Maksym Koval (footballer)

Maksym Anatoliyovych Koval (Ukrainian: Максим Анатолійович Коваль; born 9 December 1992) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Greek Super League 2 club Kalamata, on loan from Aris.

Maksym Koval
Koval with Dynamo Kyiv in 2010
Personal information
Full name Maksym Anatoliyovych Koval
Date of birth (1992-12-09) 9 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Kalamata
(on loan from Aris)
Number 35
Youth career
2004–2008 Metalurh Zaporizhzhia Youth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Metalurh Zaporizhzhia 22 (0)
2008Metalurh-2 Zaporizhzhia 18 (0)
2010–2019 Dynamo Kyiv 74 (0)
2014–2015Hoverla Uzhhorod (loan) 21 (0)
2015–2016OB (loan) 10 (0)
2018Deportivo La Coruña (loan) 2 (0)
2018–2019Al-Fateh (loan) 29 (0)
2019–2022 Al-Fateh 75 (0)
2022–2024 Sheriff Tiraspol 13 (0)
2024– Aris 0 (0)
2024–Kalamata (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2008–2009 Ukraine U17 8 (0)
2009 Ukraine U18 1 (0)
2010–2011 Ukraine U19 6 (0)
2010 Ukraine U20 1 (0)
2010–2012 Ukraine U21 11 (0)
2012– Ukraine 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Ukraine
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2009 Ukraine
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 January 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 November 2017

Club career edit

FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia edit

2009–10 edit

Koval is a product of Metalurh Zaporizhzhia Youth school system. He first appeared on the bench for the first team on 26 July 2009. He was there for just 5 games before he was given his chance. Mainly due to the number of absentees, he appeared in goal for Round 12 of the Ukrainian Premier League on 1 November; He kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 win. After a fine performance, he kept his place for the next two games, keeping two more clean sheets in the process. Even when he did concede, it was only a single goal in a 1–1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv, a game in which he also saved a 94th minute penalty kick from Artem Milevskyi, saving the point.[2] Metalurg's form rose, and he kept his place from then on. A 0–4 drubbing by Metalist was the only real blip on his seasons performance. He ended with 6 clean sheets and having only conceded 23 in 19 games.

Dynamo Kyiv edit

2010–11 edit

 
Koval on his debut with Ajax's Luis Suárez.

After a fine debut season, starting whilst he was aged just 16, Dynamo Kyiv showed interest. This was intensified after a superb performance against them during the season. He signed for them just 3 games into the 2010–11 season.

He made his debut for Dynamo in a UEFA Champions League play-off game against AFC Ajax, and with an impressive performance[3] subsequently established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper with his new club in the absence of the injured Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, at the age of only 17. When Shovkovskyi returned from injury in the second half of the 2010–2011 season, Koval was moved to the back-up goalkeeper position.

In November 2010, Koval was named by Spanish football magazine, Don Balón as one of the 100 best young players in the world alongside David de Gea, who had recently moved to Manchester United.[4]

2011–12 edit

He was a substitute goalkeeper throughout the 2011–2012 season, making just 5 appearances up until mid-late April. He kept clean sheets in 4 of them, and conceded 1 in a 6–1 thrashing of FC Zorya Luhansk in October. However, at the end of April, he got a breakthrough, and due to injury to Oleksandr Shovkovskyi (and injury that would rule him out of Euro 2012) he played in the final 3 matches. Coming on initially as a halftime substitute away at Volyn Lutsk, he kept a 5th clean sheet of the season. Next up was Zorya Luhansk again, an though there was not to be a thrashing on this occasion, Koval kept a 6th clean sheet in 7 appearances, and Dynamo drew 0–0. His final chance to impress was against Tavriya Simferopol on 10 May. The game started well with Dynamo taking the lead, only for Koval to rush from his line as the opposing player made a dash forward, and foul him just outside the box with a poor tackle. He was sent off for preventing a clear goal scoring opportunity.[5] In the 2011–12 season, he also made a single appearance in Ukrainian Cup (conceding 2 in a 3–2 win) and Europa League (conceding 3 in a 3–3 win).

2012–13 edit

For the upcoming 2012–2013 season, it is widely thought that he will become the first choice keeper. As of 22 August 2012, he has started in all 7 of Dynamo Kyiv's opening games. In the 4 league games he has conceded 2 goals in 4 games, keeping 2 clean sheets. In the champions league he conceded 1 in a 2–1 home win over Feyenoord, and kept a clean sheet in the surprise 1–0 away win. He then went on to concede just once and make a string of saves in a shock 3–1 away win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.

2014–15: loan to Hoverla Uzhhorod edit

On 6 August 2014, Koval was loaned out to Hoverla Uzhhorod until the end of 2014.[6] On 3 March 2015, after participating in Dynamo's winter training camp, it was announced that Koval will return to Hoverla until the end of the season.[7]

2015–16: loan to Odense Boldklub edit

On 30 August 2015, Koval was loaned out to Danish club Odense Boldklub for a season long loan.[8]

2017–18: loan to Deportivo La Coruña edit

On 20 January 2018, Koval joined Spanish La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña on loan for the remainder of the season, in a deal that included a buyout option.[9]

2018–19: loan to Al-Fateh edit

On 23 July 2018, it was announced that Koval will spend the upcoming 2018-19 season with the Saudi Professional League club Al-Fateh.[10]

Al Fateh edit

At the end of the loan period, Al Fateh was able to buy Koval's transfer from Dynamo Kyiv and signed the goalkeeper to a three-year deal.[11] He left the club following the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2022.[12]

Sheriff Tiraspol edit

On 13 August 2022, Sheriff Tiraspol announced the signing of Koval.[13] On 10 January 2024, Sheriff announced the departure of Koval alongside Henrique Luvannor.[14]

Aris Thessaloniki edit

On 13 January 2024, Aris Thessaloniki announced the signing of Koval to a 2.5-year contract, whilst also loaning him out to Kalamata until the end of the current season.[15]

International career edit

Koval was called up to the senior national team in June 2011 for matches against Uzbekistan and France, but did not play in any of these games. He finally made his debut on 1 June 2012, as a second-half substitute in the 2–3 loss against Austria in a friendly match. Koval was included in Ukraine's squad for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament on home soil.

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 24 June 2019[16]
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Metalurh Zaporizhzhia 2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League 19 0 0 0 19 0
2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
Dynamo Kyiv 2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League 12 0 1 0 5[b] 0 18 0
2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League 8 0 1 0 1[c] 0 0 0 10 0
2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League 23 0 0 0 10[d] 0 33 0
2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League 13 0 2 0 4[c] 0 19 0
2014–15 Ukrainian Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Ukrainian Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Ukrainian Premier League 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2017–18 Ukrainian Premier League 11 0 0 0 7[e] 0 0 0 18 0
2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 74 0 6 0 27 0 0 0 107 0
Hoverla Uzhhorod (loan) 2014–15 Ukrainian Premier League 21 0 3 0 24 0
OB (loan) 2015–16 Superliga 10 0 1 0 11 0
Deportivo La Coruña (loan) 2017–18 La Liga 2 0 0 0 2 0
Al-Fateh (loan) 2018–19 Saudi Professional League 29 0 1 0 30 0
Al-Fateh 2019–20 Saudi Professional League 18 0 2 0 20 0
2020–21 29 0 3 0 32 0
2021–22 28 0 1 0 29 0
Total 75 0 6 0 - - - - 81 0
Sheriff Tiraspol 2022–23 Super Liga 5 0 5 0 9[f] 0 19 0
2023–24 8 0 0 0 14[g] 0 22 0
Total 13 0 5 0 23 0 - - 41 0
Career total 246 0 22 0 50 0 0 0 318 0
  1. ^ Includes the Ukrainian Cup, Danish Cup, and King Cup
  2. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League, three appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Eight appearances in the UEFA Champions League, two appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League, five appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Zero appearances in the UEFA Champions League, five appearances in the UEFA Europa League, and four appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. ^ Four appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and ten appearances in the UEFA Europa League

Honours edit

Club edit

Dynamo Kyiv

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Основний склад - ФК "Говерла"".
  2. ^ http://www.ffu.org.ua/eng/tournaments/premier_liga/4741/[dead link]
  3. ^ "Ajax ready to pounce on Dynamo". UEFA official website. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Don Balon Top 100 Young Players in the World". Ministry of Glove. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Dynamo Kyiv – Tavriya 1–1 10.05.2012". youtube/Святослав Сирота. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.[dead YouTube link]
  6. ^ "Maxym KOVAL to feature for Hoverla on loan". FC Dynamo Kyiv official website. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Maxym Koval returns to Uzhhorod". FC Dynamo Kyiv official website. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Maxym Koval to spend a season in Denmark". FC Dynamo Kyiv official web site. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. ^ "El guardameta Maksym Koval cierra su incorporación al Deportivo" [Goalkeeper Maksym Koval settles his transfer to Deportivo] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Максим Коваль будет выступать за "Аль-Фатех"" [Maksym Koval will be playing for Al-Fateh] (in Russian). FC Dynamo Kyiv official website. 23 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Официально. Максим Коваль — больше не игрок киевского "Динамо"" [It's official. Maksym Koval is no longer a Dynamo Kyiv player]. Dynamo Kyiv by Shurik fan site (in Russian). July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  12. ^ "الفتح يودع الأوكراني "ماكسيم كوفال" .. بعد 4 سنوات".
  13. ^ "Добро пожаловать, Максим Коваль". fc-sheriff.com/ (in Russian). FC Sheriff Tiraspol. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Первые изменения в 2024". fc-sheriff.com (in Russian). FC Sheriff Tiraspol. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  15. ^ "ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΕ ΑΡΗΣ". arisfc.com (in Greek). Aris Thessaloniki F.C. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  16. ^ Maksym Koval at Soccerway
  17. ^ "Апрель-2013 (U-21). Максим Коваль | ЗОЛОТИЙ ТАЛАНТ".
  18. ^ "Июль-2013 (U-21). Максим Коваль | ЗОЛОТИЙ ТАЛАНТ".

External links edit