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name: Dema Kovalenko
position: M height: 5-8 weight:160 Birthdate: August 28, 1977 Hometown: Rochester, NY last club: Real Salt Lake (MLS) |
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| Regular Season Stats | full bio l year-by-year stats l video highlights |
| year | club | gp | gs | min | g | a | sht | sog | fc | fs | c | ej |
| 2009 | Los Angeles | 15 | 15 | 1,237 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 235 | 212 | 19,049 | 37 | 40 | 323 | 145 | 376 | 386 | 55 | 6 | |
| Most Recent Video Highlights |
| date | clubs | video description |
| 11/08/08 | Real Salt Lake @ Chivas USA |
 Dema Kovalenko goal
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| 05/31/08 | Quakes @ Real Salt Lake |
San Jose Earthquakes @ Real Salt Lake: Dema Kovalenko Goal 05/31/08
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| 09/15/07 | Red Bulls @ Fire |
Kovalenko and Van den Bergh Pre-Game Interviews
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Acquired
DAL: Nike Project-40 player allocation on 2/07/99CHI: Via trade from DAL on 2/07/99 in exchange for two first round picks (4th and 12th overall) in the 1999 MLS College Draft
DC: Via trade from CHI on 12/26/02 in exchange for Justin Mapp
NY: Via trade with DC on 8/10/06 along with Shawn Kuykendall in exchange for a partial player allocation
RSL: Via trade with NY on 2/27/08 in exchange for a conditional 2010 MLS SuperDraft selection
The hunt for experienced players to add to Real Salt Lake's roster continued late into the preseason with the addition of midfielder Dema Kovalenko, whom RSL acquired in the final days of February via a trade with the New York Red Bulls. Real Salt Lake will mark the fourth MLS stop for the 30-year-old Kovalenko, who began his career in 1999 with the Chicago Fire before stints at D.C. United and the Red Bulls. The hard-nosed midfielder, described by RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey as a "piano carrier to complement our piano players," brings not only a winning pedigree - he has collected an NCAA title (Indiana University, 1998), a U.S. Open Cup crown (Chicago, 2000), and an MLS Cup championship (United, 2004) during his career - but also international club experience after serving brief stints overseas with FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhya in his native Ukraine (2005/06) and German side FC St. Pauli (2001), the former club of new teammate Ian Joy.
MLS Experience
2007: Added two goals and one assist in second season with the Red Bulls Missed time due to a strained groin and facial injuries suffered in an automobile accident Played the full 180 minutes of NY's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against NE.2006: After brief stint in Ukraine with FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhya, joined NYRB on 8/10 along with Shawn Kuykendall in a trade with Eastern Conference rival D.C. United Made his unofficial debut two days later on 8/12 in an exhibition match against FC Barcelona Made Red Bulls regular season debut on 8/16 against DC and started all 12 games to finish the season, notching one assist (@ DC, 9/23) Went all but one minute in NY's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against his former DC side.
2005: In all, the Ukraine native started 23 of the 26 games he saw time in, scored four goals and dealt four assists Three of his goals came in consecutive games on 8/06 @ CHI, 8/10 v. MET and 8/13 v. CHV Saw all 180 minutes against CHI in DC's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
2004: Kovalenko proved to be a vital part of D.C. United's offense, quietly tallying a career-best 10 assists and two goals en route to the squad's fourth MLS cup crown His 10 assists placed tied for second most in MLS Tallied four helpers in as many games during a mid-season stretch across June/July Named an MLS All-Star for a third time in four seasons and played all 90 minutes in the East's 3-2 win over the West Saw 267 minutes of play in three playoff contests, culminating with a starting nod (57 minutes) in DC's 3-2 win over KC in MLS Cup 2004.
2003: Scored six goals in his first season with D.C. United, who he joined via trade from CHI on 12/26/02 in exchange for Justin Mapp Notched four goals in a five-game stretch lasting through July and into August Played all 90 minutes against his former CHI side in DC's 0-4 aggregate loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
2002: Kovalenko finished his fourth and final season with Chicago Fire, starting 23 games while notching a then-career-high eight assists to go along with one goal Earned second MLS All-Star nod, starting in the MLS squad's 3-2 win over the U.S. MNT on 8/03 at RFK Stadium.
2001: Finished the season as Chicago's second-leading goal scorer (8) for the second year in a row Made MLS All-Star debut as a member of the West squad on 7/28 at San Jose's Spartan Stadium, scoring a goal in his second half stint in an entertaining 6-6 draw Played all six MLS playoff games, logging 571 minutes, scoring one goal and tallying one assist
2000: Was the Fire's second-leading scorer with a still career-high 10 goals and 5 assists in 31 appearances (28 starts) Registered first career multi-goal game in MLS on 7/08 v. CLB, his brace helping CHI to a 3-1 victory Played a huge part in helping the Fire to its second MLS Cup appearance, scoring three goals and two assists in seven playoff appearances First career postseason assist on 9/22 v. NE helped CHI to a 6-0 Game Three victory and advancement to the MLS Cup Semifinals.
1999: Scored three goals in limited action during his rookie season with the Fire His first career MLS goal on 8/08 v. COL finished the scoring in a 5-0 drubbing of the Rapids Also notched a goal across a pair of substitute appearances in the Fire's MLS Cup Quarterfinal series against Dallas Originally a Nike Project-40 midfielder allocated to Dallas, Kovalenko was dealt to Chicago on 2/07 for a pair of first round College Draft picks
International Club Career
2006/07: Metalurh Zaporizhya - Ukrainian Vyscha Liga (First Division): In return to his native Ukraine, saw limited action with Metalurh Zaporizhya in the latter half of the team's 2006/07 campaign.2001/02: FC St. Pauli - German Bundesliga (First Division): Made five appearances in a loan stint with then German Bundesliga squad FC St. Pauli - the former club of current teammate Ian Joy Would return to Chicago in time to join the squad for the beginning of the 2002 MLS campaign.
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