UPL Team of the Season 2025/26 Revealed
The Ukrainian Premier League has unveiled its symbolic team for the 2025/26 season, featuring players from seven different clubs. This annual selection was determined by aggregating votes from the league's weekly best XIs, with input from presenters, analysts, commentators, and media representatives across Ukraine. The final lineup highlights the standout performers in Ukrainian football over the past campaign.
Among the clubs represented, Kyiv Dynamo contributed the most players to the Team of the Season, with three representatives. The Dynamo players selected are:
- Oleksandr Karavaev
- Vitaliy Buyalskyi
- Matviy Ponomarenko
Lviv-based Karpaty, Cherkasy club LNZ, and Donetsk's Shakhtar each had two players chosen. Shakhtar's representatives in the team are:
- Prosper Obah
- Pedrinho
Nazar Domchak (Karpaty) was named as the goalkeeper, while the defensive line consists of:
- Oleh Horin (LNZ)
- Eduard Sarapiy (Polissya)
- Orest Kuzyk (LNZ)
In midfield, Bruninho (Karpaty) earned a spot, and the forward position went to Gleiker Mendoza (Kryvbas).
Awards and Achievements
Beyond the Team of the Season, the UPL also recognized the best young player of the campaign. This award for the top young footballer has been presented since the 2010/11 season, with Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro) being the first recipient. For the 2025/26 season, Matviy Ponomarenko (Dynamo) claimed the honor.
The league also honored the best coach. This award dates back to the 2008/09 season, when Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar) first received it. Lucescu remains the record holder with seven wins. For the 2025/26 campaign, Arda Turan (Shakhtar) was named the top coach.
Additionally, Kyiv Dynamo defeated Chernihiv in the 2025/26 Ukrainian Cup final, with Vitaliy Buyalskyi scoring a brace and Andriy Yarmolenko adding the third goal. It is also worth noting that the club Metalist 1925 underwent a rebranding and now operates under the new name Kharkiv.
The full UPL Team of the Season for 2025/26 is as follows: Domchak - Karavaev, Horin, Sarapiy, Kuzyk - Pedrinho, Buyalskyi, Bruninho - Obah, Ponomarenko, Mendoza.
All-Time Winners Lists
List of UPL Best Young Players:
- 2010/11 - Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro)
- 2011/12 - Roman Bezus (Vorskla)
- 2012/13 - Eduard Sobol (Metalurh Zaporizhzhia)
- 2013/14 - Serhiy Bolbat (Metalurh Donetsk)
- 2014/15 - Valeriy Luchkevych (Dnipro)
- 2015/16 - Viktor Kovalenko (Shakhtar)
- 2016/17 - Artem Dovbyk (Dnipro)
- 2017/18 - Viktor Tsyhankov (Dynamo)
- 2018/19 - Vitaliy Mykolenko (Dynamo)
- 2019/20 - Vladyslav Supriaha (Dnipro-1)
- 2020/21 - Illya Zabarnyi (Dynamo)
- 2022/23 - Heorhiy Sudakov (Shakhtar)
- 2023/24 - Illya Kvasnytsia (Rukh)
- 2024/25 - Taras Mykhavko (Dynamo)
- 2025/26 - Matviy Ponomarenko (Dynamo)
List of UPL Best Coaches:
- 2008/09 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2009/10 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2010/11 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2011/12 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2012/13 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2013/14 - Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar)
- 2014/15 - Serhiy Rebrov (Dynamo)
- 2015/16 - Serhiy Rebrov (Dynamo)
- 2016/17 - Paulo Fonseca (Shakhtar)
- 2017/18 - Oleksandr Khatskevych (Dynamo)
- 2018/19 - Paulo Fonseca (Shakhtar)
- 2019/20 - Viktor Skrypnyk (Zorya)
- 2020/21 - Mircea Lucescu (Dynamo)
- 2022/23 - Patrick van Leeuwen (Zorya)
- 2023/24 - Marino Pusic (Shakhtar)
- 2024/25 - Ruslan Rotan (Oleksandriya)
- 2025/26 - Arda Turan (Shakhtar)
The selection of the Team of the Season and the recognition of top players and coaches underscore the importance of individual achievements within the broader context of team success. This year has been marked by strong performances from players, reflecting the growing competitiveness in Ukrainian football. These awards not only reward talent but also encourage the continued development of young footballers like Matviy Ponomarenko, which could prove crucial for Ukraine's future success on the international stage.
In addition to their prominent presence in the Team of the Season, Dynamo Kyiv's Matviy Ponomarenko has also been recognized as the best young talent in the league, showcasing the club's commitment to developing exceptional players. This accolade further emphasizes the team's successful campaign and highlights the promising future of its young stars.