Professional footballers, particularly those who represent their country, can often feel slightly inaccessible. Anna Petryk was anything but. Warm, thoughtful and refreshingly open, she was a genuine pleasure to speak with as she reflected on her journey through Ukrainian football and her spell in Iceland. Ahead of Ukraine’s first UEFA Women’s Nations League play-off against Slovakia, she kindly shared the experiences that shaped her career before embarking on the next chapter, which has since seen her complete a move to Sparta Prague.
What stands out most is her honesty. Petryk openly admits she did not take football as seriously as she should have in her early years, despite already reaching senior football. It is a refreshing level of self-reflection from a player who has since built an outstanding career, and she was kind enough to share that journey with Warren at Doragon Sports.
Warren: Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview! I really appreciate your time. I guess we should start, at the very beginning, with who or what inspired you to become a footballer?
Anna: All of my brothers used to play football in the yard when we were children, and they always took me with them. That’s how my love for football began, although as a child I tried many different activities before choosing football.
Warren: You made your senior debut at a very young age with Illichivka. What do you remember about that moment, and how did it feel?
Anna: I was very young and didn’t approach football as seriously as I should have, which I regret now. At that time, though, I simply loved playing and enjoyed every minute on the pitch. I was always happy whenever the coach gave me the opportunity to play.
Warren: How did the opportunity to join Breiðablik in Iceland come about?
Anna: After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I was no longer able to continue playing at home, so I had to find a new club. The Ukrainian Football Association and Luis Cortés, who was the head coach of the national team at the time, helped me a lot. They contacted different football associations to help players find clubs.
Breiðablik already knew me from the UEFA Women’s Champions League, where we played against them in the group stage with Zhytlobud-1 in 2021. You could say that’s where I first got to know the club. I accepted their offer because I wanted to keep developing as a player and maintain my match fitness while waiting for the Ukrainian league to resume.
Warren: What is your favourite memory from your time in Iceland? Was there anything that surprised you about the football or the country?
Anna: Every moment I spent in Iceland is a favourite memory. I met wonderful people there, and we had an amazing team. Leaving the club was very emotional, and I had tears in my eyes. I still miss everyone there and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support they gave me during that difficult period.
Warren: You have won league titles and cups with both Zhytlobud-1 and Vorskla. Looking back, which achievement are you most proud of, and why?
Anna: I’m proud of all my achievements, but I’m especially proud that I never gave up during the most difficult times.
Looking back, I’ve won the Ukrainian league five times and the Ukrainian Cup seven times. Every one of those trophies represents hard work, and each one is special to me in its own way because every season had its own story.
I also remember the teammates and coaches who stood by me and helped make those achievements possible.
Warren: You have played more than 50 matches for the Ukraine national team. What has been your favourite moment representing your country?
Anna: The most special moment for me was making my debut for the Ukrainian national team. It had always been my dream to play for the national team.
When I received my first call-up, I didn’t even expect to get any playing time, but I worked hard and tried to prove myself in every training session.
I was incredibly happy then, and I’m still just as proud today to represent my country and defend its colours and badge.
Warren: In October, Ukraine will face Slovakia in the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs. Are you excited for the match, and what do you think will be the biggest challenge?
Anna: I always look forward to joining the national team because every camp is special in its own way, and I’m always happy to be there.
The match against Slovakia is simply another opportunity to represent Ukraine. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is because I’m always ready to fight against any team.
During this UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign, we didn’t play a single match with our strongest squad available. I hope that by October most of the injured and unavailable players will be back, and we’ll be able to show an even better version of ourselves.
That doesn’t mean the players who represented us recently didn’t perform well. We had many young players and others with less experience at this level, but they also showed their quality and did a great job. I’m looking forward to the next matches with the national team and to enjoying every moment of representing Ukraine.
Conclusion
Listening to Anna Petryk, it becomes obvious that success has not changed the way she talks about football.
There is no grand performance here. No carefully manufactured personal brand. Just an obvious appreciation for the people who helped her, the clubs that trusted her and the privilege of wearing the Ukrainian shirt. It is refreshing in an era where football conversations can sometimes feel rehearsed long before the questions are asked. Her frank openness was incredibly eye-opening given the horrific circumstances that Ukrainian people have had to endure since 2022, yet she has continued to succeed despite the ongoing world events.
Her move to Sparta Prague is another deserved step forward. The Czech champions will not simply be adding an experienced midfielder with domestic titles, cup medals and Champions League experience. They are acquiring someone who has repeatedly adapted to new challenges, whether forced upon her by circumstances far beyond football or earned through her performances on the pitch.
I would like to thank Anna Petryk once again for taking the time to speak with us during what is an understandably busy period before beginning a new chapter in Prague. She was generous with both her time and her honesty, qualities that perhaps explain why she’s been successful before and got a move to Sparta Prague – oh and alongside being great on the pitch!
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