Though goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka is rather young there were already some ups and downs in his career.

He has tasted glory and experienced strokes of misfortune, which have made him stronger.

Champion of Ukraine in basketball…

Olexandr was born in Kyiv on April 10 1987. Being a kid he played different sports, such as football, basketball, hockey and even tennis.

When Rybka was 11 years old he became the champion of Ukraine in basketball.

In DynamofootballAcademy he worked under Olexandr Moroz at first.

Later coach Viktor Kashchey decided that Rybka should be a goalkeeper and thus discovered another Ukrainian star.

Madrid hero!

Rybka made his debut for Dynamo main squad on March 5 2005 as Kyivans faced FC Illichivets Mariupol.

In 2006 Olexandr was called-up to Ukraine U-21 to participate in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. At that tournament Andriy Piatov was the Yellow-Blues first team regular, but Rybka made a substitute appearance in the semifinal against Serbia and Montenegro extra time and won the penalty shootout for our team (5:4).

Rybka’s debut in euro cups was very memorable. On September 26 he took the field against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu 69 minutes into the match as Olexandr Shovkovskyi was sent off. Our team lost the game 5:1, but Olexandr conceded only from the spot. And even though he suffered a blow on the head from Sergio Ramos, he played till the final whistle. Later it turned out that Rybka got concussion.

The same season Rybka got 10-match suspension for the fight during Ukrainian First League match against CSCA Kyiv. Besides he suffered another concussion.

Leaving to return

In 2010 Olexandr Rybka joined FC Obolon Kyiv. A year later he was signed by FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Rybka got the regular starting spot at once. On October 11 2011 he even made his debut for Ukraine national team (against Estonia).

It seemed that things were getting better for Olexandr, but on January 13 2012 another scandal happened…

Young, but experienced and unique

Dope test proved that there was forbidden drug called furosemide in Olexandr’s blood. Thus Rybka got two-year suspension.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk offered Rybka another three-year contract, but he rejected an offer and left the team.

FC Dynamo Kyiv president Ihor Surkis let Olexandr work with Dynamo-2 and later – with the main squad. After that Rybka signed three-year contract with the White-Blues.

“It’s all in my hands. President has told that he wants to see me in Dynamo.

What’s supporters’ attitude to the fact that I performed for Shakhtar? We all know that sometimes players leave Milan for Juventus or Barcelona for Real… I’ll try to gain fans’ affection with my play”, - stated Olexandr.

It should be mentioned that Olexandr Rybka is a young, but experienced and talented goalkeeper.

FC Dynamo Kyiv    

2006/07, 2014/15, 2015/16 UPL winner

2007, 2014, 2015 Ukrainian Cup winner

2007 Ukrainian Super Cup winner

Ukraine national team

Appearances – 2

Goals conceded – 3

2006 UEFA European U-21 Championship runner-up

Other clubs

FC Shakhtar Donetsk

2011/12 UPL winner

2012 Ukrainian Cup winner

When a kid Rybka played basketball and even became the champion of Ukraine.

Olexandr often attends basketball matches in Kyiv.

He likes Caribbean Sea and often spends vacation there.

Rybka has unique achievement to his name as he won the UPL featuring for FC Dynamo Kyiv and for FC Shakhtar Donetsk.