Ivan Kalyuzhnyi, who played for Kerala Blasters in the 2022-23 Indian Super League (ISL) season, got his first national team call-up with Ukraine on Saturday.
The 26-year central midfielder played for Kerala Blasters on a season-long loan deal from Oleksandriya and scored four goals in 18 appearances.
During his short stint with the KBFC, he made notable contributions. Ivan dazzled on his debut against East Bengal on coming in as a substitute for Apostolos Giannou in the 79th minute. He also scored his first goal for Kerala Blasters in the same match two minutes later.
He doubled his tally in the 89th minute with a left-footed volley from 25 yards and helped Kerala Blasters to seal a 3-1 win. He scored again against erstwhile ATK Mohun Bagan when he scored in the eighth minute in KBFC’s 2-5 loss.
Ivan shone again against FC Goa scoring a long-range screamer in the 52nd minute.
Ivan had joined Kerala Blasters as the Ukrainian league was suspended that year due to the war with Russia.
He started his youth career with Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv before he joined Dynamo Kyiv and represented them in the UEFA Youth League. His senior career started with a loan stint at Metalist 1925 Kharkiv.
As he dazzled in the first division of the Ukrainian league, he moved to FK Oleksandriya last year in 2021. He continued his good form with the club, contributing four assists and two goals in 23 appearances.
Ivan currently plays for LNZ Cherkasy in Ukraine.