15.08.2025

Bohdan Boyko: "The goal is to build a club strategy for the next five years"

President of "Metalist 1925" Bohdan Boyko in an interview for the website "Ukrainian Football" talked about strengthening the team, choosing a new head coach, and the club's strategic goals. He shared his vision for the development of "Metalist 1925" over the next five years, details of the summer training camps, and his own story of entering professional football.

— The 2025/26 season has started. How do you like the UPL, what do you think of the level of the tournament after the initial rounds?

— Yes, I can say that this season the teams entered the tournament much stronger than last year. It is worth noting "Kolos", "Polissya", "Karpaty", and "LNZ" in particular. In my opinion, the championship has become more competitive and strong. Of course, we cannot ignore "Shakhtar" with their excellent performance in European competitions. So, yes - the league has become noticeably stronger and more interesting, and this is very pleasing.

— How satisfied are you with the lineup of "Metalist 1925"? Did you get a "yes" from all the players you wanted?

— Today we are still continuing to strengthen the team. I am very pleased with how our transfer policy is progressing. I believe that over the past year we have made significant changes, including in the attitude of players towards the club - how they view us. And we have bright examples: young and talented players are coming to us - the future of our country. Current national team players are also joining us. I am convinced that we are in the process of building a great and strong team.

— It is said that Filipov, Yatsyk, Kravchenko were also on the club's radar - confirm or deny?

— I confirm Yatsyk. I consider him a strong player and would like to see him in our squad.

— Clearly, after significant changes in the lineup of "Metalist 1925", it takes time to gel and adjust to the work of the new head coach. How much time are you giving Bartulovich's staff for this?

— This season we did not set any specific tournament goals for ourselves. The main goal is to implement our style of play in the team. We strive to play open, attacking, and beautiful football. Honestly, before acquiring "Metalist 1925", I watched Serie A and did not follow the UPL. And when the question of buying the Kharkiv club arose, the picture of the Ukrainian championship, frankly, was significantly different and did not particularly interest me as a viewer. That is why it is so important for me that the team demonstrates an open, attacking, and spectacular game, which ultimately should bring results and keep us in the top part of the standings, later - among the prize places.

— How was the selection of the new head coach determined? Do rumors that negotiations were held with Jovicevic, Vernydub, or other coaches hold true?

— In the summer, I had many consultations and interviews with various coaches, but our choice stopped at Mladen Bartulovich. We did not have negotiations with the mentioned specialists this offseason. We have great respect for these coaches, but there were no negotiations with them.

— What interested you in Bartulovich?

— First of all, I paid attention to Mladen's human qualities, as he takes the helm of a great football team, which already has many well-known names in Ukrainian football. It was important for me to invite a person who can manage this team. Human qualities were key because they say a lot about how a coach will act in different situations - not only positive, but also crisis situations.

It was also important how much he strives to learn, progress, and achieve results. During our conversation, which lasted over two hours, I saw all these qualities in him, as well as a match in the vision of football we want to see on the field. His desire to play open, attacking football was evident, and today I am convinced that the choice was correct.

This is also confirmed by the fact that he is not afraid to take responsibility and defend the team. Like in the first match when Mladen told the players: "Do not be afraid to play, all responsibility is on me." This means a lot to me. I am confident that we are on the right path, and this game will bring a positive result and lead us where we aspire to be.

— Are you a supporter of giving the staff freedom to work or do you think it is necessary to participate in staff selection, tactical choices, and ultimately, staff composition?

— I believe that I should deal with strategic issues, while tactics and other matters are the competence of the coaching staff.

— What is the goal of the extensive work that the club's management has now begun?

— Globally, the goal is to develop the club's strategy for the next five years - both in terms of sports and operational-infrastructure.

— Please tell us about yourself: where are you from? What education did you receive? How did your path in business unfold?

— I spent most of my life in Kyiv, where I also graduated from school. Later, I entered the law faculty of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, so since 2015, my life has been closely connected with Kharkiv. It was here that I received my bachelor's and master's degrees, and later a candidate of legal sciences degree.

Kharkiv immediately captivated me - with its cleanliness, architecture, development, people, and, of course, football. Despite growing up in Kyiv, it is with Kharkiv that I associate myself today and consider myself a Kharkiv resident.

During my studies, starting from the second year, I began my path in business. Although, in reality, my first, somewhat funny, attempts were in childhood - back then it was something new and interesting, and for me, it was also an opportunity to try myself in entrepreneurship.

Today, the main directions of my activities are alternative energy, agro-trading, investments, and development.

- How and when did football appear in your life? Do you remember the moment when you decided, "I want to be a part of this world - football"?

- Football appeared in my life when Andriy Shevchenko played for "Milan." It was then that I started actively watching matches, being interested in the game, and being fascinated by our Ukrainian footballer who performed at such a high level.

Later, for some time, I played in the "Dynamo" academy - until around 2008. And for a few more years, approximately until 2012-2013, I continued to train. When football started to interfere with my studies, I decided to focus on education.

But the love for the game remained. After 13 years, I continued to play at an amateur level, and football remains a part of my life to this day.

- What position did you play?

- I played as a left winger.

- What was the first stadium and the first match that stuck with you forever?

- The first stadium that stuck in my memory forever was the legendary "San Siro." And the first match I attended was the Italian Cup semi-final between "Milan" and "Juventus." It was a special moment for me: the score was 1:1, the atmosphere was crazy, and I felt like I was touching the greatness of football.

There is another story related to the stadium that always brings a smile to my face. It was at the "Mapei" stadium when "Milan" won the Scudetto. Since childhood, I had a dream to witness this moment live. We came to the match with my sister and wife, and our friends were on the other stand. It turned out that they had fake tickets. To not leave them behind, I left the stadium... and ended up watching the game and the award ceremony on my phone outside the stadium. Meanwhile, my wife and sister ran onto the field with other fans to celebrate the victory, and I stood outside, remembering the steward's repeated question of whether I was sure I wanted to leave because I wouldn't be able to return.

- Which successful domestic coaches and footballers have you spoken to? Whose thoughts impressed you, resonated with your own?

- Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Mykola Pavlov, and it was an extremely informative and interesting conversation. I sincerely respect him, and his approach appeals to me. He is a real "walking encyclopedia" who can talk about the development of Ukrainian football: how everything worked before, how it works today. I received a lot of useful information that helps me even now.

- "Metalist 1925" - your first club as a top manager? Why did you choose it?

- Yes, "Metalist 1925" is my first club as a top manager. And the choice was absolutely natural. First and foremost - because of Kharkiv. I love this city immensely. We always tried to do everything possible for it, especially during the war.

When the news came that Kharkiv could be left without big football, it sounded absolutely unacceptable. We simply could not stand aside. And we decided to help because "Metalist 1925" is Kharkiv.

- What was the motivation behind your rook with Volodymyr Nosov? What is it related to?

- This was an expected step related to operational processes in the club. For me, this is a great responsibility and at the same time a logical continuation of the work that we have been doing together with Volodymyr Nosov for several years.

- How has your workday changed since you started working in football?

- Honestly, my workday has changed drastically. Now it starts at 8 a.m. with a call from the sports director and ends around midnight... also with a call from the sports director.

And the atmosphere in the office has also changed significantly. When the team wins, the week goes well, everyone is charged up, many ideas and inspirations emerge. But when we lose, there is a certain pessimism, the work pace becomes heavier. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but it's an integral part of football life.

- How has the depth of your understanding of the game changed after getting involved with "Metalist 1925"?

- My understanding of football has changed significantly. When we came to the club, we deliberately gave ourselves a certain time "handicap" to delve deeply into the processes and understand how everything works from the inside, not just from a fan's perspective.

For twenty years, I watched football and was convinced that I understood it well. But it was a fan's view - emotional and simplified.

When you find yourself inside the system, invest your time and money in it, take responsibility for the result, you start to be very careful with each decision so as not to ruin what works, and at the same time understand how it is arranged.

Interestingly, at the start, there are often moments when it seems: "It shouldn't work like this." But there are people who have been in football for much longer, and at first, you want to check if they are right. Then, with experience, through your own mistakes and successes, comes a true understanding of the game and a clear vision of how to implement your ideas.

— What was your first step in the team - and what seemed most difficult then?

— The first step was to understand how everything works inside the club and to understand how it can be built in such a way as to achieve the result. It was necessary not only to delve into the processes but also to find ways to make them more efficient.

The difficulty was that there were many questions, and they were all global. It was necessary to dive into each direction: what to do with the main team, how to develop the academy working in a front-line city, how to modernize the infrastructure, strengthen the medical staff, build the club's strategy and management processes. It was a large complex of tasks that needed to be systematically solved one by one.

— Why did you decide to change the entire management? Were there specific complaints or ideological and motivational differences?

— The philosophy of implementing the ideas I wanted to implement did not coincide with the approach of the previous management. I understood that to quickly build the necessary processes and achieve results, I needed people who would clearly understand and implement the tasks and ideas I set.

— Which services in the club have you already reformed, and which ones do you want to reform?

— The areas that have already undergone changes are the scouting service, which we completely rebuilt. We also completely updated the sports direction, changed the approach to the work of the medical staff. In the plans - to further develop these services, improve their interaction, and gradually reform other areas to ensure that every element of the club's structure works as smoothly and efficiently as possible for the result.

— What were the three key tasks you set for yourself when you became president?

— The first global task is not just to return, but to consolidate "Metalist 1925" in the top four of the giants of Ukrainian football, competing for prize places. As it was with "Dynamo", "Shakhtar", "Metalist", and "Dnipro" in the past. I want the Kharkiv club to play again at the Metalist Stadium and defend the city's honor.

The second task is to make our style and quality of play so attractive that fans choose a "Metalist 1925" match over a top English derby. We must show beautiful, spectacular football.

The third task is to build a massive infrastructure and create a strong academy that will produce players for the Ukrainian national team. So that representatives of the Kharkiv region are always a region of football talents. Our region has given the national team Ivan Kaluzhny, Andriy Lunin, Mykhailo Mudryk, Georgiy Sudakov, Dmytro Kryskiv. And we must continue this tradition.

— How do you react to criticism from fans?

— I always take criticism well if it is reasoned. When it is based on real facts and constructive suggestions, I accept it with great positivity because it helps to see what can be done better.

— What did you take away from the conflict with "Left Bank"? Have you had a conversation with organized fans at the game? Who initiated the scandalous chant?

— I can say that Volodymyr Nosov has already answered this question. Personally, I only see respect for "Left Bank". We consider this club worthy to play in the UPL due to its aspirations and work, especially in wartime conditions.

The way they develop football, the infrastructure they build - all this causes only great enthusiasm and respect. If our relationship has developed in a certain way, then so be it, but it does not change our attitude towards "Left Bank". We have already explained our position on this situation. This issue has taken on additional outlines in the media. Our children supported their team and reacted to what was happening on the football field and in the stands. Everything that happened after the match was exclusively an emotional decision of "Left Bank".

— How were you received in Zhytomyr? What is the relationship between the leaders of the two clubs?

— We are very grateful for the reception we received in Zhytomyr. We have great respect for the "Polissya" club for its significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian football. They have created healthy competition, provided an impetus thanks to which clubs capable of competing only with "Dynamo" and "Shakhtar" have appeared on the football map of Ukraine. This raises the level of the championship. Our relationship with the leadership of "Polissya" is based on mutual respect and sincere friendship.

— In what condition is the stadium, the club's office in Kharkiv? Have you managed to evacuate the equipment, the club's property??

— The stadium is not owned by the club, but we actively help maintain it in proper condition. Our agronomic service regularly monitors the condition of the fields, both at the stadium and at the base in Vysokyi.

Our academy continues to operate in Kharkiv, club employees remain here, and the office is also functioning, despite the nearby airport.

At the same time, because the team has been based in Shchaslyve in Kyiv region for three years, we had to open an office there to ensure the club's effective operation on all fronts. This allows us to maintain contact with the city, support the infrastructure, and continue the development of the football academy, despite challenging circumstances.

— How do you see the club in five years?

— In five years, I see "Metalist 1925" as a club that consistently competes for the championship in the UPL and regularly participates in European competitions from a sports perspective. Politically and geographically, it is a club that plays in its hometown, loved by the people of Kharkiv, for whom the team creates a football celebration every week. It is a club with one of the best infrastructures in Ukraine, steadily developing and building a strong foundation for future achievements.

— You organized an impressive training camp for the team abroad. How did you manage to sign opponents with names like "Borussia" or "Panathinaikos"?

— It was a challenging task, as well-known opponents like "Borussia," "Panathinaikos," "Karabakh," or the Qatar national team prefer to play only with teams of their level, and we have only recently moved up from the First League. Therefore, organizing these friendlies was an achievement solely by the club's managers.

Thanks to this, we were able to hold matches that increase the club's visibility and improve its image on the international stage. It was indeed not easy, but the result was worth the effort.

— Did "Metalist 1925" seek help from "Shakhtar" when they drew the Greek giant in the draw?

— As far as I know, no. However, we are always open to providing assistance.

— When was the last time you spoke with Sidorov? Why did he do what he did, and does he plan to return?

— Currently, Sidorov, according to his words, is in Cyprus due to family circumstances. The club has officially called on him multiple times to return to training. He has informed that he does not plan to return. This is a serious breach of contractual obligations, including missing training and matches, unauthorized absence, and disciplinary violations.

If Sidorov does not return, the club will turn to FIFA to terminate the contract for just cause and seek damages. Until this matter is resolved, he is prohibited from negotiating or signing contracts with other clubs without the written consent of "Metalist 1925".

— Nosov collects retro cars. What do you like to collect?

— Bright moments of life.

— What is the coolest sports or art event you have attended? Is there a dream football stadium you would like to visit?

— There is no dream stadium. However, I have never been to the "Santiago Bernabeu," and I would like to visit there.

— What do you want fans to understand about you first and foremost?

— Speaking from a football perspective, I want fans to understand: yes, we are young, we make mistakes - it's natural. But we are not afraid to make them because achieving success without making mistakes is impossible. Mistakes are the foundation of experience on which we build our development. We are not afraid to work and will definitely succeed despite all obstacles.

— The UPL leaves a sad impression - sirens, empty stadiums, footballers stewing in their own juice because it's hard to invite quality legionnaires... How to restore optimism in our football in these challenging times?

— I believe this is a matter of personal example. All UPL clubs should demonstrate by their own example that it is possible and necessary to play, creating the necessary conditions for it. Moreover, we all must understand that all this is possible only thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which bring peace and give football the opportunity to exist even in such challenging times.

— Based on what you see and hear, what will the future of Ukraine be like, and when will the Champions League anthem be heard again in Kharkiv, with your team taking the field for that match?

— I believe that peace will come soon. And when will the Champions League anthem be heard again in Kharkiv? Much depends on us and how quickly we can achieve this result after the restoration of peace. We are doing everything in our power to make it happen as soon as possible.

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