FC Chornomorets Odesa ( ) is a Ukrainian professional football club based in Odesa, Ukraine.
According to the club's website, it was formed in 1936 as Dynamo,A brief overview of the club's establishment at the official website (in Ukrainian) but until 2002 it carried a logo with 1958 and 1959FC Chornomorets Odesa (ФК "Чорноморець" Одеса). Ukrainian Heraldry Society Forum. 27 June 2010 (in Ukrainian)Chornomorets Odesa. Kopanyi-myach. (in Ukrainian) listed as the club's years of foundation on its shield, which is when the club received its current name. The club's shield is very similar to the shield of Romanian FC Farul Constanța.Plagiarism in sports emblems (Плагіат у спортивних емблемах). Ukrainian Heraldry Society Forum. 9 January 2010 (in Ukrainian)
Chornomorets is the first club in the modern history of Ukraine to win the Ukrainian Cup (1992), and also repeated this success in the 1993–94 season.
For over 30 years, the club was sponsored by the Black Sea Shipping Company (1959–1991).An overview of the club's history in 1958–1969 at the official website The club was among top 20 Soviet clubs that competed in Soviet Top League. The club's home ground is Chornomorets Stadium and has been opened in 2011.
History Naming history
Officially in the Soviet Union Ukrainian teams carried both names in Russian and Ukrainian. 1926: Club formed FC Dynamo Odesa (out of Spartak Odesa) 1936: Dynamo was admitted to the All-Union competitions 1936: KinAp Odesa entered league competitions at republican level (Ukraine) 1938: Pischevik / Kharchovyk Odesa entered league competitions at republican level (Ukraine) 1940: Dynamo football team dissolved, its players joined Kharchovyk which admitted to the All-Union competitions 1941: Club renamed Spartak Odesa 1942: World War II (club was dissolved) 1944: Club revived as Dynamo Odesa which qualified for final stage of the Cup of the Ukrainian SSR 1945: Club reformed as Kharchovyk Odesa admitted to the All-Union competitions 1950: Kharchovyk relegated and dissolved 1951: Metalurh Odesa (team of Kim Fomin) promoted to the All-Union competitions 1955: Club split reviving Kharchovyk Odesa in the All-Union competitions (in place of Metalurh, while Metalurh continued to play at republican level) 1958: Club renamed Chornomorets Odesa as part of the Odesa Rope Factory
Black Sea (pre-history)
At the beginning of the 20th century, in Odesa, within limits of Alexander Park (today Shevchenko Park), a construction started of what was supposed to become a pond. However, after the pit for the pond was dug out, the funding stopped and so did the construction. Soon the hole began to serve as a field for one of city's non-league teams. As the hole resembled a shape of the Black Sea, that was the nickname given to the field, and the team was named "" Chorne more. And although that team is unrelated to the today's club, it was the first team in Odesa to play under that name.
Dynamo and previous names
The official date of foundation of Chornomorets Odesa is considered to be 26 March 1936 as Dynamo Odesa. Dynamo Odesa, however, participated before that in the city championship since 1923 (the year of establishment of the Ukrainian football competitions) winning it in 1933. Dynamo Odesa itself was first called Spartak Odesa until 1926. In 1940, after relegating from the Top level, the club was merged with that participated in the republican competitions (Championship of Ukrainian SSR) and replaced Dynamo in next competitions.Spartak Odesa. Kopanyi Myach. In 1941, the club was reformed again when it was included into the War Championship (Top division) under the name of Spartak Odesa.
Concurrently in league competitions of the Ukrainian SSR, since 1936 in Odesa played another team Kharchovyk Odesa.
Until Chornomorets Odesa was bought out by Leonid Klimov sometime in 2001, the club's foundation was considered to be 1958.
Post WWII and Kharchovyk / Pischevik
After World War II the club was reestablished as Kharchovyk Odesa in the lower Soviet division (Class B). In 1950, the club lost its place in the play-offs to Spartak Uzhhorod (Zakarpattia Uzhhorod) and was dissolved. In 1953, upon the enlargement of the "Class B" competitions (Second division), the city of Odesa was represented by Metalurh (in Class B 1953, 1954) which soon was replaced again with already more familiar Kharchovyk Odesa. In 1957–58, there was established Avanhard sports society which adopted number of other smaller societies in Ukraine under its umbrella. In 1958, the Odesa city team adopted the name Chornomorets and represented the city's Rope Factory.
Chornomorets (Black Sea Shipping Company) In 1959, Chornomorets was handed over to the Black Sea Shipping Company which was a member of Vodnik sports society. Since then its emblem corresponded with the main emblem of Vodnik society. In 1960, Chornomorets was only in 4th place in its zone. That same year, the Odessa "national" team defeated Inter Milan 5:1 in a friendly match in Odesa.
In 1974, the club became the bronze medalist of the USSR championship. Chornomorets started well in the championship and was able to develop this success, for some time it was even in second place in the standings. The successful game of the "sailors" was based on the active actions of the midfield and defense, the loss of Anatoliy Shepel was felt in the attack, an equivalent replacement for whom was never found. Thus, defender Viktor Zubkov scored six goals in the championship, and midfielder Vladimir Makarov - thirteen, which allowed him to become the team's top scorer.
In the last season of the Soviet Top League, Chornomorets earned fourth place, the only time it ever placed above the big clubs in Ukraine, Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
Recent history The club was a founding member of the Ukrainian Premier League, winning the Ukrainian Cup and finishing 5th in the inaugural 1992 season. Chornomorets finished 3rd the next two seasons and 2nd during the following two seasons. They also won another domestic Cup in 1994. The club's most successful spell was achieved under the guidance of Viktor Prokopenko, and later under Leonid Buryak. At the end of the 1997–98 season, following big financial troubles and the sale of a number of leading players, the club was relegated to the First League.
They won promotion the following 1998–99 season, but finished in the second last place next year and were relegated again. Sometimes in 2001, the Klimov's Primorie company which owned SC Odesa along with Imexbank acquired the city's main team.Anatoliy Chystov – "football is a small life of my big life!" (Анатолий Чистов – «футбол – это маленькая жизнь в моей большой жизни!»). Odesskiy. 2002 In 2002 SC Odesa was merged with Chornomorets. Chornomorets came back up again for the 2002–03 season and enjoyed several decent seasons in the Premier League. They finished third in the 2005–06 season and took part in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup tournament.
Chornomorets were deducted 6 points by FIFA on 6 November 2008. It was confirmed by Ukrainian Premier League on 2 March 2009. The club managed to finish the 2008–09 season in 10th place despite the deduction. The 2009–10 season started badly with a 5–0 loss to Dynamo Kyiv and a poor run of form that saw the team finish the first half of the season in 13th place, just two spots away from the relegation zone. The club was relegated to the First League at the end of the season. It took, however, just a year for Chornomorets to return to the Ukrainian top flight for the 2011–12 season.
Following a loss in relegation playoffs on 27 May 2018 Chornomorets fans attacked the head coach of the club.
Stadium and infrastructure
The main stadium of the club is traditionally considered Chornomorets Stadium, which until 2012 was called the Central Stadium of the Black Sea Shipping Company. Until the late 1990s, both the stadium and the teams of masters were part of the Black Sea Shipping Company. The stadium is located in the Shevchenko Park.
Among other stadiums Chornomorets also used Stadion "Dnister" imeni V.Dukova (2004–2005, reserves) in Ovidiopol at the Dnister Liman, Spartak Stadium (2005–2006, reserves) in Odesa, Chornomorets Training Base in Lymanka (2006–2007, reserves).
In 2006, FC Chornomorets opened its training grounds in one of the Odesa city microdistricts, Lustdorf (Liustdorf).Тренувальні бази (офіційна сторінка ФК «Чорноморця»)
Academy In 1979, the Soviet team of masters established its football academy, which for that purpose was served by the local specialized sports school of Olympic reserve. In 2005, it was named after its founder and former footballer, .Академія. www.chernomorets.odessa.ua
Crest and colours Crest The club's emblem dates back to the Union of Labor Black Sea Cities, whose official colors were blue, black, and white.
According to heraldic canons, the elements of the crest mean: Blue color – symbolizes generosity, honesty, loyalty and impeccability or simply the sky. Black and white colors – mean two elements: earth and air. Seagull – means pride.
+ Crests of FC Chornomorets Odesa
Colours PeriodKit manufacturerFirst kitSecond kitThird kitGoalkeeper (Kit 1)Goalkeeper (Kit 2)Goalkeeper (Kit 3)2015–2016 Legea -2016–20172017–2018 -2018–20192019–20202020–20212021–2022 Kelme -2022–20232023–20242024–2025 -2025–20262026–2027
Kit sponsors and suppliers Chornomorets' kit was produced by local manufacturers until 1970, when Adidas became the first kit supplier.
PeriodSponsors on the chestSponsors on the sleevesSponsors on the backSponsors on the shorts1958–1989 BLASCO1989–1990 Nisso Boeki1990–1991 BLASCO1992–1994 Pony1994–1997 Reusch1997–1999 Puma2001–2014 Imexbank2015 Euphoria Trading FZE2015–2017 2+22017–2021 Gefest2021–2022 Parimatch, Tavria VParimatchTavria V2022–2023 Parimatch,On March 13, 2023, Chornomorets suspended cooperation with its sponsor Parimatch. On September 10, 2022 "Allrise Capital" became one of the title sponsors of the Sailors.,Tavria V Parimatch, MTB Bank2023–2024 vbet, Tavria VAllrise Capital,MTB Bank2024–2025 UPL.TVMTB Bank2025–2026vbetComplete inscription on one sleeve is "vbet перша ліга".2026–2027 BETONOn September 14, 2026 BETON became new title sponsor of the Sailors., , Tavria VUPL.TV, ТОЧКА.
PeriodKit supplier1936–1970unidentified1970–1980 Adidas1992–1994 Pony1994–1997 Reusch1997–1999 Puma1999–2002 Adidas2002–2010 Umbro2010–2016 Nike2016–2021 Legea2021– Kelme
Competition summary
25 participations in Soviet Top League 48 participations in Soviet Cup 9 participations in Football Cup of the Ukrainian SSR 29 participations in Ukrainian Premier League 7 participations in Ukrainian First League 36 participations in Ukrainian Cup 1 participation in Ukrainian Super Cup 2 participations in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 8 participations in UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 1 participation in UEFA Intertoto Cup
Domestic League history The scheme below shows performance of a team which carried names Kharchovyk (Pischevik) and Chornomorets (Chernomorets) only.
Soviet Union
Ukraine
* UPL – Ukrainian Premier League
Domestic achievements Ukrainian Premier League Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 1995–96 Third place (3): 1992–93, 1993–94, 2005–06 Ukrainian First League Runners-up (5): 1998–99, 2001–02, 2010–11, 2020–21, 2025–26 Ukrainian Cup Winners (2): 1992, 1993–94 Runners-up (1): 2012–13 Ukrainian Super Cup Runners-up (1): 2013 Soviet Top League Third place (1): 1974 Soviet First League Winners (3): 1961,as Champion of Ukrainian SSR 1973, 1987 Runners-up (1): 1962 Soviet Top League Cup Winners (1): 1990 Ukrainian SSR Championship Winners (2): 1941, 1961 Runners-up (3): 1936 (spring), 1937 (spring), 1962 Ukrainian SSR Cup Runners-up (1): 1947
International achievements UEFA Intertoto Cup Runners-up (1): 2007
Honours TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasonsDomesticSoviet First League31961, 1973, 1987Soviet Top League Cup11990Ukrainian Cup21992, 1993–94