Ukrainian legend Yarmolenko retires from Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine
Andrii Yarmolenko (photo: FC Dynamo)
Andrii Yarmolenko, legendary striker of Kyiv's Dynamo and the Ukrainian national team, has announced that he is ending his career. The upcoming season will be his last in the capital's football giant and, most likely, as a player for the national team, reports the Football News Center.
What Yarmolenko said about ending his career
The 35-year-old attacking player recently extended his contract with the "White-Blues" for one more season. This decision came as a result of discussions between the player and the club's management.
"We had a conversation with the head coach and the president. It was important for me to hear they need me as a player. I don't want to be at the club just because of past achievements. And when I heard from the coach and the president that they are counting on me as a fighting unit, I signed the contract for another year," Andrii told reporters.
When asked whether this is his last contract, Yarmolenko answered affirmatively.
"I can say, with confidence, that this is my last year as a footballer," Yarmolenko emphasized.
It is worth noting that the upcoming season of the Ukrainian Premier League will hold special significance for the winger—he will finish a twenty-year professional career right where it all began for him in big football.
Yarmolenko's achievements and statistics
Yarmolenko leaves an impressive legacy and notable statistics at the club and international levels.
For Dynamo Kyiv, Andrii played 393 matches and scored 157 goals. He became the club's all-time top scorer in the Ukrainian Premier League, netting 114 goals in 264 matches.
His performances for the "White-Blues" are forever inscribed in the club's history, where he was a true leader and a symbol of an era.
In his career, Andrii also played in some of Europe's top leagues, representing Borussia Dortmund and West Ham United. He also spent a season with Al Ain in the UAE.
Yarmolenko debuted for the national team on September 5, 2009, in a match against Andorra (5:0) during World Cup 2010 qualifiers.
In 16 years with the national team, he played 125 matches and scored 46 goals, making him one of the highest-scoring players in the history of the "Blue-Yellows".
Yarmolenko played in four European Championships: Euro 2012, Euro 2016, Euro 2020 (where he scored two goals in five matches), and Euro 2024.
His most productive qualifying campaign was for Euro 2016, where he scored six goals in twelve matches.
Andrii Yarmolenko in the Ukrainian national team jersey (photo: Getty Images)
Dynamo became the Ukrainian Premier League champions for the 2024/2025 season, claiming their 17th UPL title and the 30th overall in club history. Experienced Yarmolenko was a key figure in this triumph, as he helped lead the team to the gold.
Despite the championship, the winger remained critical of the team. In an interview with the club's official website, he rated the season "5 out of 10".
Winning the championship title automatically guaranteed Kyiv's participation in the Champions League qualification.
Dynamo will be playing their European matches at Arena Lublin in Poland. Last season, the "White-Blues" held three games there: against Serbian side Partizan, Scotland's Rangers, and Austria's Salzburg.
