Vitaly Kovalenko played his entire career from 1955 to 1966 in one club – CSKA Moskva. He won eight Soviet titles with them (1955, 1958, 1960-1963, 1965, 1966) and also won the European Champions’ League twice - in 1960 and 1962. Kovalenko played with the Soviet National team from 1960-1966 and won Olympic gold in 1964 and World Championships titles in 1960 and 1962. He also won bronzes at the 1966 World Championships and 1963 European Championships. After finishing his playing career, Kovalenko worked as a professor in Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, being the head of their physical culture department from 1989-2002. He has published over 60 scientific papers.