🏟️ OFFICIAL CLUB PROFILE: UKRAINIAN CHAMPIONS
Shakhtar Donetsk
the Hirnyky.
Founded in 1936, Shakhtar Donetsk are Ukraine’s dominant club and UEFA Cup winners in 2009. Reigning Ukrainian champions under Arda Turan, the orange-and-black Miners return to the Champions League — playing home games away from war-torn Donetsk.
Hirnyky — The Miners
Latest Squad
Shakhtar Donetsk First-Team Squad
Arda Turan’s reigning Ukrainian champions return to the Champions League captained by national-team stalwart Mykola Matviyenko. Playmaker Heorhii Sudakov pulls the strings, supported by Brazilian talent Kevin and Marlon Gomes, with Lassina Traoré and Eguinaldo leading the line in Shakhtar’s traditionally samba-flavoured attack.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
31
Mykola Matviyenko
Ukraine
CAPTAIN
13
Yukhym Konoplia
Ukraine
18
Irakli Azarovi
Georgia
44
Oleksandr Hlushchenko
Ukraine
Midfielders
10
Heorhii Sudakov
Ukraine
21
Artem Bondarenko
Ukraine
29
Yehor Nazaryna
Ukraine
27
Oleh Ocheretko
Ukraine
24
Viktor Tsukanov
Ukraine
Forwards
2
Lassina Traoré
Burkina Faso
Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every Shakhtar fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Champions League predictions hub.
Established 1936
The Miners
FC Shakhtar Donetsk, founded in 1936, take their name and identity from the coal-mining heritage of the Donbas region. Long the dominant force in Ukrainian football, the “Hirnyky” built a golden era on a blend of Ukrainian talent and gifted Brazilian imports at the magnificent Donbas Arena.
Shakhtar wrote their name into history by winning the 2009 UEFA Cup. Since 2014, the club has been displaced from Donetsk by war, playing home matches in Lviv and abroad — yet they remain Ukraine’s standard-bearers, winning the 2025/26 title to reach the Champions League.
Historical Milestones
- 1936 Club founded in the mining city of Donetsk.
- 2009 UEFA Cup winners — a historic European triumph.
- 2014 Forced to leave Donetsk due to war in the Donbas.
- 2026 Ukrainian champions again under Arda Turan.
UKRAINIAN CLÁSICO VS DYNAMO KYIV
Club Identity
The Shakhtar Way
Technical, attacking football built on a famous fusion of Ukrainian steel and Brazilian flair. Despite the hardships of displacement, Shakhtar continue to develop and showcase elite talent on the European stage.
Home: Donbas Arena (displaced since 2014)
Historic Records
Ukrainian Kings
Sixteen Ukrainian league titles, numerous domestic cups and the crowning glory of the 2009 UEFA Cup — plus a reputation for developing and selling stars like Willian, Fernandinho, Fred and Mudryk.
Talisman: Heorhii Sudakov (creator)
Current Era
The Arda Turan Era
Former Turkey and Barcelona star Arda Turan, in his first major managerial role, guided Shakhtar back to the Ukrainian title and a return to the Champions League despite the club’s extraordinary circumstances.
Head Coach: Arda Turan
