Club Profile: F.C. Dynamo Kyiv
F.C. Dynamo Kyiv, known simply as Dynamo Kyiv, are a Ukrainian Football club based in Ukraine's capital, Kiev. Kiev is also the largest city in Ukraine and so Dynamo Kyiv have one of the largest fan bases in the country. Currently the club plays in the Ukrainian Premier League. Before Ukraine gained independence the club competed in the top flight of Soviet football, staying at that level for all of their history. Indeed, Dynamo Kyiv were one of the most successful football clubs in the old soviet football league, lifting the USSR Championships 13 times, the USSR Cup 9 times and the USSR Super Cup 3 times.
After the Ukrainian Premier League was established, Dynamo Kyiv set about creating a legacy of domination, winning the league on thirteen separate occasions, which is a domestic record. The club has also won the Ukrainian Cup on nine occasions, another record. Additionally, no other Ukrainian side has won more Ukrainian Super Cups than Dynamo Kyiv, who have lifted the trophy four times.
Dynamo Kyiv were formed in 1927 but at that time only as an amateur team. Eventually with the rise in popularity Shakhtar were turned into a full scale professional football club. Before Ukraine had gained independence, the club was regarded as the only realistic challenger in Soviet football to other bigger clubs from Moscow. This helped increase the support for the club within Ukraine, as they were often responsible for lifting the championships after defeating Moscow based clubs.
Dynamo's football was put on hold as the war broke out but there was a particular instance involving the German army that stands out from that period. After the n***s had taken control of what was to become modern day Ukraine, a football match was organized between members of the Dynamo Kyiv team and a German football side. After a number of matches in which the Dynamo Kyiv players embarrassed their German counterparts, it is said that the Germans called for their strongest army eleven, a team that was said to be unbeaten since its formation.
Despite all the hype that was created, no one mentioned the humiliating 5-1 defeat the Germans suffered at the hands of the Dynamo players and what followed was a true footballing tragedy; a number of players from the team were arrested, detained, tortured and some even shot dead by a firing squad. The story became something of a Myth, with many versions circulating amongst the people of Ukraine but the basic facts remained the same. This event helped Dynamo gain a tremendous amount of respect in the eyes of the locals.
In recent years the club was struck by a bribing scandal after a referee was allegedly offered two fur coats and some money by officials from Kyiv in order to decide the game in favour of Dynamo. UEFA immediately banned the team from the competition for two more years, which could not be over turned despite an appeal from the club.
Last season Dynamo finished 2nd, just behind their rivals Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League. Next season the club will be looking to take back the title and tilt the tide of success in their favour, as Shakhtar look to be moving from strength to strength while Kyiv might be nearing a decline. Former player, and legend Andriy Shevchenko has returned to the club and has been made captain by the President. The team will be looking up to the former European Player of the Year to inspire them to victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the coming season.
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