FC Zorya Luhansk

Ukrainian professional football club

After World War II, the club was not revived right away. The city of Luhansk was represented by Dynamo Luhansk, while in 1949–1951 there was as well a team of the Luhansk regional party administration "Trudovi Rezervy". In 1948 "Dzerzhynets" was re established in the lower leagues of the Ukrainian championship. Due to the liquidation of Trudovi Rezervy, Dzerzhynets was allowed to compete among the "mater teams" (Soviet terminology for their professional level). Due to a bleak performance of "Avanhard" in 1957 in the city of Voroshilovhrad, it was revived as another club "Trudovi Rezervy" was established.

During the already ongoing 1964 season and playing several rounds, on 10 April 1964 the Soviet Football Federation issued its decision about merger of two clubs "Trudovi Rezervy" and OR Factory team (SC Zorya) into FC Zorya Voroshilovhrad. In 1972 Zorya did not only win its only Soviet championship, but also represented, re enforced with only three players from other clubs, the USSR at the Brazilian Independence Cup (Taça Independência) mid year. However, only Volodymyr Onyshchenko represented the club at the Final of the European Football Championship few weeks earlier. In 1992 the club was acquired by a Moscow Science Production Association "MALS" and participated in the competition of the Ukrainian Top League. In the season 2005–06 the team won first place in the Persha Liha, and had been promoted to the Vyscha Liha. Zorya was one of the original twenty teams to debut for the first season of the Ukrainian Premier League. The team played for five seasons until the 1995–96 season in which they finished eighteenth and were sent down to the Persha Liha. Zorya relegated to Druha Liha in 1996–97 season but she returned to Persha Liha in 2003–04 season. The War in Donbas which started in 2014 made the team relocate to Zaporizhzhia, as Luhansk was seized by the Russian backed Luhansk People's Republic forces. In 2016 the team had advanced sufficiently in the standings that they were involved in the European wide play offs in the UEFA Europa League. In the 2016 17 Europa League season, Zorya Luhansk played group matches against Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, and Manchester United.

The clubs colours are black and white. In 2010 the club adopted own mascot, a black white cat which after the club's relocation also moved to Zaporizhia. The club's current badge was adopted after 2010 and was completely redesigned. In early 1990s the club's badge also carried the brand of local company "MALS". Earlier badges had a silhouette of an oncoming locomotive.

The oldest stadium in Luhansk is Lenin Stadium, built in 1922, and for long time was the main city stadium. In March 1951, the Voroshilov Stadium was opened in Luhansk, with a capacity of 7,447 seats. The stadium belonged to the Lokomotiv production association Luhanskteplovoz. In 1961 it was renamed "Avanhard". Since 1962 it became the home for Trudovi Rezervy and later Zorya. In 2000–2002, the stadium was sold and became the property of the city. In 2003, Avanhard was fully renovated. Following the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in 2014 Zorya relocated to Zaporizhia where it plays at Slavutych Arena.

The reserve team of Zorya, Zorya Luhansk Reserves (Ukrainian: ФК «Зоря» Луганськ дубль) are playing in the Ukrainian Premier Reserve League.

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Since 1960 the football championship of the Ukrainian SSR among "teams of masters" was conducted as part of the Class B competitions which at first were second tier and later third tier until completely phased away. Afterwards, Ukrainian football competitions were adopted into one of zones of the Soviet Second League. Another all Ukrainian football competitions among "collectives of physical culture" (KFK) were conducted since 1964 that were ongoing until 1991 and sometimes are confused for the actually championship mentioned before. Neither Trudovi rezervy or Zorya played in competitions among collectives of physical culture", but did play in football championship of Ukrainian SSR which until 1959 was not considered as a competition among teams of masters.

FC Zorya Luhansk spent 14 seasons in the Soviet top tier including the Class A Group One and the Top League (1967–1979). The club managed to become champions of the Soviet Union in 1972. Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ukrainian club Zorya spent 20 seasons in the Ukrainian top tier including the Top League and the Premier League (1992–1996 and 2006–present). The statistics is based on information from the club's official website.

Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA PDomestic CupEuropeNotesTrudovi Rezervy / Trudovye Rezervy19492nd(Gruppa II. Ukrainskaya Zona)1534961944592419503rd(Ukraine)118114335182623201454Final group19511181341461030660336143Final groupOriginal club disbanded in 1951 and revived in 195719572nd(Klass B)1634610181855221/2 finals (Zone)1958630121083526341/4 finals (Zone)195942615385531331/2 finals (Zone)19603361998694047Ukrainian Championship19612362277562351Ukrainian Championship42011021Playoff196212414555222331/4 finals (Ukraine)110640221116Champions of Ukraine12200514Promotional playoff; Reorganization19632nd(Klass A. Vtoraya gruppa)534151184126411/32 finalsFC Trudovi Rezervy Luhansk merged with amateur SC Zorya Luhansk under name FC Zorya Luhansk

Rank Team Points102 Köln6.000103 Hoffenheim12.000104 Zorya Luhansk13.500105 Wolfsberg13.500106 Maccabi Haifa 13.000