Erik Sviatchenko
Personal information
Full name Erik Sergiyovych Sviatchenko
Date of birth (1991-10-04) 4 October 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Viborg, Denmark
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Houston Dynamo
Number 28
Youth career
1997–1998 Viborg FF
2001–2003 Houlkær IF
2003–2004 Søndermarken
2004–2006 FK Viborg
2006–2009 Midtjylland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2016 Midtjylland 110 (10)
2016–2018 Celtic 42 (1)
2018 → Midtjylland (loan) 16 (1)
2018–2023 Midtjylland 128 (14)
2023– Houston Dynamo 17 (0)
International career
2009 Denmark U18 2 (1)
2009–2010 Denmark U19 6 (0)
2010 Denmark U20 3 (0)
2010–2012 Denmark U21 8 (2)
2015–2016 Denmark 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:23, 24 March 2023 (UTC)

Erik Sergiyovych Sviatchenko (Ukrainian: Ерік Сергійович Святченко; born 4 October 1991) is a Danish footballer who plays as a centre-back for MLS side Houston Dynamo.

Club career

FC Midtjylland

Sviatchenko joined the FC Midtjylland academy in 2006 at the age of 14.[2] Prior to that he had played for clubs around his hometown of Viborg: Viborg FF, Houlkær IF, Søndermarken IK, and FK Viborg.[3][4] In 2009, he was named the Midtjylland Academy Player of the Year.[2]

On 8 May 2009 Sviatchenko made his first team and Superliga debut, coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 win over AC Horsens.[5] That was his only first team appearance during the 2008–09 season. He scored his first goal for Midtjylland on 14 April 2010 to give FCM a 1–0 win against AGF.[5] He finished the 2009–10 campaign with 5 appearances and 1 goal for the first team.[6]

The 2010–11 season saw Sviatchenko establish himself as a first team regular. He appeared in 13 of FCM's first 22 Superliga matches plus 2 Danish Cup matches.[5] However, on 3 April 2011, Sviatchenko tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee after colliding with teammate Rilwan Hassan during training.[7][8][9] The injury ended his season and kept him out for 11 months.[9] FCM would finish the season 4th in the Superliga.[10]

On 4 March 2012 Sviatchenko made his return from injury, getting the start and playing 90 minutes in a 2–1 loss to Lyngby.[5] The following week he scored in a 4–1 win over Horsens.[5] Sviatchenko ended the 2011–12 season by playing every minute of the final 15 games of the season, helping Midtjylland to a 3rd-place finish.[5][11]

On 23 August 2012 he made his debut in a continental competition, losing 3–0 to Swiss side BSC Young Boys in a Europa League qualifier. Midtjylland and Sviatchenko would win the 2nd leg 2–0 but be eliminated 3–2 on aggregate.[5] On 20 May 2013 Sviatchenko scored in the 90th minute to give FCM a 3–2 win against AGF.[5] He ended the season with 28 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Superliga as FCM finished 6th table, plus 2 appearances each in the Cup and Europa League.[6][12]

Prior to the 2013–14 season he was made vice-captain.[7] On 2 March 2014 Sviatchenko scored the opening goal in a 5–1 win over Copenhagen.[5] During the match he sprained his ankle. He was able to finish the game but underwent ankle surgery a month later and missed the rest of the season.[13][14] Sviatchenko ended the season with 17 appearances and 3 goals in the league.[6] At the time of his injury Midtjylland were top of the table with a 5-point gap, but with Sviatchenko out injured they finished 3rd, 7 points behind champions Aalborg.[13][15]

After missing the first 3 weeks of the 2014–15 season due to his ankle, Svaitchenko made his season debut on 10 August 2014, coming on as a late sub in 3–1 win over Sønderjyske Fodbold.[16] He played in 6 games before a thigh injury forced him to miss the rest of 2014.[17][16] He returned on 23 February 2015, scoring a goal in a 3–0 win over Odense Boldklub in the first match of 2015.[16] Sviatchenko finished the season with 19 appearances and 1 goal in league play, helping Midtjylland finish top of the table and win their first Superliga title in club history.[16][18]

On 4 August 2015 Sviatchenko scored his first career goal in a continental competition to give Midtjylland a 1–0 win at APOEL in a Champions League qualifier. However FCM lost 2–1 at home and were eliminated on away goals.[19] In the Europa League playoffs, Sviatchenko helped Midtjylland beat Southampton 2–1 on aggregate to reach the Europa League group stage for the first time in club history.[19][20] He played every minute of the group stage to help FCM finish 2nd and advance to the Round of 32.[19] Sviatchenko wore the captain's armband regularly during the season due to captain Kristian Bach Bak being injured for most of the season.[19] He made 13 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Superliga prior to being sold.[19]

Celtic

On 17 January 2016, Sviatchenko signed with Scottish Premiership club Celtic on a four-and-a-half year contract, with the transfer fee worth a reported £1.5 million.[21][22] He made his Celtic debut on 31 January in a 3–1 loss to Ross County in the League Cup semifinals, coming off the bench after 13 minutes following a red card to Efe Ambrose.[5][23] Sviatchenko picked up his first goal for the Hoops on 17 April, scoring in a 2–2 draw with Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup semifinals, with Rangers advancing on penalties.[5] He appeared in 14 Premiership games to help Celtic win their 5th straight league title.[19]

During the 2016–17 season, Sviatchenko made 28 appearances and scored a goal in league play to help the Hoops win their 6th straight Premiership title. He also made 3 appearances in the Cup and 3 in the League Cup as Celtic won both to complete the domestic treble and finish the season unbeaten domestically.[6][24]

On 2 August 2017 Sviatchenko damaged his knee ligaments in 1–0 win versus Rosenborg in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg, which prevented him from playing for three months.[25] He returned to training in November and made the bench a couple of times, but did not make another appearance for Celtic.[26]

Return to FC Midtjylland

On 16 January 2018, Sviatchenko returned to FC Midtjylland on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[26][27] He made his first appearance in 7 months on 9 February, playing 90 minutes in a 2–0 win over AC Horsens.[28] Sviatchenko scored 1 goal and played in 16 of the 17 possible league games during the loan, helping Midtjylland win their 2nd Superliga title in club history.[28][29] That loan move was made permanent on 27 May 2018 for a fee of £1m and Sviatchenko agreeing to a four-year contract.[30][29][31]

During the 2018–19 season Sviatchenko made 27 appearances and scored 1 goal in league play as FCM were unable to defend their title, finishing 2nd in the table,11 points behind Copenhagen.[6][32] In the cup, Sviatchenko made 4 appearances and scored once to help Midtjylland win their first Danish Cup title in club history.[5][33]

Sviatchenko became club captain during the 2019–20 season, with the previous captain Jakob Poulsen departing the club.[34] On 18 August 2019, Sviatchenko scored in the 90th minute to rescue a draw with Hobro IK.[5] He finished the season with 6 goals and 32 appearances, anchoring a defense that allowed a league best 29 goals all season to lead Midtjylland to a Superliga title.[6][34][35] Following the season he was named Superliga Player of the Year.[36] On 12 June, Sviatchenko agreed to a contract extension until June 2024.[34][4]

During the 2020–21 season, Midtjylland reached the Champions League group stage for the first time in club history, with Sviatchenko appearing in 5 of the 6 group games as FCM finished bottom of the group.[5] On 24 October he scored in the 90+4th minute to give Midtjylland a 3–2 win over Brøndby.[5] Sviatchenko ended the Superliga season with 28 appearances and 3 goals, helping FCM have the fewest goals allowed for the second straight year.[6][37] They were unable to repeat as champions though, finishing 1 point behind Brøndby.[37]

He made 25 appearances and scored 4 goals in the Superliga during the 2021–22 season as FCM finished second, 3 points behind champions Copenhagen.[6][38] Sviatchenko helped Midtjylland win their second ever Danish Cup, making 4 appearances and scoring 1 goal during the tournament.[6][39]

Sviatchenko made 26 appearances and scored 3 goals across all competitions in the 2022–23 season prior to being sold.[6] His 325 total games for Midtjylland are the second most in club history.[2]

Houston Dynamo

On 24 March 2023 Sviatchenko was sold to American MLS side Houston Dynamo, signing a two-year contract with a club option for 2025.[40][2] The official transfer fee was undisclosed, but was reportedly just over 10 million Danish krone/1.48 million U.S. dollars.[41]

International career

Due to his dual citizenship, Sviatchenko was eligible to play for Ukraine,[42] but agreed to a call-up for the Danish national team in March 2015. He made his international debut on 25 March 2015 at NRGi Arena in Aarhus, starting against the United States in a 3–2 friendly win, in central defence alongside Simon Kjær.[43][44][45] He scored his first international goal on 11 October 2015 in a 2–1 friendly loss to France.[45][46]

Personal life

Erik Sviatchenko was born in Viborg, Denmark to Sergei and Helena Sviatchenko 4 October 1991.[47][6] His parents moved to Denmark from Ukraine with Erik's older brother, Phillip, in 1990.[47][48][49] Erik also has a twin sister, Alexandra.[47] Erik is a Christian.[49]

His wife, Anne Sviatchenko (née Rudmose), is a former professional footballer and has played for Team Viborg's women's team, Skovbakken IK, ASA, Celtic and the Denmark national team.[50][51] Erik and Anne met when they were 14 through his sister Alexandra.[50] Anne signed for the Celtic women's team in February 2016, one month after Sviatchenko had joined the men's team.[50] They got married in June 2017 in Viborg.[52] Together they have two kids.[4]

Career statistics

Club

As of 12 April 2023[53][54][55][56]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Midtjylland 2008–09 Danish Superliga 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
2009–10 5 1 0 0 — — 5 1
2010–11 13 0 2 0 — — 15 0
2011–12 15 1 0 0 — 0 0 15 1
2012–13 28 2 2 0 — 2[c] 0 32 2
2013–14 17 3 1 0 — — 18 3
2014–15 19 1 0 0 — 1[c] 0 20 1
2015–16 13 2 0 0 — 12[d] 1 25 3
Total 111 10 5 0 0 0 15 1 131 11
Celtic 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 14 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 18 1
2016–17 28 1 3 0 3 0 9[e] 0 43 1
2017–18 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[e] 0 2 0
Total 42 1 6 1 4 0 11 0 63 2
Midtjylland (loan) 2017–18 Danish Superliga 16 1 1 0 — 0 0 17 1
Midtjylland 2018–19 27 1 4 1 — 2[e] 0 33 2
2019–20 32 6 0 0 — 2[c] 0 34 6
2020–21 28 3 4 0 — 9[e] 0 41 3
2021–22 25 4 5 1 — 11[f] 1 41 6
2022–23 16 0 1 0 — 9[g] 3 26 3
Total 144 15 15 2 0 0 33 4 192 21
Houston Dynamo 2023 MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 297 26 26 3 4 0 59 5 386 34
  1. ^ Includes Danish Cup, Scottish Cup, and the U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. ^ Three appearances in and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League

International

Scores and results table. Denmark's goal tally first:[46][57]

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 October 2015 Parken, Copenhagen  France 1–2 1–2 Friendly match

Honours

FC Midtjylland

Celtic

Houston Dynamo

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Erik Sviatchenko". FC Midtjylland. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Rothhausen, Christian (24 March 2023). "Erik Sviatchenko Skifter Til Amerikanse Houston Dynamo". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. ^ Anderson, Thomas N. (2 February 2018). "FCM-stjernes springbræt: Et skridt tilbage og to frem". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Kristensen, Jørn Just (6 December 2020). "Officielt: FCM-anfører forlænger til 2024". Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Denmark - E. Sviatchenko - Matches - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Denmark - E. Sviatchenko - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Spillere - Erik Sviatchenko". FCM. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  8. ^ Egelund, Klaus (4 April 2011). "EM i fare for Sviatchenko". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Comebacket Sviatchenkos 11 maaneder I Skyggen". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. ^ "2010-2011 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  11. ^ "2011-2012 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  12. ^ "2012-2013 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b Vester, Ronni (31 March 2014). "Sviatchenko misser resten af foråret". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  14. ^ Abolhosseini, Farzam (2 April 2014). "Skadet FCM-profil: Sommerskifte vil være perfekt". B.T. (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  15. ^ "2013-2014 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d "Erik Sviatchenko 2014-2015 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Uheldig Sviatchenko: Mig i en nøddeskal". bold.dk (in Danish). 9 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  18. ^ "2014-2015 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Erik Sviatchenko 2015-2016 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  20. ^ Rothausen, Christian (12 October 2022). "Dengang 'Duncan' Sendte FCM I Sit Første Europæiske Gruppespil". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Erik Sviatchenko: Celtic seal transfer for £1.5m Midtjylland defender". BBC Sport. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  22. ^ Cuddihy, Paul (17 January 2016). "Celtic delighted to sign Danish internationalist Erik Sviatchenko". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  23. ^ Dalziel, Martin (31 January 2016). "Hoops endure Hampden heartache in League Cup semi-final". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  24. ^ Connelly, Tony (20 July 2021). "Celtic's Danish players in profile". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Celtic's Erik Sviatchenko nearing comeback after three months out". Sky Sports. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko returns to FC Midtjylland on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  27. ^ "Erik Sviatchenko joins FC Midtjylland on loan". Celtic F.C. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Erik Sviatchenko 2017-2018 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  29. ^ a b Kristensen, Jørn Just (27 May 2018). "Officielt: FCM køber Sviatchenko i millionhandel". Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  30. ^ Swan, Craig (27 May 2018). "Celtic rake in £1m for Erik Sviatchenko as defender clinches permanent move back to FC Midtjylland". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  31. ^ Cuddihy, Paul (27 May 2018). "Erik Sviatchenko makes permanent move back to FC Midtjylland". Celtic F.C. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  32. ^ "2018-2019 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  33. ^ Kjær, Christian (17 May 2019). "FC Midtjylland er pokalmester efter straffesparksdrama". TV 2 Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  34. ^ a b c Risom, Jens (12 June 2020). "Erik Sviatchenko Forlænger Med FC Midtjylland". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  35. ^ "2019-2020 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  36. ^ a b Risager, Victor (26 July 2020). "Erik Sviatchenko er årets spiller i Superligaen". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  37. ^ a b "2020-2021 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  38. ^ "2021-2022 Superliga Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  39. ^ "FC Midtjylland Vinder Pokalfinalen Efter Straffespark". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Houston Dynamo FC sign veteran center back Erik Sviatchenko using Targeted Allocation Money". Houston Dynamo FC. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  41. ^ Thøgersen, Troels Bager; Jensen, Kenneth (24 March 2023). "Erik Sviatchenko er på plads i Houston Dynamo". Thøgersen (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Denmark may lose Sviatchenko". Advarsity Sports. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  43. ^ "Fem nye i startopstillingen". Dansk Boldspil-Union (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  44. ^ "Bendtner-hattrick i dansk sejr i Aarhus". Bold (in Danish). 25 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  45. ^ a b "Erik Sviatchenko National Team Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  46. ^ a b "Sviatchenko, Erik". National Football Team. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  47. ^ a b c Aaes, Jette (15 November 2018). "Far og søn Sviatchenko: Passion på tværs af generation". Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  48. ^ Tulinius, Bjørg (2 September 2022). "Den anerkendte kunstner Sergei Sviatchenko: Mødet med Danmark var som en forelskelse". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  49. ^ a b Pelch, Nikita (2 December 2019). "Erik Sviatchenko har lært at tøjle tankerne: 'Jeg arbejder meget på at give slip'". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  50. ^ a b c Currie, David (23 February 2016). "Celtic sign Erik Sviatchenko's partner - Anne Rudmose". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  51. ^ Mark, Thomas (21 October 2015). "Tidligere Team Viborg-spiller gravid med landsholdsspiller". viborg-folkeblad.dk. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  52. ^ "'Happiest day' Celtic power couple Erik Sviatchenko and Anne Rudmose tie the knot in Viborg ceremony". Daily Record. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  53. ^ Erik Sviatchenko at Soccerbase
  54. ^ Erik Sviatchenko at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  55. ^ "Erik Sviatchenko Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  56. ^ "Erik Sviatchenko". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  57. ^ "E. Sviatchenko". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  58. ^ a b "Forårets Profil: Se alle de tidligere vindere". Tipsbladet (in Danish). 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.

External links

Sporting positions Preceded byJakob Poulsen FC Midtjylland captain 2019–2023 Succeeded byJonas Lössl
Houston Dynamo FC – current squad
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