Rebrov gets three-year Dynamo mandate

Serhiy Rebrov has been confirmed as the new coach of FC Dynamo Kyiv, the 39-year-old signing a three-season contract after leading the club to victory against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Cup final.

The 75-times capped striker, who represented Dynamo as a player in two separate spells, succeeded Oleh Blokhin on a temporary basis in April, steering his old club to their first trophy in five years with a 2-1 defeat of Shakhtar. His immediate goal will be to lead Dynamo to their 14th league title, his side having finished outside the top three in Ukraine for the first time in 23 years this term.

"I wanted the team to go on vacation with a coach in place," explained Dynamo president Ihor Surkis. "It was clear that the atmosphere in the squad changed completely under Rebrov. Blokhin did all he could, but somehow the players were not at their best. With Rebrov at the helm, they all know what they are doing."

The Ukrainian Premier League's all-time top scorer with 123 goals, Rebrov started his career at Shakhtar, and played abroad with Tottenham Hotspur FC, Fenerbahçe SK, West Ham United FC and FC Rubin Kazan. Since retiring in 2009, he has been working behind the scenes at Dynamo, where he was assistant coach from 2010.