Kyiv's Dynamo have announced the dismissal of Ihor Kostyuk from the position of head coach of the first team. The decision was made by the capital club's president Ihor Surkis immediately after the end of the ninth-round match of the Ukrainian Premier League, in which the White-Blues lost to Zhytomyr's Polissya with a score of 1:3. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA with reference to the official website of the Kyiv club, and is also confirmed by press releases from dynamo.kiev.ua and ua-football.com.
The defeat that became the final straw
The 9th round UPL match, which took place on Sunday, October 18, in Zhytomyr, became one of the most painful for Dynamo in the current season. Kostyuk's team lost 1:3, despite playing with a numerical advantage from the fifth minute of the match after a Polissya player was sent off. Despite having an extra man for almost the entire game, the Kyiv side not only failed to capitalize on it but also lost in all key parameters. This defeat, presumably, became the final straw for the club's management and served as the direct reason for making the personnel decision.
Who will prepare the team during the transition period
Maciej Kedzorek, representing the coaching staff of the White-Blues, has been temporarily appointed as the acting head coach of Dynamo Kyiv. It is he who will take over the preparation of the players for the upcoming Ukrainian championship matches. The first test for the team under the new coaching arrangement will be a meeting with Kudrivka, scheduled for October 23. The appointment of a permanent head coach is not reported at the moment — the club, apparently, intends to conduct a more thorough selection of candidates.
Context: what is behind Surkis's decision
Kostyuk's dismissal occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing search for an optimal manager for the capital club. Ihor Kostyuk, who previously worked with Dynamo in various positions on the coaching staff, was appointed head coach, but the team's results in the current season did not satisfy the management. The defeat against Polissya — a team that also played a man down in that match — became a symbolic point in his work. Surkis's decision was made promptly: even before the post-match press conference ended, it became known that Kostyuk was leaving his post.
What's next for Dynamo
The club faces the task not only to stabilize the game in the upcoming rounds under Kedzorek's leadership, but also to determine a long-term coaching strategy. Ahead of the White-Blues is a match against Kudrivka on October 23, after which it will probably become clearer in which direction the club will look for a permanent manager. Meanwhile, fans and experts are watching how the team will react to the change in the coaching staff and whether they can overcome the negative mood associated with the recent defeat.
