Russian Clubs in Champions League 08/09
FC Rubin
FC Rubin (Kazan) is the current Russian Premier League champion. Rubin is based in the city of Kazan (1.1 inhabitants).
Rubin was founded in 1936 and was called “Iskra” (sparkle) until 1964. The only Rubin player who clinched into USSR national team was Viktor Kolotov in 1970. Rubin advanced to the top Russian football league in 2003.
The main financial supporter of FC Rubin is Kazan city administration, Rubin owes much to former Kazan major Kamil Iskhakov.
Gurban Berdiyew is current FC Rubin manager and vice-president. Berdiyew was born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, his coaching career began in FC Khimik (Dzhambul, Kazakhstan). Berdiyew was appointed Rubin manager in 2001.
Rubin’s success was unexpected in 2008, Rubin started with 7 consecutive wins, which is the record for Russian Premier League.
Rubin FC star players are Sergei Semak (Russian, midfielder, captain, international player), Cristian Ansaldi (Argentinean, defender), Serhiy Rebrov (Ukrainian, midfielder, international player), Roman Adamov (Russian, forward, international player), Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Turkish, midfielder, international player).
FC CSKA
FC CSKA (Moscow) was founded in 1911, CSKA stands for Central Sports Club of Army, Russian Ministry of Defense is one of CSKA shareholders. CSKA is one of the most successful football clubs in Russia, it won Soviet Championship title 7 times and Russian Premier League title 3 times, in 2005 CSKA won UEFA cup. CSKA is the second for popularity football team in Russia.
CSKA are often referred to as “horses”, each year the supporters acknowledge best players with “Golden Horseshoe” award.
Valery Gazzaev is one of CSKA most successful managers, he worked with CSKA in 2001 – 2003, 2004 – 2008. July the 8th he announced his resignation by the end of the season.
CSKA new manager is Brazilian coach Zico (Arthur Antunes Coimbra), Zico previously coached Japan national football team, with Japan he won Asian Cup in 2004, FC Fenerbahce (Turkey) and FC Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan).
CSKA are current runners-up of Russian Premier League, they lost to FC Rubin by only 4 points.
FC CSKA star players are Igor Akinfeev (Russian, goalkeeper, captain, international player), Deividas Semberas (Lithuanian, right full back, international player), Sergei Ignashevich (Russian, defender, international player), Milos Krasic (Serbian, midfielder, international player), Yuriy Zhirkov (Russian, midfielder, international player), Alan Dzagoev (Russian, attacking midfielder, international player), Vagner Love, Vagner Silva de Souza (Brazilian, striker).
FC Dynamo
FC Dynamo (Moscow) is one of the oldest Russian football teams, it was founded in 1887. Since 1917 the club is associated with Soviet (later Russian) police. Dynamo won the first two Soviet Championship titles in 1936 and 1937, altogether Dynamo holds 11 Soviet Championship titles. In 1972 Dynamo won UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
Russia’s brightest goalkeeper Lev Yashin was a Dynamo player for 22 years (Yashin also was Dynamo ice hockey team goalkeeper).
Dynamo’s coach since 2006 is Andrey Kobelev, this is his first coaching experience.
Dynamo star players are Dmitri Khokhlov (Russian, midfielder, captain), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russian, striker), Vladimir Gabulov (Russian, goalkeeper, international player), Denis Kolodin (Russian, defender, international player), Tsvetan Genkov (Bulgarian, striker, international player).