First title glory
Sunday, April 5, 2020
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While football games have been suspended, we invite you to recall all title-winning seasons in Shakhtar’s history together
The first title is memorable not only because the team were going towards it under three different coaches, but also because Shakhtar enjoyed an unbeaten run throughout the season.
Personnel
In the summer of 2001, the club carried out a quality transfer campaign: the long-term leaders (Serhii Popov, Mykhailo Starostyak, Serhii Atelkin) were joined by a few foreigners who quickly blended in with the team. So, the Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski imposed competition on Yurii Virt and Dmytro Shutkov, finally turning out to be the most reliable goalkeeper (only 1 goal conceded in 9 games). The Romanian defender Daniel Florea got a foothold in the starting lineup and took part in 22 of 26 league games. Another Pole Mariusz Lewandowski did not immediately join the starting lineup, but subsequently he played for the club for 10 years and became one of Shakhtar's legendary players. Also in the 2001/2002 season, they fielded the previously signed legendary Senegalese defender Assane N’Diaye (23 apps, 3 goals) and the Nigerian striker Julius Aghahowa (17 apps, 7 goals). The more experienced Ukrainians did not give up as well: Henadii Zubov scored 8 goals in 23 matches, and Andrii Vorobei was recognized as Shakhtar’s top scorer in the Championship (25 apps, 9 goals).
Championship plot
The 2001/2002 season was dominated by Shakhtar and Dynamo. The opponents were so carried away by their rivalry that at the finish the third-spot team (Metalurh Donetsk) were as many as 23 points adrift of them.
The decisive in the fight for gold were head-to-head encounters between the favourites. By the will of the calendar, the first meeting took place in the second round in Kyiv. By the 62nd minute, the hosts were 2-0 up. However, a double substitution by Viktor Prokopenko did work. Instead of Serhii Popov and Oleksii Bakharev, the coach fielded Serhii Atelkin and Andriy Konyushenko to strengthen the attacking third. And Shakhtar recouped. In the dying 10 minutes before the final whistle, Andrii Vorobei and Julius Aghahowa scored to make it 2-2.
The return leg, which took place in the penultimate round, turned out to be no less dramatic. Before the trip to Donetsk, the Kyivans had a two-point lead, and they would be happy with a draw. Shakhtar psyched themselves up for victory only, and they ssecued it thanks to Dynamo’s two own goals: one by Serhii Fyodorov in the 43rd minute and another one by Goran Gavrancic in the 90th minute. This game saw a full house, with 32,000 spectators following the encounter. Before the final round, teams topping the table swapped spots.
Final chord
Shakhtar played the last game in Uzhhorod vs Zakarpattia. The hosts were in the last spot, still retaining the chance of staying in the Premier League. The plot was fuelled by the fact that the team was coached by the former Dynamo captain Yurii Kalitvintsev. The game turned out to be tense, with the outcome being unknown until the final whistle. Everything was decided by the only goal scored by Oleksii Belik after Anatolii Tymoshchuk’s assist early in the second half. 1-0.
Heroes of the season
It is worth mentioning the coaches’ contribution. The Miners started under the leadership of Viktor Prokopenko who was at the helm for 10 matches. Then, in early and late October, 3 games were played under the leadership of Shakhtar coach Valerii Yaryomchenko. On January 18, 2002, the Italian Nevio Scala, the first foreign coach in the club’s history, took charge of the team. It was he who was destined to lead the team to historical success. By the way, Shakhtar claimed a golden double that season, also winning the Ukrainian Cup. Also under the leadership of Scala, the Miners secured a 3-2 win over Dynamo in the final.
The scoring contribution of Andrii Vorobei was significant: the striker netted 9 goals - the best figure among the Miners back then. Henadii Zubov scored one goal less. Serhii Popov was also prolific: the versatile player netted 5 goals, with 3 of his goals bringing victories. Anatolii Tymoshchuk showcased his leadership attributes. The defenders played in a reliable and well-knit manner, with the Orange-Blacks conceding only 10 goals in 26 games.
Legend’s memories
Serhii Popov (Shakhtar captain in the 2001/02 season):
"Shakhtar have made fans accustomed to victories, but the first title glory is always special. Starting from the president of the club, the employees, the football players, the fans - everyone literally lived and breathed the dream of winning the title. Coaches changed, but the major goal remained the same - claiming the top spot.
Personnel
In the summer of 2001, the club carried out a quality transfer campaign: the long-term leaders (Serhii Popov, Mykhailo Starostyak, Serhii Atelkin) were joined by a few foreigners who quickly blended in with the team. So, the Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski imposed competition on Yurii Virt and Dmytro Shutkov, finally turning out to be the most reliable goalkeeper (only 1 goal conceded in 9 games). The Romanian defender Daniel Florea got a foothold in the starting lineup and took part in 22 of 26 league games. Another Pole Mariusz Lewandowski did not immediately join the starting lineup, but subsequently he played for the club for 10 years and became one of Shakhtar's legendary players. Also in the 2001/2002 season, they fielded the previously signed legendary Senegalese defender Assane N’Diaye (23 apps, 3 goals) and the Nigerian striker Julius Aghahowa (17 apps, 7 goals). The more experienced Ukrainians did not give up as well: Henadii Zubov scored 8 goals in 23 matches, and Andrii Vorobei was recognized as Shakhtar’s top scorer in the Championship (25 apps, 9 goals).
Championship plot
The 2001/2002 season was dominated by Shakhtar and Dynamo. The opponents were so carried away by their rivalry that at the finish the third-spot team (Metalurh Donetsk) were as many as 23 points adrift of them.
The decisive in the fight for gold were head-to-head encounters between the favourites. By the will of the calendar, the first meeting took place in the second round in Kyiv. By the 62nd minute, the hosts were 2-0 up. However, a double substitution by Viktor Prokopenko did work. Instead of Serhii Popov and Oleksii Bakharev, the coach fielded Serhii Atelkin and Andriy Konyushenko to strengthen the attacking third. And Shakhtar recouped. In the dying 10 minutes before the final whistle, Andrii Vorobei and Julius Aghahowa scored to make it 2-2.
The return leg, which took place in the penultimate round, turned out to be no less dramatic. Before the trip to Donetsk, the Kyivans had a two-point lead, and they would be happy with a draw. Shakhtar psyched themselves up for victory only, and they ssecued it thanks to Dynamo’s two own goals: one by Serhii Fyodorov in the 43rd minute and another one by Goran Gavrancic in the 90th minute. This game saw a full house, with 32,000 spectators following the encounter. Before the final round, teams topping the table swapped spots.
Final chord
Shakhtar played the last game in Uzhhorod vs Zakarpattia. The hosts were in the last spot, still retaining the chance of staying in the Premier League. The plot was fuelled by the fact that the team was coached by the former Dynamo captain Yurii Kalitvintsev. The game turned out to be tense, with the outcome being unknown until the final whistle. Everything was decided by the only goal scored by Oleksii Belik after Anatolii Tymoshchuk’s assist early in the second half. 1-0.
Heroes of the season
It is worth mentioning the coaches’ contribution. The Miners started under the leadership of Viktor Prokopenko who was at the helm for 10 matches. Then, in early and late October, 3 games were played under the leadership of Shakhtar coach Valerii Yaryomchenko. On January 18, 2002, the Italian Nevio Scala, the first foreign coach in the club’s history, took charge of the team. It was he who was destined to lead the team to historical success. By the way, Shakhtar claimed a golden double that season, also winning the Ukrainian Cup. Also under the leadership of Scala, the Miners secured a 3-2 win over Dynamo in the final.
The scoring contribution of Andrii Vorobei was significant: the striker netted 9 goals - the best figure among the Miners back then. Henadii Zubov scored one goal less. Serhii Popov was also prolific: the versatile player netted 5 goals, with 3 of his goals bringing victories. Anatolii Tymoshchuk showcased his leadership attributes. The defenders played in a reliable and well-knit manner, with the Orange-Blacks conceding only 10 goals in 26 games.
Legend’s memories
Serhii Popov (Shakhtar captain in the 2001/02 season):
"Shakhtar have made fans accustomed to victories, but the first title glory is always special. Starting from the president of the club, the employees, the football players, the fans - everyone literally lived and breathed the dream of winning the title. Coaches changed, but the major goal remained the same - claiming the top spot.
The coaching staff just could not hold back their emotions. We won 1-0! The awareness of that came right away. I remember that I sat on the bench together with Serhii Atelkin, looking at each other - well, finally we’ve done it as we have been moving towards this league title for so long!
Nevio Scala introduced many innovations into our training. He viewed football differently, the Italian paid attention even to petty things. That season, the coaches fielded me both in defence and in midfield. Hence, perhaps, so many goals. I scored goals in the Championship and in the Cup final against Dynamo. I remember my goal in the game vs Tavria. The away meeting in Simferopol was at the end of the season, and we needed just a victory not to lag behind Dynamo. Due to the abdominal rings, I ended up on the bench. For a long time we could not score against the Crimeans. As people told me later, the assistant coach told Nevio Scala in the second half the following: “Field Popov, he will score one.” I came on for Mariusz Lewandowski and headed one home after a corner kick. The coaching staff just could not hold back their emotions. We won 1-0! The awareness of that came right away. I remember that I sat on the bench together with Serhii Atelkin, looking at each other - well, finally we’ve done it as we have been moving towards this league title for so long!"
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