The Ukraine U-15 youth national team still has no head coach. According to the "TaToTake" project, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has paused the process of appointing Dmytro Yefimov, who was considered the top candidate for the position, due to his involvement in football activities on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast. As of August 31, 2026, no final decision on appointing the specialist to the youth team had been made.
Career Timeline and the Controversial Period
The 41-year-old Yefimov outlined his professional biography in detail in an exclusive comment to Sport RBC.UA. From 2014 to 2018, he worked at the Shakhtar Youth Academy in Donetsk. Then, from July 2018 to July 2024, he continued his collaboration with the club, but already in Kyiv. From July 2024 to June 2026, Yefimov worked at FC Bukovyna (Chernivtsi), where he lived while his family remained in Kyiv. The main focus of his work throughout his career has been youth and junior teams.
The Coach's Position: "I Corrected My Mistake"
Yefimov did not deny the fact of working in Donetsk during the 2014–2018 period. "I understand why questions about my past have arisen now. Yes, at a certain stage of my career I worked with teams that were located on the temporarily occupied territory. Today I look back on that period of my life with great regret. I corrected my mistake eight years ago, in July 2018," the specialist stated. He emphasized that he does not intend to justify his past decisions and stressed: "I support Ukraine and tie my future exclusively with Ukrainian football. I live in Ukraine together with my family. This is my home, this is my family."
Contradictory Data
The statements from both sides show a difference in how the 2014–2018 period is characterized. In his comment, Yefimov refers to the Donetsk of that time as the "Ukrainian Donetsk" and emphasizes that he worked within the structures of FC Shakhtar, i.e., within a legitimate Ukrainian club. Meanwhile, the UAF, according to "TaToTake" information, treats this episode as involvement in football activities on the temporarily occupied territory, which is what led to the freezing of the appointment. Thus, one side emphasizes institutional affiliation with a Ukrainian club, while the other — the geographical and political status of the territory where the work was actually carried out. Moreover, Yefimov characterizes 2018 as the moment of "correcting the mistake," whereas the UAF's position contains no public confirmation that this argument was taken into account when the decision was made.
Desire to Work with the National Team and Future Prospects
Despite the situation, Yefimov expressed his readiness to continue working with Ukrainian football. "I believe it is right to evaluate not only what happened many years ago, but also what values and what position a person holds today. As for the offer to work with the Ukraine U-15 national team — for me this is a great responsibility and an honor," the coach summarized. He added that he wants to help young players develop and contribute to the development of Ukrainian football, and is ready to confirm his position "first and foremost through his actions and further work." At present, the UAF has announced neither a final refusal nor a confirmation of the appointment, and the question remains open.
