FC Shakhtar Academy: pre-season achievements
Saturday, March 21, 2026
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The FC Shakhtar Academy teams took part in various tournaments and prepared productively for the second part of the National Future League
At the beginning of January, the FC Shakhtar Academy teams ended their break and began intensive preparations for the second part of the season. Training sessions took place at the base in Shchaslyve and were accompanied by participation in tournaments. A well-structured training programme and match practice enabled the coaching staff to assess the players’ physical condition and playing capabilities, gradually preparing them for the decisive stage of the season.
Shakhtar U14 are the winners of the Utmost Cup U15 Silver League
From March 5 to 8, the Utmost Cup youth tournament for players born in 2011 took place in Vinnytsia. Twenty teams from across Ukraine took part in the competition, which was held in two stages: a group stage and the play-offs.
Shakhtar U14 coached by Artem Savin finished the group stage in second spot after a defeat to Chornomorets (1-3), but victories over VMPDYu (3-2) and DYuSSh-15 (1-0) allowed the team to advance to the Silver League play-offs. At the final stage, the team did not concede a single goal and recorded wins against DYuSSh-11 (4-0), SC Kyiv (4-0) and Chornomorets-2, securing the tournament title.
Individual awards went to Kyrylo Kyrchatyi as the best player and Oleksandr Zhyr as the best midfielder of the tournament.
FC Shakhtar Academy is the best at the NFL Winter Cup
The inaugural edition of the youth Winter Cup of the National Future League brought together 58 academy teams and football schools from across the country. The tournament was held in several stages (group stage and play-offs) and featured U15 and U16 age categories. The Shakhtar Academy was represented by two squads.
Shakhtar U15 are the runners-up of the NFL Winter Cup
Shakhtar U15, coached by Ivan Halun, faced Metalist 1925, Prohres Sofiivskyi and LNZ U15 in the group stage and advanced to the play-offs. In the next round of the competition, the Orange-and-Blacks overcame KDYuSSh-14, Metalist, AF Rukh and Livyi Bereh, reaching the tournament final.
Shakhtar U16 are the winners of the NFL Winter Cup
Shakhtar U16 coached by Pavlo Rebenok competed in the group stage against Zmina-Obolon, ODYuSShOR CHOR and Favoryt, and qualified for the play-offs. In the main stage of the competition, the Miners defeated DYuSSh Konotop, FA Veres, UFK Kryvbas and DYuSSh Rukh, reaching the final.
Final match and award ceremony
In the decisive match for the NFL Winter Cup title, the Shakhtar Academy teams U15 and U16 faced each other. Throughout the match, Shakhtar U16 controlled possession more often and created dangerous chances near Shakhtar U15’s goal, while Ivan Halun’s side focused on quick counterattacks. A winner could not be determined in normal time, so the trophy was decided by a penalty shootout, where Shakhtar U16 players prevailed.
At the end of the tournament, players received individual awards: best goalkeeper – Kyrylo Torkhov, best defender – Danyil Lapunov, best midfielder – Oleksandr Kravchuk, best forward – Marko Ratskyi, while Illia Byrladianu was named the best player of the tournament.
Shakhtar U17 are the quarter-finalists of the Makarov Memorial
Shakhtar U17, under the guidance of Oleksandr Ovchynnikov, took part in the 31st season of the Makarov Memorial. The participants were divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs.
Despite being one of the youngest sides in the tournament, the team played purposeful football: victories over Polissia U19, SC Chaika, Tytan and LNZ U19, along with only one defeat to Kolos-2, secured qualification for the quarter-finals. However, in the play-off match, Shakhtar U17 lost to Denhoff and ended their participation in the tournament.
Shakhtar U14 are the winners of the Utmost Cup U15 Silver League
From March 5 to 8, the Utmost Cup youth tournament for players born in 2011 took place in Vinnytsia. Twenty teams from across Ukraine took part in the competition, which was held in two stages: a group stage and the play-offs.
Shakhtar U14 coached by Artem Savin finished the group stage in second spot after a defeat to Chornomorets (1-3), but victories over VMPDYu (3-2) and DYuSSh-15 (1-0) allowed the team to advance to the Silver League play-offs. At the final stage, the team did not concede a single goal and recorded wins against DYuSSh-11 (4-0), SC Kyiv (4-0) and Chornomorets-2, securing the tournament title.
Individual awards went to Kyrylo Kyrchatyi as the best player and Oleksandr Zhyr as the best midfielder of the tournament.
FC Shakhtar Academy is the best at the NFL Winter Cup
The inaugural edition of the youth Winter Cup of the National Future League brought together 58 academy teams and football schools from across the country. The tournament was held in several stages (group stage and play-offs) and featured U15 and U16 age categories. The Shakhtar Academy was represented by two squads.
Shakhtar U15 are the runners-up of the NFL Winter Cup
Shakhtar U15, coached by Ivan Halun, faced Metalist 1925, Prohres Sofiivskyi and LNZ U15 in the group stage and advanced to the play-offs. In the next round of the competition, the Orange-and-Blacks overcame KDYuSSh-14, Metalist, AF Rukh and Livyi Bereh, reaching the tournament final.
Shakhtar U16 are the winners of the NFL Winter Cup
Shakhtar U16 coached by Pavlo Rebenok competed in the group stage against Zmina-Obolon, ODYuSShOR CHOR and Favoryt, and qualified for the play-offs. In the main stage of the competition, the Miners defeated DYuSSh Konotop, FA Veres, UFK Kryvbas and DYuSSh Rukh, reaching the final.
Final match and award ceremony
In the decisive match for the NFL Winter Cup title, the Shakhtar Academy teams U15 and U16 faced each other. Throughout the match, Shakhtar U16 controlled possession more often and created dangerous chances near Shakhtar U15’s goal, while Ivan Halun’s side focused on quick counterattacks. A winner could not be determined in normal time, so the trophy was decided by a penalty shootout, where Shakhtar U16 players prevailed.
At the end of the tournament, players received individual awards: best goalkeeper – Kyrylo Torkhov, best defender – Danyil Lapunov, best midfielder – Oleksandr Kravchuk, best forward – Marko Ratskyi, while Illia Byrladianu was named the best player of the tournament.
Shakhtar U17 are the quarter-finalists of the Makarov Memorial
Shakhtar U17, under the guidance of Oleksandr Ovchynnikov, took part in the 31st season of the Makarov Memorial. The participants were divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the play-offs.
Despite being one of the youngest sides in the tournament, the team played purposeful football: victories over Polissia U19, SC Chaika, Tytan and LNZ U19, along with only one defeat to Kolos-2, secured qualification for the quarter-finals. However, in the play-off match, Shakhtar U17 lost to Denhoff and ended their participation in the tournament.
The results of the pre-season period show that we are on the right path and completing a significant amount of work. The entire staff and all the players worked towards these achievements, and it should not be forgotten that we are part of the great Shakhtar club
Ivan Kotsiuba, Children's and Youth Football Department Director:
– The results of the pre-season period show that we are on the right path and completing a significant amount of work. The entire staff and all the players worked towards these achievements, and it should not be forgotten that we are part of the great Shakhtar club. The footballers are progressing, and we have set high objectives: we must prepare players for the senior team, understanding their level. I would like to thank the entire Academy, as this is the result of collective effort, as well as the management, in particular CEO Serhii Palkin and Sporting Director Darijo Srna, for their trust and support. During the pre-season, the Academy carried out a great deal of work and drew conclusions from its mistakes.
– The results of the pre-season period show that we are on the right path and completing a significant amount of work. The entire staff and all the players worked towards these achievements, and it should not be forgotten that we are part of the great Shakhtar club. The footballers are progressing, and we have set high objectives: we must prepare players for the senior team, understanding their level. I would like to thank the entire Academy, as this is the result of collective effort, as well as the management, in particular CEO Serhii Palkin and Sporting Director Darijo Srna, for their trust and support. During the pre-season, the Academy carried out a great deal of work and drew conclusions from its mistakes.
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