Markevich committed to Metalist climb

Myron Markevich, the Ukrainian Premier League's most experienced coach, has signed a new five-year contract with high-flying FC Metalist Kharkiv.

'Never in doubt'
The 56-year-old said he was "never in any doubt" about agreeing the deal because "I love the city and the supporters here". Markevich led Metalist to third place in Ukraine last season and, this term, his team sit fourth in the Premier League at the winter break, level on points with FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Near miss
The coach, who also guided FC Karpaty Lviv to a third-placed finish in the 1990s, took the Metalist helm at the start of the 2005/06 campaign. A veteran of almost 350 top-flight matches, he was 18 minutes from steering Metalist into the group stage of this season's UEFA Cup – before two late Everton FC goals took the first-round tie away from his charges.