Maksym Kovalyov

Maksym Kovalyov is a defender for FC Illichivets Mariupol. He was born on 20 March 1989 in Alchevsk, Ukraine.

In 2001 Kovalyov joined the youth team of Stal Alchevsk. In 2002 the young defender transferred to the academy of Shakhtar Donetsk. During the next two years of his youth career Maksym gathered experience and trained to advance to the professional level.

In 2005 Kovalyov signed for FC Shakhtar on a regular basis. Maksym spent the first three seasons at Shakhtar-3, where he was gaining experience. Soon he drew the attention of the head coach. Kovalyov trained hard to improve his defensive skills, after which he was promoted to the first team, but there he made almost no appearances.

In 2010 the management of Shakhtar decided to send the defender on loan to Zorya Luhansk, where Kovalyov spent the entire 2010/11 season. During that period of his career Maksym managed to showcase his talent in 34 matches. In 2011 Kovalyov was loaned to Illichivets for the 2011/12 season, and at the end of the season joined the club on a regular basis.

From 2004 to 2008 Maksym Kovalyov represented Ukraine on the international level. For four years he totaled more than 60 caps and scored 10 goals.