Ukraine Seeks New Manager as Rebrov's Tenure Nears Its End

Serhiy Rebrov's Contract Nears Its Conclusion

According to Главком: The contract of Ukraine's national team head coach, Serhiy Rebrov, with the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) is set to expire. This has led to the consideration of five and a half potential candidates to succeed him, including:

• Unai Melgosa
• Ruslan Rotan
• Andrea Maldera
• Igor Jovicevic
• Dmytro Mykhailenko
• Serhiy Rebrov

Serhiy Rebrov took charge of the Ukrainian national side in June 2023. Under his leadership, the team began their Euro 2024 qualification campaign with a 0:2 loss to England and a 0:0 draw with Italy. Ukraine reached Euro 2024 via the playoffs, where they lost 0:3 to Romania, defeated Slovakia, and drew with Belgium. All four teams in their Euro 2024 group finished with four points, but Ukraine failed to advance on tiebreakers. In the 2026 World Cup qualification, the team also entered the playoffs. Rebrov served as head coach for nearly three years.

Potential Candidates for the Head Coach Role

Several individuals are being considered as possible replacements for the head coach position:

• Unai Melgosa, 50, currently manages the Ukraine U-21 team. His most notable achievement is winning the Ukrainian U-19 championship in the 2015/16 season. His youth team qualified for Euro 2025 but did not progress past the group stage.
• Ruslan Rotan, 44, is currently the head coach of the club Polissya. Rotan's most significant accomplishment is winning the silver medal in the Ukrainian championship in the 2024/25 season. In March 2023, he served as the acting head coach of the Ukrainian national team and has also coached the youth national team and Oleksandriya.
• Andrea Maldera, 54, is currently unattached to a club. Maldera has never held a head coach role but served as an assistant to Andriy Shevchenko with the national team and to Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Olympique de Marseille.
• Igor Jovicevic, 52, is also currently without a club. His greatest success was winning the Ukrainian championship with Shakhtar in the 2022/23 season.
• Dmytro Mykhailenko, 52, coaches the Ukraine U-19 national team. His biggest achievement is winning the Ukrainian First League in the 2018/19 season. Mykhailenko led the U-19 team to Euro 2024 and the semi-finals, as well as to the U-20 World Cup in 2023. Two of his former players, Taras Mykhavko and Matviy Ponomarenko, have made their senior national team debuts.

Beyond his coaching duties, Serhiy Rebrov is a vice-president of the UAF and serves as Andriy Shevchenko's deputy on the national teams committee. Following the team's disappointing performances, concerns have been raised about the atmosphere within the squad. Striker Roman Yaremchuk stated:

"the dressing room is dead"

, highlighting the critical need to rebuild team spirit amidst sporting setbacks. The decision comes at a crucial time for Ukrainian football, which continues to compete under uniquely challenging circumstances.

The impending end of Serhiy Rebrov's contract has sparked intense debate among football experts and fans, as the national team's results have fallen short of expectations. The UAF now faces a pivotal decision regarding the team's future, one that could significantly impact its fortunes in upcoming international competitions. Selecting the right manager will be key to restoring confidence and improving the performance of the Ukrainian national side.

As discussions around Serhiy Rebrov's potential successors intensify, there are also speculations regarding his future, including a significant offer from the Emirates. This development raises questions about the direction of Ukraine's national team and the impact of coaching changes on their upcoming matches. For more insights into Rebrov's situation and the factors influencing his decision, read our detailed coverage on his future and lucrative opportunities.