A Brief History of Karpaty Lviv

We continue to recall our old articles. This time, we offer you an article about FC Karpaty dated 2020. It's nice to admit that the current reality is not as minor as the end of this article.

photo: FC Karpaty Lviv

FC Karpaty Lviv is one of the most legendary football clubs in Ukraine. Known as a fighting, uncompromising and a bit nationalistic side, Green-and-White Lions always had a wholehearted support of local people and some noteworthy achievements. Let’s look inside the history of this Ukrainian club a bit more…

It was 1962 when one of the many Lviv clubs named Silmash won both Cup and league of Lviv region and secured the right to participate in Soviet 'Class B'. In January of the next year, newly formed Karpaty replaced Silmash and started its way in the national arena. First season of the new club was quite successful, with the club finishing 8th out of 18 teams. Few next seasons were not as successful as the first one, but just six years after formation Karpaty won their first trophy. This unlikely success of the Western Ukrainian underdog shocked the entire country and remains the only case of a lower-division club to win the national Cup.

As a Cup winner, Karpaty were allowed to a newly formed First League (2nd tier of Soviet football). They won inaugural season and earned promotion to the Higher league, enjoying a chance to play amongst 16 best teams of Soviet Union in 1971. It was an unprecedented moment for footballers from Lviv, famous as “bourgeois nationalists” city thankfully to the powerful independence movement and Insurgent Army that fought against Red Army in the 1940s and 1950s. Karpaty players were called “Banderas” by an opposition fans, referring to the Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera. Despite being an alien to Soviet football, Karpaty spent eight eventful seasons in the Higher league, creating some unrivalled memories for Ukrainian football fans.

In 1982, Soviet authorities merged Karpaty and army club SKA, which led to a decline in attendances and general interest amongst Lviv football fans. Seven years later, new independent Karpaty were allowed to the Second league and had three successful seasons before Ukrainian Independence in 1991. In the 1990s Karpaty was one of the strongest Ukrainian teams, reaching two Cup finals and one 3rd place finish in 1998. Early 2000s brought first troubles and relegation to the First league. After two seasons in the 2nd tier of Ukrainian football, green-and-white club returned to the Premier League and had two outstanding seasons between 2009 and 2011. Since then, Karpaty struggled in the league and, finally, relegated in 2020. Financial difficulties didn’t allow to compete in the First league, so the club is currently playing in the Second league - a wholly new division for a one of the most prominent Ukrainian clubs.

Recent decline of our club gives us a chance to reminisce about some highlights of Karpaty history, such as 1969 Cup win or Europa league games against Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Sevilla and Galatasaray in 2010. Modern Ukrainian football is harsh - some of the best historic clubs have to start from the scratch in lower divisions, while new clubs without history and - it has to be said - fans play in the Premier league. The only thing that we can do about it is to wait for better times. As we sing in the anthem of Karpaty Lviv, “the time will come”. This means we are waiting and hoping.