Rafael Profini

Central Defender - Metalist
26 Dec 2026
Saturday
Process

Marked for Rafael Profini

15 Edition

The Metalist Chronicle

9 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Triumph

Match

Cup progress for Metalist

A 2‑0 win over Prykarpattia, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?

Squad

Artem Shabanov says Metalist went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Viacheslav Churko

Successful dribbles: 28. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Player ratings

No sign of nerves from Prince Amoako at 19 — 8.07

The hardest thing about being 19 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Prince Amoako did not need any: 8.07, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.

Match

Metalist cannot stop winning

3 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.

Squad

Rafael Profini signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Rafael Profini and Metalist agree another 4 years.

Squad

Tempers go at Metalist

Nicolás Arévalo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Artem Shabanov pulls a muscle — 15 days out

The injury that keeps coming back, keeps being rushed back from, and quietly costs more careers than the dramatic ones. 15 days is the estimate; the honest figure depends on whether anybody is patient.

The terraces

Metalist supporters have found a favourite in Prince Amoako

There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 19-year-old it feels ownership of. Prince Amoako has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.

In brief

Back issues
3 Edition

The Metalist Chronicle

17 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Tempers go at Metalist

Nicolás Arévalo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Words at Metalist training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Ivan Kaliuzhnyi is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Market

Ihor Snurnitsyn attracts admirers

The name of Ihor Snurnitsyn has come up in conversations Metalist were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Oleksandr Martyniuk

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Player ratings

Peter Itodo stands above it all

Some games turn on a moment; this one turned on a man. 7.66 on the card, and the Metalist support went home talking about one name.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Baton Zabërgja

Successful dribbles: 15. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Match

Honours even between Metalist and Shakhtar

1‑1, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.

Squad

Metalist pick somebody else ahead of Kristian Mba

There is no complaint available here and everybody involved knows it, which does not make the walk to the bench any shorter. Form is the only currency in football that cannot be borrowed against.

Market

David Valencia brings the grey hairs Metalist lacked

At 35, he has seen every situation this season can produce, twice. The legs will be managed; the head is the purchase.

In brief