Max Kucheryavyi

Max Kucheriavyi
Personal information
Full name Maksym Serhiyovych Kucheryavyi[1]
Date of birth (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002
Place of birth Kyiv, Ukraine
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Caspiy
Number 18
Youth career
2015–2021 DYuSSh-15 Kyiv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2025 St Johnstone 36 (2)
2021–2022 → Brechin City (loan)
2022 → Kelty Hearts (loan) 12 (1)
2023 → Falkirk (loan) 13 (1)
2026– Caspiy 4 (0)
International career‡
2019 Ukraine U17 1 (0)
2022–2023 Ukraine U21 5 (1)
2024 Ukraine U23 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:06, 21 June 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:16, 19 June 2025 (UTC)

Maksym Serhiyovych Kucheryavyi (Ukrainian: Максим Сергійович Кучерявий; born 9 May 2002) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kazakhstan Premier League club Caspiy.

Club career

Kucheriavyi was born in Kyiv,[2] and played locally for DYuSSh-15 Kyiv.[3]

After playing in a youth tournament in the city, Kucheriavyi was scouted by Scottish club Heart of Midlothian, and travelled 2,500 miles between the countries to train, for a period of two years.[4] After failing to gain a contract with Hearts, he instead signed with St Johnstone on a three-year deal.[4]

At the start of the 2021–22 season, he moved on loan to Brechin City.[4] After a "brilliant spell" with the club, scoring nine goals in 19 appearances, he was recalled by St Johnstone in January 2022.[5][6][7] He then moved on loan to Kelty Hearts, and in March 2022 he scored the winning goal which guaranteed Kelty's Scottish League Two title.[3][8]

He moved on loan to Falkirk in February 2023.[9]

Kucheriavyi scored his first league goals for St Johnstone on 2 September 2023, scoring two late goals to earn a 2–2 draw.[10][11]

At the start of the 2024–25 season, St Johnstone manager Craig Levein said he could go out on loan.[12] He left St Johnstone at the end of the 2024–25 season, criticising the club's management following relegation.[13]

In April 2026 he signed for Kazakh club Caspiy.[14]

International career

Kucheriavyi has played for the Ukraine under-17 team.[1]

In May 2024, he was called up by Ruslan Rotan to the Ukraine Olympic football team squad to play at the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament in France.[15] He won the tournament.[16]

Career statistics

As of match played on 25 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Johnstone 2021–22[17] Scottish Premiership 0000001[a]010
2022–23[18] Scottish Premiership 4000302[a]090
2023–24[19] Scottish Premiership 292004100333
2024–25[20] Scottish Premiership 3000200050
Total 362009130483
Kelty Hearts (loan) 2021–22[17] Scottish League Two 121000000121
Falkirk (loan) 2022–23[18] Scottish League One 13120002[b]0171
Career total 614209150775
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the Scottish League Challenge Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in the play-offs

Personal life

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kucheriavyi spoke about the impact on his family in the country.[21][22][23][24][25][26] He also launched a fundraiser.[27]

Honours

Kelty Hearts

References

  1. 1 2 Max Kucheryavyi at UAF (in Ukrainian)
  2. ↑ "Max Kucheriavyi". Kelty Hearts FC.
  3. 1 2 "'I hope my family are proud of me'". BBC Sport. 27 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Smith, Ewan (27 July 2021). "Max Kucheriavyi: Ukraine kid's journey from Kiev to Brechin City via Hearts, St Johnstone and the 2018 Champions League Final".
  5. ↑ "Max Kucheriavyi Returns". St Johnstone Football Club.
  6. ↑ Nicolson, Eric (30 January 2022). "Max Kucheriavyi has been St Johnstone's BEST player behind closed-doors and was recalled to stay, says Callum Davidson".
  7. ↑ Chalk, Paul (27 January 2022). "Max Kucheriavyi recalled by St Johnstone after brilliant spell with Brechin City".
  8. 1 2 "Kelty head to title thanks to Kucheriavyi 'x-factor'". BBC Sport.
  9. ↑ "MAX KUCHERIAVYI JOINS FALKIRK - Falkirk Football Club". 16 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Kucheriavyi hails St Johnstone 'character & belief'". BBC Sport. 3 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Nicolson, Eric (2 September 2023). "St Johnstone comeback hero Max Kucheriavyi can hit double figures, says Steven MacLean after dramatic Dundee rescue mission".
  12. ↑ Nicolson, Eric (24 August 2024). "Max Kucheriavyi can leave St Johnstone as Craig Levein reveals fresh loan details".
  13. ↑ Walker, Mark (9 June 2025). "Max Kucheriavyi blasts St Johnstone in astonishing Ukraine interview as freed midfielder admits he felt lost on pitch".
  14. ↑ "Former St Johnstone starlet Max Kucheriavyi finds new club - 4,000 miles away from Scotland". 6 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Олімпійська збірна України відправилася до Марселя для участі в престижному турнірі". Official UAF Website. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  16. ↑ "St Johnstone's Kucheriavyi wins tournament with Ukraine". BBC Sport. 17 June 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Games played by Max Kucheryavyi in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Max Kucheryavyi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Games played by Max Kucheryavyi in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Games played by Max Kucheryavyi in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Kelty title-clincher Max Kucheriayvi: I call my parents every day back in Ukraine, I am proud of them". www.scotsman.com. 27 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Nicolson, Eric (10 March 2022). "Max Kucheriavyi opens up on Ukraine torment and reveals training with St Johnstone and playing for Kelty Hearts is his only release from the war".
  23. ↑ Berry, Gavin (10 March 2022). "Max Kucheriavyi tells of fears for friends and family in Ukraine". Daily Record.
  24. ↑ "St Johnstone winger Max Kucheriavyi speaks of ordeals at home in Ukraine". 10 March 2022.
  25. ↑ Media, PA (25 February 2022). "St Johnstone's Max Kucheriavyi concerned for family in Ukraine". STV News.
  26. ↑ "St Johnstone youngster Max Kucheriavyi bravely opens up on Ukraine horror and fear for friends and family back home". HeraldScotland. 10 March 2022.
  27. ↑ Chalmers, Robbie (4 March 2022). "Young St Johnstone star Max Kucheriavyi launches Ukraine fundraiser". Daily Record.
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