19 Facts About Maksym Kalynychenko

Maksym Serhiyovych Kalynychenko is a Ukrainian former football midfielder who played in central midfield or as a winger.

Kalynychenko's father was a goalkeeper for an amateur side in Kharkiv, and the young Kalynychenko often acted as striker for his father to practise saves.

Maksym Kalynychenko was enrolled in the Kharkiv Sportinternat, a sports boarding school where despite his smaller frame, tutors noted his tactical ability.

The young Maksym Kalynychenko, like most of his family and friends, was a supporter of Dynamo Kyiv but was told jokingly that he played in the style of Dynamo's Soviet era rival 'Spartak Moscow'.

At the age of 17 Maksym Kalynychenko was talent-spotted by Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk coach Vyacheslav Hroznyi.

Maksym Kalynychenko progressed to the first team within a year, and made appearances for the Ukraine national under-21 football team.

Maksym Kalynychenko's team was runners-up for the Russian Premier League in 2005,2006, and 2007, and got third place in the Russian league in 2002.

Maksym Kalynychenko won the Russian Cup in 2003, and was a runner-up in 2006.

Maksym Kalynychenko has overcome two injuries which have commonly signalled the end of footballers' careers: a torn cruciate ligament in his elbow, and a severed achilles tendon.

Maksym Kalynychenko was voted the best Ukrainian left midfielder for 2006 by a poll in the press, one of 33 of a list of best Ukrainian footballers.

On 6 August 2008, Maksym Kalynychenko signed a 3-year contract with his former club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on the rights of a free agent.

Maksym Kalynychenko did not feature in the 2006 qualification campaign, His surprise inclusion on the squad was due to his good form in the tail end Spartak's 2005 season.

Maksym Kalynychenko set up another goal headed in by Andriy Shevchenko, who in turn fed Kalynychenko for the 4th and last goal of the game.

Maksym Kalynychenko was named Man of the Match for his technical contributions.

Maksym Kalynychenko put in a notable performance in the quarter-final against Italy, with dangerous crosses and a shot on goal from a rebounded attempt by Oleh Husyev.

In FIFA of Ukraine's debut, Maksym Kalynychenko was described as the 'revelation' of his team's World Cup campaign.

Maksym Kalynychenko was a regular player in the Ukraine squad in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Maksym Kalynychenko was called up to the team for almost every game, except for three.

Maksym Kalynychenko is married to Tetyana and they have one daughter, Oleksandra.