Nikita Rukavytsya

Nikita Vadymovych Rukavytsya (/nɪˈkiːtə rʊkəˈvɪtsə/ nih-KEET-ə ruu-kə-VIT-sə;[2] Ukrainian: Микита Вадимович Рукавиця, romanized: Mykyta Vadymovych Rukavytsya; born 22 June 1987) is a Ukrainian-Australian football player who plays for Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League. He began his career as a striker at Perth Glory but has played primarily as a winger since moving to Europe. Born in Ukraine, Rukavytsya represents Australia internationally.

Nikita Rukavytsya
Rukavytsya playing for Beitar Jerusalem in 2015
Personal information
Full name Nikita Vadymovych Rukavytsya
Date of birth (1987-06-22) 22 June 1987
Place of birth Mykolayiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now in Ukraine)
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger / Striker
Club information
Current team
 Maccabi Haifa
Number 13
Youth career
2000 Torpedo Mykolaiv
2001–2003 Inglewood United
2003–2004 Perth SC
2005–2006 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Perth Glory 42 (16)
2009–2010 Twente 5 (0)
2010 → Roeselare (loan) 9 (4)
2010–2012 Hertha BSC 56 (5)
2012–2014 Mainz 05 8 (0)
2013 Mainz 05 II 2 (0)
2013–2014 → FSV Frankfurt (loan) 19 (2)
2014–2015 Western Sydney Wanderers 23 (3)
2015–2016 Beitar Jerusalem 30 (14)
2016– Maccabi Haifa 126 (49)
National team‡
2006 Australia U20 1 (0)
2008 Australia U23 13 (1)
2009– Australia 18 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 September 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2018

Personal life

Rukavytsya was born in Mykolayiv, in the then Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union; his family moved to Australia when he was 14 years old, settling in Perth.[3] He played junior football for Inglewood United and Perth SC in the Football West State League while attending Mount Lawley Senior High School, before being offered a spot at the Australian Institute of Sport on a football scholarship.

Rukavytsya is married to an Israeli[4] and is currently in the process of obtaining Israeli citizenship.[5]

Club career

Rukavytsya joined Perth Glory on a short-term replacement deal in the latter stages of the 2006–07 A-League season, making three appearances for the club. In March 2007, he signed a contract with the Glory to keep him at the club until the end of the 2008–09 A-League season.[6]

After an excellent pre-season, the start of the 2007–08 A-League season was difficult for both Rukavytsya and Perth Glory. However, with the departure of coach Ron Smith, Rukavytsya turned his form around starting by scoring two goals against the Newcastle Jets in David Mitchell's first game as coach and another two goals against Melbourne Victory at home on 2 December 2007.[7][8] By the end of the 2007–08 A-League season, Rukavytsya managed to score six goals in the last eight games of the campaign.

In April 2008 he was invited to trial with Hannover 96 in Germany.[9] It ultimately proved unsuccessful, and he returned to Perth Glory for the start of the 2008–09 season.[10]

In January 2009, he undertook a week-long trial at Dutch club FC Twente.[11][12] After the last game of the 2008–09 A-League season, it was announced that he would officially be transferring to FC Twente in a transfer deal rumoured to be worth A$1.2 Million.[13][14]

Rukavytsya scored his first goal for FC Twente in the club's 8–0 Dutch Cup drubbing of SC Joure.[15] On 8 January 2010, KSV Roeselare signed the Australian forward on loan until the end of the season.[16][17]

On 14 July 2010, Rukavytsya signed for 2. Bundesliga side Hertha BSC.[18] His first season in the 2. Bundesliga was quite successful. He was a regular starter, scored four goals and ended the season with 12 assists, the second most in the league.[19] At season's end, Hertha BSC were promoted back to the Bundesliga and he hoped to feature again for the newly promoted team.[20]

On 31 August, Nikita signed with Bundesliga club Mainz 05 for a reported fee of €1 million,[21] just hours before the transfer cut-off. His last appearance for Berlin was 72 minutes against Jahn Regensburg in the 2. Bundesliga on 24 August 2012.[22]

Rukavytsya joined Frankfurt on a year-long loan deal in August 2013, after failing to break into the Mainz first eleven.[23]

On 12 October 2014, it was announced that Rukavytsya had returned to Australia to sign for the Western Sydney Wanderers.[24] He made his debut in round 3 against Wellington Phoenix. His first goal for the Wanderers came in round 16 against Wellington Phoenix.

In September 2015, Rukavytsya signed for Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem.[25]

On 8 June 2016, after one season with Beitar Jerusalem, Rukavytsya joined Maccabi Haifa on a three-year deal worth €400,000 per season.

After an unsuccessful 2016–17 season, the following season he scored nine goals in the first five months, including the final goal in a 3–0 cup win over rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv.

In the 2019–20 season, Rukavytsya finished top goal scorer in the league with a total of 22 goals.[26]

International career

While eligible to play for Ukraine, he decided to play for Australia and in 2008, represented Australia in the Australian U-23's Olympic Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, locking his commitment to Australia.

After a good end to the 2007–08 season, he earned himself a place in the Olyroos squad for the Beijing Olympics and a Socceroos call-up.[27][28]

Rukavytsya scored in a warm-up game for the Olyroos against Adelaide United. He also scored his first international goal for the Australian U-23's, in their 3–0 win over Croatian U-21's at the Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia on 16 May 2008.[29]

Rukavytsya was named in Pim Verbeek's 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He made two appearances off the bench for the Socceroos.

Rukavytsya scored his first international goal in a friendly against South Korea on 14 November 2012, Australia won 2–1.

In May 2018, he was named in Australia's preliminary 26-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[30]

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 November 2012Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea South Korea1–11–2International Friendly

Career statistics
As of 24 September 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Domestic League Cup International Total Ref.
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Perth Glory 2006–07 A-League 30000030[31]
2007–08 2065200206[31]
2008–09 191000001910[31]
Total 421652004718–
FC Twente 2008–09 Eredivisie 30000030[32]
2009–10 20222062[32]
Total 50222092–
Roeselare (loan) 2009–10 Belgian Pro League 944000134[32]
Total 944000134–
Hertha BSC 2010–11 2. Bundesliga 3141000324[33]
2011–12 Bundesliga 2411100252[33]
2012–13 2. Bundesliga 10000010[34]
Total 5652100586–
Mainz 05 2012–13 Bundesliga 80100090[34]
Total 80100090–
FSV Frankfurt 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 1921000202[35]
Total 1921000202–
Western Sydney Wanderers 2014–15 A-League 2330051284[32]
Total 2330051284–
Beitar Jerusalem 2015–16 Israeli Premier League 301420003214[32]
Total 301420003214–
Maccabi Haifa 2016–17 Israeli Premier League 2144100255[32]
2017–18 321053212514[32]
2018–19 35984004313[32]
2019–20 362241314324[32]
2020–21 24313388[32]
Total 1264924108515864–
Career total 318934115156374114–

Honours

Club
FC Twente
Hertha BSC

Individual
Awards
Performances

References
  1. "Nikita Rykavytsya". Socceroos. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  2. wswanderersfc.com (10 February 2015), Rukavytsya opens Wanderers account, retrieved 17 November 2017
  3. "Rukavytsya on the Rise". www.sportal.co.nz. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  4. "Rukavytsya signs with Israeli club". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. Somerford, Ben. "Rukavytsya signs three-year deal with Maccabi Haifa". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. "Perth Glory looks Local". sportsaustralia.com. 27 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  7. Simcox, Peter (9 November 2007). "Rukavytsya double gives Glory first win of the season". sportsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  8. Clarke, Tim (3 December 2007). "Victory vanquished on a day out for the Glory". theage.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  9. "Nikita's Bundesliga Trial With Hannover". au.fourfourtwo.com. 4 April 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  10. "Glory holds onto Rukavytsya". abc.net.au. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  11. "Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya to trial for Dutch club". foxsports.com.au. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  12. "Nikita back to silence Roar". perthglory.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011.
  13. "Rukavytsya confirms dutch deal". au.fourfourtwo.com. 24 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  14. "Million Dollar Nik's Going Dutch". au.fourfourtwo.com. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  15. "Rukavytsya off the mark". theworldgame.com.au.
  16. Official: Nikita Rukavytsya Leaves Twente For Roeselare
  17. "Official: Nikita Rukavytsya Leaves Twente For Roeselare". goal.com. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  18. "Hertha BSC holt WM-Teilnehmer" (in German). DFL. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  19. "Nikita Rukavytsya". soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  20. Rossleigh, Matthew (19 April 2011). "Hertha Berlin's Nikita Rukavytsya hopeful of featuring in the Bundesliga next season". www.goal.com. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  21. "Ruka's Time To Shine For The Roos". au.fourfourtwo.com. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  22. "Rukavytsya seals Mainz move". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  23. "Aussie Rukavytsya loaned to FSV Frankfurt". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  24. Adno, Carly (12 October 2014). "Nikita Rukavytsya signs for Western Sydney Wanderers, knocking back A-League rivals Perth Glory". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  25. "Rukavytsya signs with Israeli club". www.fourfourtwo.com/au/. FourFourTwo. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  26. "ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - Nikita Rukavytsya". www.football.org.il. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  27. "Interview: Nikita Rukavytsya". footballaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
  28. Lynch, Michael (12 March 2008). "Players have chance to impress". theage.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  29. "Olyroos send Croatia packing". au.fourfourtwo.com. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  30. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced?". goal.com. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  31. "Rukavytsya, Nikita". National Football Teams. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  32. "N. Rukavytsya". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  33. "Nikita Rukavytsya". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  34. "Nikita Rukavytsya". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  35. "Nikita Rukavytsya". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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