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.

FC Moscow are often called “the citizens” and “the caps” (Moscow mayor Yuriy Luzhkov usually wears a cap).

Club history

FC Moscow was founded in 1997, it’s the youngest club in Russian Premier League. FC Moscow broke away from Russian legendary club Torpedo and originally was called Torpedo-ZIL, in 2003 the name was changed to Torpedo-Metallurg. In 2004 the club finally approved the current name.

FC Moscow plays in Russian Premier League since 2003. So far the best result was the 4th place in 2007. FC Moscow’s Dmitri Kirichenko and Roman Adamov were the league’s top goal scorers in 2005 and 2007.

Competition

FC Moscow is facing fierce competition for supporters, since Moscow is the home for 4 Russian Premier League clubs and a number of lesser football clubs.

A young club, such as FC Moscow, hasn’t yet established himself on the market and has to rely on a very limited fan base. E. Streltsov Stadium, FC Moscow home ground, has just 13 200 seats and even this amount is not filled by the supporters.

Owner

FC Moscow is owned by Norilsk Nickel, one of Russian top companies, the world’s leading producer of nickel and palladium. The company is listed on NASDAQ and the RTS Stock Exchange. Norilsk Nickel is owned by Russian top businessman Oleg Deripaska and Vladimir Potanin.

FC Moscow is financed quite moderately, they don’t carry out mad transfer deals or pay extraordinary large salaries.

President

Igor Dmitriev is currently FC Moscow president. Dmitriev has been previously working as a CEO in FC Cosmos and FC Saturn, he also used to be Russian Football Premier League president. Dmitriev came to FC Moscow in 2008, he is aiming to change club’s organizational structure, normalize FC Moscow financial situation and develop FC Moscow structure.

Coach

Miodrag Božović is a Montenegrin football coach.

Božović has previously worked with FK Beograd, Consadole Sapporo, FK Borac Čačak, FK Hajduk Beograd, AEP Paphos FC, FK Budućnost Podgorica, FK Grbalj and FC Amkar (Perm). Altogether 9 clubs from 5 countries.

In Russia Božović was impressive as FC Amkar coach. Božović has worked with FC Amkar for a year, he refused to negotiate extension of his contract with the club from Perm city. In FC Moscow Božović’s salary is considerably higher than in Amkar.

Top players

Yuri Zhevnov is FC Moscow goalkeeper, he won 12 caps for his national football team. In 2007 Zhevnov was voted FC Moscow best player by the supporters. Yuri Zhevnov is one of the most reputable players in FC Moscow. Zhevnov has both Russian and Belarus citizenships.

Alexandru Epureanu is Moldavian international and one of the best FC Moscow defenders. Epureanu won Moldovan Footballer of the Year in 2007. Epureanu is an important player, but has slight tensions with the supporters caused by his careless interviews.

Aleksandr Samedov is a Russian footballer of Azerian ethnic origin. Samedov has played for the Russia U-21 team and hopes to break into Russian senior national football team. Samedov graduated Spartak Moscow football academy but lost his place in Spartak to Vladimir Bystrov. Samedov has played for Lokomotiv Moscow before joining FC Moscow in 2008. Samedov refused joining Azerbaijan national football team.

Isaac Okoronkwo joined FC Moscow in 2006, the same year he was voted the best player by the supporters. Since 2001 he has been playing Nigeria national football team, but currently lost his place in the national team. However for FC Moscow Okoronkwo is still a key player and a clutch defender.