"Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" - the new football team of the club

"Metalist 1925" is pleased to announce that another football team has joined the club family — "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable", which will include military and civilians who have been injured and as a result had an amputation of a hand or leg during combat operations.

"Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" is based on the Kharkiv amputee football team "Unbreakable", which is already participating in the Ukrainian Amputee Football Championship — "League of the Strong".

Today, the official presentation of the new team took place within the structure of the Kharkiv club, where the amputee and professional team players got to know each other, and then conducted their own training sessions on adjacent fields.

— The idea of creating an amputee football team at our club emerged last season. During this period, the team "Unbreakable" began to take shape in Kharkiv, and we closely followed their development. Organizing another amputee football team in Kharkiv would not have been entirely logical, so over time we decided to join forces. I want to express sincere gratitude for the fact that these guys, like us, live for football. They don't just play — they promote sports, love for life, and strength of spirit. As sports psychologists say, sports are not about muscles, not about speed, and not even about physical strength. It's about overcoming. Overcoming circumstances, opponents, and oneself. We all walk this path with you because for us, football is life. And I am very grateful to the guys that, despite all the trials, they continue to live through the game, inspire us, and show that nothing is impossible. Today is an important day — from now on, the "Unbreakable" team becomes part of the football club "Metalist 1925". We sincerely welcome you to our family and are confident that together we will become even stronger," shared the vice president of "Metalist 1925" Yuriy Korotun.

The amputee football team "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" will now be a full part of the "yellow-blue" football family, receiving everything necessary: from equipment to funding for operational, training, and competitive expenses.

— This year, I met our current coach, who has had two leg amputations. We used to play together before, but I didn't even know about his injury back then. After this meeting, I realized that I wanted to create an amputee football team in Kharkiv. I gathered the guys, and that's how "Unbreakable" came to be. And now we have become part of the big football family — "Metalist 1925". It is a great joy and pride for us. Yesterday we supported this team from the stands or by the TV, and today we can say that we are one family. Together we will develop football and amputee football to set an example for all of Ukraine: there are no limits, only desire, hard work, and a thirst for victory," shared the head of the "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" team Volodymyr Lyakh.

The tour of the club office for the "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" team was conducted by the club's general director Anton Ivanov, who then ceremoniously handed out game jerseys and full sets of club equipment to the players.

— For us, "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" is not just a team, but a symbol of faith, strength, and Kharkiv, which stands strong despite everything. We see how these guys are finding themselves again in football, regaining the sense of team, competition, and life that continues. It is a great honor and responsibility for us to be there and help. We want the "Unbreakable" team to feel like a full part of our family, to have everything necessary for development and recovery. For "Metalist 1925", it is important not only to win on the field but also to create opportunities for those who defend Ukraine to stay in the game — in life and in football," shared Anton Ivanov.

The "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" team includes not only former military personnel but also several civilians. Among them is Arthur Petrushin, a 16-year-old boy who recently made the first symbolic kick before the match between "Metalist 1925" and "Shakhtar". Last year, during a regular football game with friends, enemy shelling began. Arthur was seriously injured. And while he was undergoing treatment, the aggressor state shelled the hospital itself. The boy recovered and now trains alongside the players of the Ukrainian national team.

— Honestly, "Metalist 1925" is our metal that holds us, that gives us strength. I am very grateful to the club for us being in this team now. I really like it here. I was especially impressed by the captain of "Metalist 1925" Ivan Kalyuzhny — I saw his game for the Ukrainian national team against Iceland. He is great, it's a big achievement, and it's a great motivation for me. I am the youngest in the "Unbreakable" team, but I was accepted very well. I am very grateful to the guys — they understand me, we have a great atmosphere, a lot of humor," shared his impressions Arthur Petrushin.

The head coach of the "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable" team, Oleksandr Tybenkov, has been involved in football since childhood and after an injury and amputation, he wanted to contribute to his favorite game. However, according to the rules of amputee football, players must have one of their own legs, while Oleksandr has two prosthetics. Therefore, he had to retrain as a coach, for which he is pursuing the necessary education.

- Started studying, received education at the courses of the Ukrainian Football Association, got a diploma and continue to develop in this direction. The team was assembled literally bit by bit - people met in the subway, invited friends, someone brought acquaintances. Sometimes people would come just to watch, and in a few minutes they would take off their prostheses, grab crutches, and go out onto the field. And they stayed. That's how our team grew. Amputee football gives veterans a sense of team, support, self-belief. We are all military, and for us, this is not just a sport - it's a way to stay together, help each other, feel the shoulder of a brother," shares Oleksandr Tybenkov.

In the next round of the "League of the Strong," which will take place on November 1 and 2, the Kharkiv amputee football team will compete under a new name - "Metalist 1925 Unbreakable." After six initial rounds, it occupies the fifth position in the tournament table, having 11 points in its assets.