You're reading: Summer signings indicate another Dynamo-Shakhtar shift

In the midst of their longest title drought since the inception of the Ukrainian Premier League in 1992, Dynamo Kyiv’s high-profile acquisitions of midfielders Niko Kranjcar and Miguel Veloso capped off a bright summer and have signaled a renewed commitment to returning to the summit.

 Dynamo had long been the unparalleled leader of the Ukrainian club game, in both the Soviet and independence years, but has recently seen the balance of power shift east.

Shakhtar Donestk has slowly risen to prominence under the stewardship of local billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, and three straight domestic crowns have hinted that they have passed up the capital club. Each title race has been close — Shakhtar won by 6 points in 2010, 7 in ’11 and 8 in ’12 — and, more often than not, fraught with controversy.

Years of bad blood between the two rivals boiled over during last season’s climax.  Dynamo had won 10 games in a row heading into an early April clash at Shakhtar, sporting a three point lead at the top of the table. The game was scoreless three minutes before halftime when Dynamo’s Denis Garmash went down in the box before leaving the field for treatment. Referee Yuriy Vaks gave Garmash a second yellow card for reasons still not fully explained, and 10-men Dynamo went on to lose the game 2-0. 

It was a flashpoint in what has been an ugly recent history between the rivals. Managers trade accusations of fixed matches, and the attention has increasingly been pulled away from events on the field. The mudslinging only increased in intensity as Dynamo collapsed down the stretch, cementing their third straight second place finish. 

“It was unfortunate luck, and now (Dynamo) have to face what was another lost season,” said Artem Frankov, editor of Football! Magazine. “We must investigate the refereeing situation, especially against Dynamo.”

Dynamo will be hoping that a summer full of good fortune has turned their luck around. A pair of the club’s up-and-coming stars, wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Evhen Konoplyanka, was a bright spot of Ukraine’s Euro 2012 campaign. Yarmolenko was especially influential, drawing widespread praise and being named by some as one of the breakout performers of the tournament. 

The positive momentum carried over into the transfer market, when first Kranjcar then Veloso chose Dynamo over more powerful suitors. Veloso had his choice of destinations after a strong Euro performance, but was impressed with Dynamo’s plan for the future and Champions League potential. The defensive midfielder is a rising star and will provide vital cover to an inconsistent defense. The Portuguese showed a knack for connecting the back and front lines for his national side, a versatility that was lacking last season.

Kranjcar was once regarded as one of the finest attacking midfielders in the world before a move to Tottenham Hotspur resulted in inconsistent playing time. Kranjcar’s form suffered, his ability to influence games waned and he dropped off the radar of most football fans. 

He is still only 27, however, and still shows occasional hints of the prodigious talent that helped him lead English side Portsmouth to the FA Cup in 2008. Renowned for his vision and creativity, Kranjcar will help spark some life into a Dynamo midfield that, at times, looked devoid of ideas against tougher opposition.
Veloso’s transfer from Genoa cost 6.6 million euro and Kranjcar’s from Tottenham Hotspur 6.1 million, figures that make them the 3rd and 4th most expensive purchases in club history, numbers according to TransferMarkt.co.uk. 

“Now, Shakhtar is on (Dynamo’s) planet,” Frankov said, adding that, while Dynamo will never be able to go blow-for-blow with Shakhtar’s financially, signings like these signal renewed intent. 

The improvements look even more impressive when contrasted with Shakhtar’s relatively quiet summer. The Miners brought in one of the Ukraine’s Euro standouts, Marko Devic, but have otherwise allowed Dynamo to steal the spotlight.

The old rivals look set to go toe-to-toe all season long, starting with next weekend’s kickoff. Dynamo’s new cast will be tested right away, as Metalist Kharkiv visits the Olympic Stadium on July 14. 

Kyiv Post staff writer Matt Pentz can be reached at [email protected]