Dema Kovalenko
Dima Kovalenko (2004)
Dmytro " Dima " Kovalenko ( Ukraine Дмитро Коваленко; born August 28, 1977 in Kiev) is a Ukrainian football player.
Career
Kovalenko emigrated in 1992 to the United States between 1996 and 1998 and played for the college team from the University of Indiana. With the Indiana Hoosiers, he was elected in 1998 National Football Champion College and the All- Star team.
Kovalenko was originally allocated Dallas Burn in 1999, his desire to be playing for the Chicago Fire SC was, however, agreed to Chicago advocated rights for the next draft from. In his first season as a professional Kovalenko was rarely used, however, made a crunching tackle on Brandon Pollard, Defender of Dallas Burn, headlines. Pollard broke his leg and had one year after the injury end his career.
2000, Kovalenko was able to increase significantly in the striker position. He scored ten goals in 31 games and won the U.S. Open Cup with Chicago. In 2001 he was withdrawn in the attacking midfield, but still remained a performer of his team and brought it in 25 games on eight goals and seven assists. The following season, Kovalenko could not quite match his good performances from the previous season, he managed just one goal ( eight assists ) in 23 games.
The relegation-threatened German first division club FC St. Pauli came forward during the winter break of the 2001/02 season and lent Kovalenko made for a fee of 30,000 euros for the second half, with an additional option to purchase 600,000 euros. Kovalenko, which should strengthen the right side of midfield, could not meet the expectations placed in him and only came to five appearances, including the game against the reigning World Cup winners Bayern Munich surprisingly won as St. Pauli 2-1 on 6 February 2002.
In March 2002, just two months after his move to St. Pauli, he was informed that the call option is not exercised and that he could return to the MLS with immediate effect. After his return he remained for several months in Chicago. In 2003 he was against Justin Mapp with D.C. United replaced, mainly not to exceed the salary cap. Three years Kovalenko played for the club from Washington and was there a regular player. Again negative headlines he made in 2003 when he again a player of Dall Burn in a hard tackle the shin and broke for the Saisonaus made with Ronnie O'Brien. In 2004 he won with D.C. the MLS Cup and thus its first league title in the MLS. Kovalenko saw in the finale against Kansas City in the 57th minute red card after a handball in the penalty area, the penalty was due to 2:3 turns, but at the same time the final score meant.
In January 2006 he returned to Ukraine, as he with DC United failed to reach agreement over his future salary. In Metalurh Zaporizhia but Kovalenko came only two inserts, so that he returned after half a year in the United States and a new contract signed with the New York Red Bulls. In 2008 he was transferred to Real Salt Lake.
Since 14 January 2009, he plays for Los Angeles Galaxy.