Russian Premier League season 2009

The 2009 Russian Premier League season has come to its end. Rubin (Kazan) are the new old champions, Khimki and Kuban are heading to First division, CSKA have a new coach, Lokomotiv have a new old coach and Zenit hire a new star-coach.

The Champion

Rubin (Kazan) are the Champions again. Rubin are 8 points ahead of Spartak (Moscow), who came second and 53 points ahead of Khimki, who came the last.

Gurban Berdiýew confirmed, that he is going to stay in Kazan and “finish what he has started”. Rubin will presumably conclude a number of new sponsoring contracts, they have already change Nike for Umbro as equipment supplier.

Rubin’s new target is to preserve its top players, Cristian Ansaldi (Argentine international), Sergei Semak (Rubin captain), Aleksandr Bukharov (Rubin top striker).

The relegated

FC Khimki have gathered just 10 points in the season, winning just 2 games in the season. Coach Igor Chugainov is ready to stay in the club in 2010 and fight the way back to the Premier League.

FC Kuban were promoted last year and didn’t succeed in Russian Premier League. Coach Sergei Ovchinnikov (ex-Russian international) was fired and Armenian coach Poghos Galstyan took charge of the club.

The promoted

FC Anzhi (Makhachkala) were founded in 1991 but have already played in UEFA Cup and Russia Cup final. However they played in Russian Premier League only in 2002 season. Omari Tetradze, former Russian international, has been working with Anzhi since 2007.

FC Sibir (Novosibirsk), founded in 1936 has changed 9 names since that. Sibir has never played in Russian or USSR top league.

Who’s gonna play in Europe

Rubin (Kazan), Spartak (Moscow), Zenit (Saint Petersburg) are going to play in Champions League 2010/11. The three clubs have an impressive winning record and are likely to be tough sides in the main European football event.

Lokomotiv (Moscow) and CSKA (Moscow) will take part in UEFA Europa League. Both have enough class to reach the latest stages of the contest.

Russian clubs’ financial status

FC Zenit

Owners: Gazprom (over 95% of stock), a number of Saint Petersburg-based companies
Budget: 100 mln $ (2008), 90 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Gazprom

Gazprom, Russian largest energy company, finances most of the club’s spending. Gazprom can afford to spend any money so Zenit can afford any transfers and expenses. Anyway FC Zenit is probably the club with the best merchandizing in Russian football, a number of Zenit-owned companies (radio “Zenit”, “Zenit-Trade”, “Arena-Food”) can cover a significant part of the club’s budget. Gazprom aims to built a new stadium for FC Zenit, the project costs 250 mln $.

FC Spartak Moscow

Owners: Leonid Fedun (90% of stock), private persons
Budget: 65 mln $ (2008), 65 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Lukoil

FC Spartak is financed by its shareholders, mainly by Russian businessman Leonid Fedun. Leonid Fedun is one of the owners of Lukoil, Russian leading energy company. Lukoil is the sponsor of FC Spartak. FC Spartak players participate in a number of marketing campaigns run by Lukoil-owned companies. Leonid Fedun is currently building a new stadium for FC Spartak, the new stadium will be built by 2012.

FC Lokomotiv

Owners: Russian Railways (70% of stock), Valeri Filatov (15%), Yuri Semin (15%)
Budget: 70 mln $ (2008), 62 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Russian Railways

Russian Railways, the government owned railway company, covers FC Lokomotiv financial demands. FC Lokomotiv is also financed by a number of companies, owned by Russian Railways.

FC Rubin

Owner: Kazan city district
Budget: 70 mln $ (2008), 55 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Taif

FC Rubin is financed by Kazan city district administration, Tatarstan Republic administration as well as by a number of local companies: Taif (holding company), Tatenergo (energy company). Due to the financial crisis FC Rubin budget is significantly cut in 2009.

FC CSKA

Owners: Blue Castle Enterprises Limited (49%), AVO Capital (26% of stock), Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (25%)
Budget: 50 mln $ (2008), 49 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Aeroflot

CSKA is one of the most stable clubs in Russian Premier League, each year it earns more than 40 mln $, therefore the club can finance most of its spending. Recently CSKA made an agreement with a new sponsor, Aeroflot, Russian largest airline, each year it will pay 10 mln $ to the club.

FC Dynamo Moscow

Owners: Bank VTB (75% of stock – 1 share), Dynamo Sports Society (25% of stock + 1 share)
Budget: 60 mln $ (2008), 50 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Bank VTB

FC Dynamo main sponsors are Bank VTB (Russian government owns 77.47% of Bank VTB stock) and Polyus Gold, Russian mining and metallurgy company. Bank VTB became the club’s owners when Dynamo Sports Society found itself unable to finance the Bank VTB credits. FC Dynamo stadium is currently under reconstruction, it will cost 100 mln $.

FC Saturn

Owner: Moscow Oblast
Budget: 60 mln $ (2008), 42 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

FC Saturn is owned and financed by Moscow Oblast. At the end of the previous season Moscow Oblast wanted to merge FC Saturn and FC Khimki in order to cut budget spending. FC Saturn budget may be further decreased due to poor financial status of Moscow Oblast.

FC Terek

Owner: Chechen Republic
Budget: 35 mln $ (2008), 37 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Sat&Co

FC Terek is a major project for Chechen Republic government and namely for Chechen governor Ramzan Kadyrov, full name of the club is A.A.Kadyrov Republican Football Club Terek Grozny, A.A.Kadyrov is Ramzan’s father. FC Terek budget was increased in 2009. Ramzan Kadyrov also gives notable players magnificent presents.

FC Krylia Sovetov

Owner: Rostehnologii
Budget: 50 mln $ (2008), 35 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Rostehnologii

FC Krylia Sovetov main sponsors are Rostehnologii and AvtoVAZ, Russian automobile manufacturer, both suffer from financial hardships. The club’s budget was significantly decreased.

FC Moscow

Owner: Norilsk Nickel
Budget: 50 mln $ (2008) 25 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

Norilsk Nickel allocated 10 mln $ to finance FC Moscow demands in 2009, 5 times less than in 2008. The club aims to earn more money by increasing fan-base and merchandising revenue.

FC Tom

Owners: Tomsk Oblast, Tomsk city district, a number of Tomsk-based companies
Budget: 25 mln $ (2008), 20 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

FC Tom (the only Russian Premier League from Siberia) was on the edge of bankruptcy and only Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin’s influence saved the club. Putin forced a number of Russian companies (Rosneft, Inter RAO UES, Gazprom Neft and others) to allot money for FC Tom.

FC Kuban

Owners: Oleg Mkrtchan (75% of stock), Krasnodar Krai (25% of stock)
Budget: 21 mln $ (2008) 18 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): Bank Soyuz

FC Kuban is backed up by a number of Krasnodar Krai companies and regional budget. Krasnodar Krai government want to get rid of the spending on club needs, before the season the Krai sold 75% of FC Kuban stock.

FC Amkar

Owner: Valery Chuprakov (presumably)
Budget: 18 mln $ (2008), 17 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

FC Amkar main sponsor, Mineralnie Udobrenia, refused to finance the club in 2009. Perm Krai budget secure about 50% of FC Amkar budget. Local businesses provide the rest.

FC Spartak Nalchik

Owners: Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Nalchik city district
Budget: 16 mln $ (2008), 12 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

FC Spartak Nalchik is mainly financed by Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Nalchik city district. Due to the decrease of the budget FC Spartak Nalchik denied the plans of building a new stadium.

FC Rostov

Owners: Rostov Oblast (71,32% of stock), Estar (26,63%), Rostovenergo (2,05%)
Budget: 12 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): no

FC Rostov lost its main sponsor, TMK, the largest Russian producer of steel pipes. The club’s new sponsor, Estar, holding company, covers the vital needs of FC Rostov.

FC Khimki

Owner: Khimki city district
Budget: 20 mln $ (2008), 11 mln $ (2009)
Shirt logo (commercial): SMP Bank

FC Khimki could be merged with FC Saturn before the season, but Khimki fans arranged protests all over the city, so local authorities renounced the plan. However FC Khimki sold a number of valuable players and have a significantly weaker team in 2009.

FC Moscow

FC Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow. With 27 points they are currently holding the third position in Russian Premier League table. Rubin (Kazan), current champion, are toping the table with 28 points. Read more

Zvezda 2005

Zvezda 2005 (Perm) is currently the best women’s football club in Russia. They are also ranked 3 in women’s football clubs ranking (compiled by www.womensworldfootball.com). Zvezda 2005 is also the only Russian club in the ranking. Read more

What’s wrong with Zenit?

So far Zenit (Saint Petersburg) are doing not so well in the title chase. Zenit has played 10 games in Russian Premier League (20 games are left to play). With 15 points Zenit occupies 7th place in the table. Read more

Russian football in blogs

A number of Russian football people have their own blogs, in the following article we’ll take a look on the most notable. Read more

Russian Premier League 2009 title challengers

While CSKA (Moscow) and Zenit (Saint Petersburg) are clearly the favorites of the race for the Russian Premier League title, a number of other clubs may achieve a major success this season. Read more

Russian Premier League 2009 title challengers: CSKA

CSKA (Moscow)

CSKA, established in 1911, is one of the best football clubs in Russia. CSKA holds 3 Russian Premier League titles, 4 Russian Cups and 4 Russian Super Cups. The recent Super Cup has been already won with a new manager, Zico. Read more

Russian Premier League 2009 title challengers: Zenit

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FC Zenit, founded in 1925, is one of the best teams in Russia. Since 2007 Zenit dominates Russian football, it has gathered a great bunch of players, including a number of remarkable international players. Since the departure of Andrei Arshavin Zenit is still trying to align its attacking game. Read more

Laudrup’s hit

by Alexander Ushakov specially for FOOTBALLINRUSSIA.COM

The very depth of 2008 brought huge change into FC Spartak management. Valery Karpin replaced Sergey Shavlo as Spartak CEO while hard-edged and decisive Stanislav Cherchesov stepped off the job and after lasting negotiations Michael Laudrup became a new Spartak manager. Read more

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