to the ground after Stepanenko kissed his club鈥檚 badge in front of Dynamo鈥檚 fans.

6.Andriy鈥檚 International Career Has Been Marked By Injuries

Andriy signed a four year contract with Borussia Dortmund of Germany in 2017 before moving to West Ham United of England in 2018 where he signed another four year contract.

In a West Ham 1-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur, Andriy suffered am Achilles tear which ruled him out for the remainder of the season on 20^th October, 2018.

He suffered yet another injury when in December 2019 he tore his adductor muscle and only resumed training in May 2020 after football suspension due to Covid 19 was lifted.

7. Andriy Was Valued At 22 Million Euros

Even though Andriy鈥檚 contract with Dynamo did not earn him much, his performance and skills grew his value considerably.  

The value of the talented player was placed as 22 million Euros equivalent to 16.12 million GBP and 24.08 million US Dollars by Transfermarkt.com.

The talented player proceeded to debut for Borussia Dortmund of Germany in 2017, West Ham United of England as from 2018 to 2022 and currently with top flight Al Ain Football Club based in Abu Dhabi.

8. Andriy Has Received Various Awards As A Team And Individually

Andriy was as part of Dynamo Kiev when the team won the Ukrainian Cup in the 23^rd and 24^th Ukrainian football knockout season in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Andriy was honored as the Best Young Player of Ukraine in 2010 and 2011 and the Ukrainian Premier League Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2014.

He was also honored as the Ukrainian Premier League Best Player for three seasons in a row and the Football Stars of Ukraine 鈥� Best UPL player in 2016. He has also received UEFA awards for 100 caps.

9. Andriy Has Contributed To Ukraine鈥檚 War With Russia

Andriy gave 拢75,000 to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to help defend the country in its war against Russia鈥檚 invasion in February 2022.

He flew to Ukraine border to rescue his wife and child and rescued the parents of Roman Yaremchuk; another striker of Ukraine鈥檚 national team

He sent an ambulance from London to his hometown Chernihiv in May 2022 as well.

10. Andriy Has Been Honored In His Hometown Of Chernihiv

During the reconstruction of the building of the Yunist Youth Sports School, just beside the Yunist Stadium in Chernihiv, a mural was created with an image of Andriy Yarmolenko in 2020.

Andriy was elected an honorary citizen of Chernihiv on 7^th October 2021 and a competition for the Andriy Yarmolenko Cup took place in the city of Chernihiv at the Yunist Stadium in November 2021 in his honor