Dario Srna, sporting director of Donetsk’s Shakhtar, spoke about the skill level of Andriy Yarmolenko during his time with Kyiv’s Dynamo in an interview with Dmytro Gordon. According to the Croatian, the Kyiv winger is the best Ukrainian footballer of the last 20 years — an assessment that sparked wide resonance within the football community. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing direct statements from the former captain of the “miners.”

An Assessment from the Former Shakhtar Captain

Srna, who himself rose from Shakhtar player to its sporting director, emphasized that his choice in favor of Yarmolenko is driven not only by playing characteristics but also by personal qualities. “Yarmolenko is a good person, serious, a professional. He played for Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, came back here, is still here. A strong footballer,” the Croatian stated. Thus, Srna effectively placed Yarmolenko above an entire generation of Ukrainian players, highlighting his consistency and ability to maintain his form over many seasons.

Professionalism and Abroad Experience

Yarmolenko’s career beyond Ukraine also deserved special mention in the conversation with Gordon. Srna stressed that the winger managed to establish himself at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and London’s West Ham, and then returned to Ukrainian football and continues to perform at a high level. For a 36-year-old player, in the interlocutor’s view, this is a sign of exceptional professionalism: many footballers, after a successful European chapter, are unable to maintain their previous output, whereas Yarmolenko, on the contrary, remains one of the key players for both Dynamo and the national team.

Trophies and Recognition

Over the course of his rich career with the Kyiv side, Yarmolenko has won ten trophies: four Ukrainian championships, three Cups, and three Super Cups of the country. In addition, in 2017 he was named the best player of Borussia Dortmund, which marked the peak of his European chapter. These achievements, by Srna’s logic, form the basis for assessing the winger as the best in the country over the last two decades.

Historical Statistics

Andriy Yarmolenko ranks second on the list of top scorers in the history of the UPL and in the history of the Ukraine national team. In both lists he trails only one player: in the championship — Maksym Shatskikh, and in the national team — Andriy Shevchenko, with the gap in each case being just a single goal. Such figures confirm Yarmolenko’s status as one of the most prolific players in the history of Ukrainian football and further support the high assessment voiced by Srna.

Context of Previous Statements

It is worth recalling that the Shakhtar legend had previously spoken about how he could have ended up at Kyiv’s Dynamo, which adds an extra emotional tone to his current words about Yarmolenko: Srna is evaluating a player with whom, by his own account, he shares the same professional circle. Taken together with data from analytical services, where Yarmolenko consistently ranks among the leaders in usefulness indices, the Croatian’s statement looks not like a random complimentary remark, but like a well-considered expert assessment.