FC Zorya Luhansk

Names (Zorya Luhansk)

Names (Trudovi Rezervy)

Origin of the factory team

The history of the club takes place at the dawn of the 20th century right after in the city of Luhansk was built the first stadium. The stadium was built in 1922 under the personal order of Vladimir Lenin and later was named after him. The first games that involved participation of the Luhansk's teams first mentioned in 1911 and in 1913 in Kostyantynivka was created the regional football league of Donets basin. During the World War I and the following Soviet and German aggressions the league was suspended until 1920 when the situation in the region had stabilized.

The first Luhansk team was created in the Russian Empire in 1908 when the workers of the Russischen Maschinenbaugesellschaft Hartmann created the "Society of wise recreations". The football section was headed by the Czech specialist Henrich Drževikovski from Prague who 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 is located the sport hall "Zorya".

In 1923 the workers of the Luhansk steam train factory of the October Revolution (hence – the club's logo with a locomotive) organized their football team "Metalist" which became the forerunner of today's Zorya. The following year there was organized a championship of the newly created Luhansk okruha (district). In the final game the collective city team of Luhansk was victorious against its rival from the city of Snizhne winning it in overtime 1–0. In 1926 the All-Ukrainian Committee of the Mining Workers' council organized a team of Donbass miners that was based on the football players from Kadiyevka for tour games in Germany (Weimar Republic). There the Donbass team won four of their eight games. The following year in Luhansk took place an international game when the city team was challenged by their rivals from Austria. The Donbas players lost the game.

In 1936 the football teams "Metalist" and "Dynamo" united into the united Luhansk city team which next year was given the name Dzerzhynets. The name "Dzerzhynets" derives from the steam locomotive that was produced at the steam train factory FD – "Felix Dzerzhinsky". That year "Dzerzhynets" got the 3rd place in the Ukrainian second league.

In 1937 "Dzerzhynets" won the 1st place in the Ukrainian second league and was promoted to the Ukrainian first league. Moreover, it reached 1/8 final of the Ukrainian Сup and 1/16 final of the Soviet Cup. The team consisted of the following players: Klad'ko (coach), Grebenyuk, Svidyns'ky, Mazanov, Morozov, Krasyuk, Nosko, Movchan, Brovenko, Chernyavs'ky, Voloschenko, Lokotosh, Sytnikov, Evdokymov, Myroshnikov, Ischenko.

In 1938 "Dzerzhynets" became the champion of Ukraine after having won 9 games and having played 2 games in a draw. It was admitted to the Soviet First League.

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 also was team of Luhansk regional party administration "Trudovi Rezervy". In 1950 Dynamo Luhansk was merged in Trudovi Rezervy. In 1951 the chief of Trudovi Rezervy regional administration Ivan Lomakin was trialed, while the team was liquidated.

In 1948 "Dzerzhynets" was re-established in lower leagues of Ukrainian championship. Due to liquidation of Trudovi Rezervy, Dzerzhynets was allowed to compete among "teams of master" (Soviet terminology for professional level). Few players from Trudovi Rezervy did join the factory team. In 1954 Dzerzhynets was transferred under 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 was revived another club "Trudovi Rezervy" which this time was formed out of students of the Leningrad Technicum of Physical Culture and Sports (today College of Physical Culture and Sports of the Saint Petersburg State University).

After liquidation of Avanhard in 1959, in 1960 in Luhansk was revived the October Revolution (OR) Factory team.

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 (SC Zorya) 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 (Taça Independência) 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 the first place in the Persha Liha, and has 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 where 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.

At present (2016) the team has advanced sufficiently in the standings that they are involved in the European wide play-offs in the UEFA Europa League.

Reserve team

The reserve team of Zorya, Zorya Luhansk Reserves (Ukrainian: ФК «Зоря» Луганськ дубль) are playing in the Ukrainian Premier Reserve League.

Sponsors

MediaMix Concept, D & M, Lir, and also Steel Symphony.

Domestic competitions

Current squad

The squad is as of 22 February 2017.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Presidents and owners

Information obtained from Luhansk Our Football website.

Longest serving coaches

Last Updated after 2015/16 season

League and Cup history

The statistics is based on information from the club's official website.

European record

Its first European competition participation occurred in 1973–74 season in UEFA European Cup as the Soviet representative. Zorya played its first game as Zaria at its home stadium Avanhard (Avangard) on September 19, 1973 hosting the Cypriot club APOEL FC. After that season the club did not participate in continental competitions for over 40 years until 2014–15 season.