FC Amkar (Perm)
FC Amkar is a Russian professional football club based in Perm, Russia. Amkar traditionally plays in red and black colors.
FC Amkar is playing on “Zvezda” (“Star”) stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 20 000 spectators, all seated.
Local businessman and politician Valery Chuprakov is FC Amkar president. “Mineral Fertilizers” company is the main sponsor of the club.
Perm city
Perm is an administrative center of Perm krai, Perm lies in the European part of Russia near the Ural Mountains. The city has a population of 990 200, and lies at the center of Perm Urban Area.
Perm was founded in 1723. The city grew rapidly in the XX century, Perm population was just 84 800 in 1926, in 1979 the population grew over 1 000 000.
The city is a major industrial and scientific center, the leading industries include machine building, military industrial complex, oil refining, chemical and petrochemical.
Club history
FC Amkar was founded in 1993 as an amateur football team of “Mineral Fertilizers” factory. The name “Amkar” originated of the words “ammoniac” and “carbamide”, the factory’s main production.
Amkar fought its way into Russian First Division in 1998, promotion to Russian Premier League was achieved in 2003.
In 2006, as Amkar was struggling to escape relegation, manager Sergei Oborin resigned, having worked with the team for almost 11 years. Admira Wacker (Austria) manager Rashid Rakhimov was appointed Amkar new manager. Under Rakhimov Amkar reached 8th place in 2007, but in the next year young manager took charge of Lokomotiv (Moscow), one of Russian top-clubs.
In 2008 Amkar president Chuprakov invited Miodrag Bozovic to manage the team. Bozovic was extremely successful with Amkar, the team reached 4th place and qualified to UEFA Europa League, however Bozovic was poached by FC Moscow.
Current manager
Bulgarian Dimitar Dimitrov is a new FC Amkar manager.
Dimitrov has previously worked with 6 Bulgarian clubs, including Bulgarian top-club Levski (Sofia), and Al-Nassr, one of premier football clubs in Saudi Arabia, he has also worked with Bulgarian national team. Dimitrov’s recent club was Bulgarian club Chernomorets (Burgas).
Dimitar Dimitrov is still a very young coach, he is only 49, since he finished his playing career being 24 years old. Dimitrov’s nickname is “Hero”.
Current squad
FC Amkar has a very moderate squad and relies on discipline and team spirit.
Sergei Narubin (Russia) is Amkar goalkeeper, he became the principal goalkeeper after Vladimir Gabulov, Russian national team goalkeeper, moved to Dynamo (Moscow).
Midfielder Georgi Peev is a Bulgarian international, Peev is best known for his pace and attacking attitude.
Mikhail Afanasyev, midfielder, Belarus U-21 team captain, is expected to be an important player for Amkar in the upcoming season.
Montenegro international Nikola Drinchich is arguably the best player in current Amkar squad. He mostly plays in the midfield.
Dmitri Belorukov (Russia) is one of the prime defenders of Amkar squad.
Ivan Cherenchikov (Russia) can play as a defender or as a midfielder. He used to play for Russia U-21 squad.
36 year old Martin Kushev (Bulgaria) was Amkar’s best striker in 2007 and 2008. In the end of 2008 season he captained Amkar.