Defined finalists and laureates of the "Football Teacher of the Year" 2026 competition

The jury of the All-Ukrainian Competition for Physical Education Teachers of General Secondary Educational Institutions "Football Teacher of the Year" - 2026, initiated by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Institute of Content Modernization of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, has determined the five finalists and sixteen laureates of the Competition. They will be invited to the final of the Competition at the end of the year.

Defined finalists and laureates of the "Football Teacher of the Year" 2026 competition

Photo: Dan Balashov

The competition is held for physical education teachers who inspire students to play football, lead a healthy lifestyle, implement modern teaching methods, and organize health-improvement and sports events for their communities.

The jury evaluated portfolios of nearly 200 registered participants from various regions of Ukraine based on the following criteria: implementation of football in regular and extracurricular activities, introduction of innovative educational technologies, modern methods in teaching physical education, their own pedagogical and scientific developments, publications, participation and achievements in sports and health-improvement events (competitions of various levels, festivals, challenges, sports holidays, etc.), application of inclusive approaches and implementation of gender equality, leadership and activity in promoting a healthy lifestyle on social networks. Video lessons with elements of football from participants were also evaluated separately.

The winners of the Competition are (in alphabetical order): 

— Ivan Serhiiovych Anikin, Mykolaiv, Mykolaivskiy Gymnasium No. 46; 

— Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Bilschenko, Chernihiv, Chernihivsky Lyceum with Enhanced Military-Physical Training;

— Hanna Ostapivna Hryhoriyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Otinoy Lyceum, Vinograd Village School; 

— Viktoriya Olegivna Hromyk, Khmelnytskyi, Lyceum No. 1 named after Volodymyr Krasitsky; 

— Maxim Oleksandrovych Darmostuk, Kyiv Oblast, Vasylkiv Academic Lyceum "Success"; 

— Yuliya Serhiivna Zagoryiko, Kharkiv, Kharkivskiy Lyceum No. 39; 

— Mykola Mykolayovych Lahutyonov, Cherkasy Oblast, Chernobai Village School, Chernobaysky Lyceum; 

— Kateryna Andriivna Lytvynenko, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Kryvyi Rih City, Krivorizhsky Gymnasium No. 4; 

— Hanna Yurivna Makarenko, Kharkiv, Kharkivskiy Lyceum No. 93; 

— Sergii Olegovych Malets, Kharkiv Oblast, Derhachi City, Derhachyvske Lyceum No. 3; 

— Volodymyr Yuriiovych Maliik, Kirovohrad Oblast, Bobrynets City, Bobrynetske Lyceum No. 1; 

— Mykola Mykolayovych Mivshuk, Volyn Oblast, Kamian-Kashyrskyi Lyceum, Borovne Village School, Borovnenske Lyceum; 

— Andriy Yuriiovych Ragulin, Sumy Oblast, Vorozhba City, Vorozhbatske Lyceum; 

— Igor Andriiovych Savko, Mykolaiv, Mykolaivskiy Gymnasium No. 31; 

— Oleksii Serhiiovych Sereda, Sumy Oblast, Kyrykivka Village School, Zavodsky Lyceum; 

— Valeriy Anatoliyovych Starodubets, Kharkiv Oblast, Vovchansk City, Vovchanske Lyceum No. 3.

The finalists of the Competition are (in alphabetical order): 

— Andriy Vasylovych Babienko, Mykolaiv Oblast, Mihya Village School; 

— Oleksandr Olexandrovych Chypko, Zaporizhzhia City, Zaporizhzhian Gymnasium No. 33; 

— Mykola Mykolayovych Maslov, Kharkiv Oblast, Derhachi City, Derhachyvske Lyceum No. 2; 

— Mykola Mykolayovych Niga, Chernivtsi City, Chernivetska Gymnasium No. 15; 

— Leonid Serhiiovych Seny, Sumy City, Sumskiy Lyceum No. 33;