On 28 July 1999, Shatskikh became the first Asian player to score in the UEFA Champions League and is only the second Uzbekistani player, after Mirjalol Kasymov, to score in UEFA football competitions.[2] At international level, he played in three AFC Asian Cups for Uzbekistan, helping them to fourth place in 2011.
He last played for Rukh Vynnyky. On 8 April 2016, it was announced that he ended his playing career and became a coaching staff of the Dynamo football academy.[3]
After playing for clubs in Uzbekistan and Russia in his earlier career he was signed by Ukrainian Premier League's Dynamo Kyiv as a replacement for Andriy Shevchenko, who was acquired by A.C. Milan in 1999.[4] In his first season at Dynamo, he scored two goals in a 3–2 win over Karpaty Lviv to clinch Dynamo's 8th consecutive league title.[5] He was labeled the "next Shevchenko" in the media.
In his debut season for Dynamo Kyiv, he won the Ukrainian Premier League and became Ukrainian Premier League top scorer, scoring 20 goals. In the 2002–03 season, when he scored 22 goals to equal Serhii Rebrov's record haul of 1997–98 while also playing for Kyiv, Shatskikh scored 5 goals in his debut UEFA Champions League season 1999–2000. On 28 July 1999, he scored his first goal in the Champions League in a match against Žalgiris Vilnius.[2] With Kyiv, Shatskikh managed to play 9 seasons in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 11 goals.
Arsenal Kyiv
After spending the 2009 season with Lokomotiv Astana in the Kazakhstan Premier League he returned to Kyiv, where he was signed by FC Arsenal Kyiv during the winter break. During his stay with Arsenal Kyiv, Shatskikh scored his 100th league goal.[6] On 7 April 2010, the president of Arsenal Kyiv presented Shatskikh the Golden Ball award for scoring his 100th goal in the Ukrainian Premier League against Metalurh Zaporizhzhia.[7] Arsenal president Vadym Rabinovych said that he had already ordered another Golden Ball for Shatskikh containing more gold for his future 200th goal in the Ukrainian Premier League.
At the start of the 2013–14 season, Shatskikh joined Arsenal Kyiv from fellow Ukrainian side Chornomorets Odesa.[8]
Hoverla
Maksim Shatskikh banner on 26 May 2009
On 30 December 2013, Shatskikh signed a 2.5-year contract with Hoverla Uzhhorod.[9] On 27 July 2014, in Ukrainian Premier League match Hoverla Uzhhorod- Karpaty Lviv finished by draw 2–2, Shatskikh scored the first goal for the Hoverla side in the match and his 122nd in Ukrainian Premier League.[10]
At the end of the 2014–15 season Shatskikh left the club, while under a contract and joined an amateur club from Lviv until the end of 2015.[15] On 10 May 2016, he filed a case to Lausanne (Court of Arbitration for Sport) against Hoverla Uzhhorod administration for failure to pay him indebted salary.[16] During the 2015–16 season Hoverla already was fined and had points deducted for not paying players' salaries on the decision of the Football Federation of Ukraine, yet according to Shatskikh his personal case that was filed in October 2015 was not yet reviewed by April 2016 and could stretch out for 10 years.[16]
International career
Known since his performance at young age, he was available to represent for Uzbekistan and Russia. Immediately, he chose the former.
Shatskih was among the three best Asian players in 2005. On 13 October 2007, he scored 5 goals against Taiwan.[17] On 2 June 2008, he scored a goal for Uzbekistan during a 7–3 win over Singapore in a World Cup 2010 qualification game and became joint top scorer for the national team with Mirjalol Kasymov.[18] On 15 October 2008, he scored against Japan as well, thus becoming the all-time top scorer for his side. Another famous goal came against Iran in the 2014 WCQs effectively sealing Irans fate and ensuring the Uzbekis reaching the playoffs.
On 29 May 2014, Shatskikh played his farewell match for the national team in a friendly against Oman.[19] He capped 61 matches for national team, scoring 34 goals. He remained Uzbekistan's leading national team goalscorer until June 2023, when Eldor Shomurodov broke his record.[20]
Personal life
He is a naturalized citizen of Ukraine subsequently after his retirement from football.[citation needed]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[21]
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