Taras Stepanenko retires after matching Pyatov and Goryainov's UPL season record
Taras Stepanenko has ended his professional career after completing his 20th season in the Ukrainian Premier League.
Фото: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Автор: Aleksandr Osipov from Ukraine
Midfielder Taras Stepanenko has officially concluded his professional career following the end of the current season. For the 36-year-old, this campaign marked his 20th season in the Ukrainian Premier League.
With this milestone, Stepanenko has drawn level with former goalkeepers Oleksandr Goryainov and Andriy Pyatov in terms of seasons played in the top flight. The trio now sits within the top five players for longevity in the competition.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi continues to lead the all-time ranking with 24 seasons, followed by Oleh Shelayev, who recorded 21. Additionally, other veterans reached notable milestones this term, with Vladyslav Kalitvintsev marking his 16th season, while Ihor Perduta and Andriy Tsurikov completed their 15th campaigns in the elite division.