Perhaps you don’t recognise the name Oleksiy Zozulya at first, but surely you would be able to recall his football exploits if we told you about him playing for Dnipro in the 2012-13 season and scoring a hat-trick against their fiercest rivals FC Metalist. Oleg Zozulya, or Oleksiy as he is now known all over the world, is a Ukrainian striker who currently plays for FC Dnipro in the Ukrainian Football Vyscha Liga. He made his professional debut back in 2007 with Dnipro and has since then played for them on 129 occasions and scored a massive 69 goals.
Oleksiy Zozulya’s Youth Career
Oleg Zozulya was born on February 15, 1989, in Dnipro, Ukraine. He began his footballing journey when he was just 7 years old, as he joined the youth ranks of his hometown club FC Dnipro. He stayed with them until 2007, at which point he signed his first professional contract with the club, at the age of just 18. During his years at FC Dnipro, Zozulya managed to win 3 Ukrainian Under-19 Football Championships, as well as 2 Ukrainian Under-19 Youth Cups, a Ukrainian Under-19 Super Cup, and even an Under-19 UEFA Youth League. His performances in the youth squads of FC Dnipro earnt him the captain’s armband for the majority of his last season at the club, where he scored 14 goals in 18 appearances.
Dnipro – First steps in the professional Football World
Oleksiy Zozulya’s decision to sign with his hometown club turned out to be a great one, as he made his debut for Dnipro on May 4, 2007, against MFC Mykolaiv. He played for 74 minutes, managed to score his first goal for the club, and get an assist. His European debut came on November 10 that same year, where he played for the last 17 minutes against Feyenoord Rotterdam. He finished his first season with Dnipro with 2 goals in 6 appearances, but the upcoming season would turn out to be his breakthrough campaign. In the 2008-09 season, Zozulya managed to play 16 matches and score 7 goals, but the real magic happened in the Europa League, the biggest stage for the Ukrainian Footballing scene. He scored 2 goals and made 2 assists in the competition, and it was his goal against the Italian powerhouse Juventus that won him the hearts of the fans.
The prolific striker from Dnipro
Zozulya’s success in the Europa League was no coincidence, as in the 2009-10 season, he became the top scorer of the competition, netting 10 goals in only 11 appearances. His goal-to-game ratio was impeccable, and his involvement in the team grew exponentially. In the 2010-11 season, Oleksiy Zozulya played 27 matches, scored 15 goals, and made 3 assists. His performance made him the Ukrainian Footballer of the Year, and he was also named the best player in the Europa League. His amazing play caught the attention of many clubs, as he was linked with a move to FC Shakhtar Donetsk, but he stayed with Dnipro, signing a new contract with them. He once again led the team to the UEFA Champions League and was named the best player of the group stages. He scored 5 goals in 7 matches during the tournament, helping his team progress to the round of 16.
Where is Oleksiy Zozulya now?
Oleksiy Zozulya’s next move would be a controversial one, as he was linked with a move to the Premier League with Liverpool FC, but the transfer never happened. Instead, he decided to sign with Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the first ever Ukrainian to play for them. However, the spell with the London-based club would only last for a year, as he was loaned to FC Dynamo Kyiv, where he would win the Ukrainian Premier League in the 2012-13 season. His performances in the Ukrainian Footballer of the Year would earn him a spot in the Ukrainian National Team, where he made his debut on August 19, 2011, against Portugal. He scored his first goal for the national team on October 12, 2011, in a match against Georgia. He currently has 16 goals in 33 appearances for Ukraine, which makes him the 7th best goalscorer in the history of Ukrainian Football.
Conclusion
Oleksiy Zozulya is one of the most prolific strikers that the Ukrainian Footballing scene has ever seen. He currently plays for his hometown club, FC Dnipro, and has won a ton of accolades since he first broke into the scene. He has played in some of the biggest leagues in Europe and has played for some of the most storied clubs in the world. He is also one of the most decorated footballers in the modern game, having won 3 Ukrainian Football Championships, 4 Ukrainian Cups, 3 Ukrainian Super Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Europa League, and even 1 UEFA Super Cup. Oleksiy Zozulya is a true footballing legend that continues to make history with every match that he plays.
