A decade ago, he was hailed as one of Ukraine’s top talents and was linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Just a few days ago, in February, Yevhen Konoplyanka, who will turn 33 in September, inked a deal with the Polish side Krakow.
Born in Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine, formerly part of the USSR, Konoplyanka first embraced football with the local team Olympic before stepping into professional football from Dnipro’s academy. Despite excelling in karate as a child and earning a black belt, he ultimately chose football as his career.
During his time with the Dnipro team, Konoplyanka appeared in 211 matches, netting 45 goals and providing 37 assists. Despite his immense talent, he remained in his homeland until the age of 26, perhaps missing the opportunity to join one of Europe’s elite clubs.
In 2014, a significant transfer saga surrounded him, with Liverpool, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain all expressing interest. Reports even suggested that Liverpool was prepared to trigger his £16 million release clause.
Brendan Rodgers favored him for the left flank, and his standout performance for the national team, including a memorable goal against England at Wembley, further endeared him to fans. However, despite his prowess as a winger, he struggled to fully realize his potential.
Following his failed move to Liverpool, Konoplyanka joined Sevilla in Spain on a free transfer. His impressive performance in his debut season, as well as his preseason goals, caught attention. However, Sevilla eventually sought to offload him.
In 2016, he received offers from Russian side Zenit but opted against it to avoid jeopardizing his place in the national team. After stints with Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk, where he struggled to make an impact, he found himself in Poland with Krakow FC.
At his presentation in Krakow, Konoplyanka dubbed himself “Ronaldinho Junior” and set unconventional goals for the season. He expressed a focus on team success rather than personal statistics, aiming to bring joy to the team and aiming for a minimum of five goals and five assists, albeit acknowledging that circumstances could change.
