Oleksii Shliakotin Explained

Oleksii Shliakotin
Fullname:Oleksii Ihorovych Shliakotin
Birth Date:2 September 1989
Birth Place:Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR
Height:1.97m (06.46feet)
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Rangers
Clubnumber:30
Youthyears1:1997–2007
Youthclubs1:Dynamo Kyiv
Years1:2006–2008
Clubs1:Dynamo Kyiv
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2009
Clubs2:Czarni Żagań
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2009–2010
Clubs3:Chornomorets-2 Odesa
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2010–2011
Clubs4:Zagłębie Sosnowiec
Caps4:31
Goals4:0
Years5:2011–2012
Clubs5:Žilina
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2012–2015
Clubs6:Korona Kielce
Caps6:9
Goals6:0
Years7:2015
Clubs7:União da Madeira
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Years9:2016–2017
Clubs9:Biu Chun Glory Sky
Caps9:8
Goals9:0
Years10:2017–2018
Clubs10:Rangers
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Years11:2020–2022
Clubs11:Rangers
Caps11:11
Goals11:0
Years12:2022–2024
Clubs12:Sham Shui Po
Caps12:13
Goals12:0
Years13:2024
Clubs13:Rangers (loan)
Caps13:8
Goals13:0
Years14:2024–
Clubs14:Rangers
Caps14:0
Goals14:0
Nationalyears1:2005–2006
Nationalteam1:Ukraine U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:1 July 2024

Oleksii Ihorovych Shliakotin (Ukrainian: Олексій Ігорович Шлякотін; born 2 September 1989) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Hong Kong Premier League club Rangers.

Club career

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aleks is a graduate of the Dynamo Kyiv football academy of Valeriy Lobanovskyi, where he was enrolled in 1997 (aged 8) by Oleksandr Lysenko, and played at its various levels. By doing so, Aleks left his family home when was eleven.[1] In 2005 Aleks was called up to Ukraine national under-17 football team. In 2006, he signed his first professional contract with the second division team Dynamo-3 Kyiv.

In July 2010 (aged 20), Aleks moved to Poland, where he has played for the next 5 years.[2] In January 2011 Shliakotin got an offer from the MŠK Žilina (champions of Slovakia), but transfer wasn't realized.[3]

In January 2012, Aleks was brought to the attention of Leszek Ojrzynski,[4] and subsequently signed for Korona Kielce,[5] where he has worked with Maciej Szczesny.

In early July 2015, Aleks signed a two-year deal with recently promoted C.F. União.[6] [7]

In 2016, Aleks moved to Hong Kong, and signed for Hong Kong Premier League club Biu Chun Glory Sky.[8]

In May 2017, Aleks was nominated for "Goalkeeper of the Year", and "Player of The Year" in Hong Kong Premier League.[9] Three of his saves were nominated for "Save of the Year" in Hong Kong Premier League.[10]

On 2 August 2017, it was revealed that Rangers had signed Aleks.[11]

On 22 October 2020, Rangers announced that Aleks would return to the club after two years away from the game.[12]

On 4 October 2022, Aleks joined Sham Shui Po.[1] He later joined the club to get first team football.[1]

On 31 January 2024, Aleks was loaned to Rangers.

In July 2024, Alkes officially rejoined Rangers.

Personal life

Aleks is married to Panamanian restaurateur Elizabeth Caballero. [13] Aleks spoke out about the invasion in Ukraine, saying: "It’s definitely the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life – definitely the hardest moments I’ve ever been through" and that his parents were living in Kyiv when the invasion took place.[14] As a result, his parents and sister lost their house and took refuge in Germany, where they received "refugee status".[1]

Having lived in Hong Kong for seven years, Aleks said he's open to playing for the national team and is eligible to apply for a Hong Kong passport.[1]

Honours

Club

Rangers

2023–24

Notes and References

  1. News: Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksii Shliakotin: ‘I felt guilty when war began, but I am lucky – and I want to play for Hong Kong’. South China Morning Post. 30 August 2023. 11 February 2024.
  2. Web site: Ukraiński wielkolud na "Ludowym" - sportowezaglebie.pl. sportowezaglebie.pl. pl-PL. 2017-05-16.
  3. Web site: MŠK Žilina "testuje" ukrajinského brankára. Sport.sk. SPORT.SK. msport.aktuality.sk. sk. 2017-05-16.
  4. News: Алексей ШЛЯКОТИН: "Тренер Короны – суперчеловек!". Шаповалов. Михаил. СПОРТ.UA. 2017-05-16. ru.
  5. News: Szlakotin podpisał kontrakt. 2017-05-16. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180106173818/http://korona-kielce.pl/news,4041-szlakotin-podpisal-kontrakt.html. 6 January 2018. dead.
  6. News: União da Madeira anuncia chegada de guarda-redes . União da Madeira announces goalkeeper arrival . ZeroZero . Portuguese . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015.
  7. Web site: Шлякотин: "Униан Мадейра" пригласил меня без всяческих просмотров - Футбол 24. football24.ua. Футбол 24. 2017-05-16.
  8. Web site: Hong Kong Football Association Ltd. hkfa.com. 2017-05-16.
  9. Web site: Russian Club in Hong Kong. Facebook. en. 2017-05-16.
  10. Web site: 我撐本地波. Facebook. en. 2017-05-16.
  11. Web site: 季前熱身初戰取勝 標準流浪下周試阿根廷前鋒. Upower. 2 August 2017.
  12. Web site: Yuen . Chi Ho . 流浪飛馬漸揭神秘面紗 林嘉緯有望重遇盧均宜:很期待 . HK01 . 22 October 2020.
  13. News: Алексей ШЛЯКОТИН: "У Короны – задача выступить успешнее". СПОРТ.UA. 2017-05-16. ru.
  14. News: Hong Kong-based Ukraine footballer Oleksii Shliakotin describes ‘helplessness’ as parents forced into Kyiv bomb shelters. South China Morning Post. 27 February 2022. 11 February 2024.