Ukraine Appoint Petrakov as Full-Time Head Coach

The executive committee of the Ukrainian Football Association approved Alexander Petrakov as the head coach of the Ukrainian national team.

The 64-year-old tactician, who was named as Andriy Shevchenko's temporary replacement in August, is valid until December 30, 2022, until the end of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The agreement includes an extension option until July 30, 2024 (the end of Euro 2024). According to sport.ua, this option will not be activated if Ukraine fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals.

“The Ukrainian national team won the right to play in the World Cup 2022 qualification. I am absolutely sure that Oleksandr Vasilyevich Petrakov deserved a change in the formal status at the head of the national team with his work and results,”

said the head of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Pavelko, at the press conference.

Petrakov became the acting head coach of the Ukrainian national football team on August 18, 2021, replacing Shevchenko, who took the seat in 2016. Under Petrakov, the Ukrainian national team took second place in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup, leaving behind the French national team, and advanced to the qualifying playoffs. Zbirna – who proved to be one of the brightest in the Eastern European football today – will learn their playoff rivals on November 26.

“These three months have been the most difficult in my football life. I’ve probably become five years older. But I’m satisfied. I’d say I have already adapted to the national team. We have done 50% and we are waiting for the draw. The opponents are tough, but our players aren’t afraid of anyone. We have a goal — to go to Qatar,”

Petrakov stated.

Throughout his nearly 20-year managerial career, Petrakov led the youth teams of Ukraine of different ages. Between 2001 and 2005, he was a part of the coaching staff at Dynamo Kyiv.

Under Petrakov, the Ukrainian U-20 football team won the World Youth Championship 2019. In the final, the Ukrainian team defeated the South Korean national team with a margin of 3-1. Striker Vladislav Supryaga scored a brace, whereas second was scored by midfielder Georgy Tsitaishvili.