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.

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.

Rubin (Kazan)

Rubin are the current Russian Premier League champions. With solid financial backing (thanks to local authorities) and experienced squad Rubin can hold the title once again this season.

Manager

Gurban Berdiyew has been working with Rubin since 2001, this season might be his last season as Rubin manager, Berdiyew is reportedly willing to occupy a managing director office in Rubin, concentrating on club facilities and football academy. Gurban Berdiyew has a reputation of a sheltered man, rarely talking to public or media, his is also one of the few coaches, working without an assistant manager.

Star players

Sergei Semak captains FC Rubin and Russian national team. Semak has also captained CSKA (Moscow) and FC Moscow. Sergei Semak is an attacking midfielder and a playmaker, he is a key person in Rubin squad.

Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Turkish international, also plays as an attacking midfielder. Karadeniz claims that one of the reasons, why he plays for Rubin and not any other European club, is an opportunity to live in a large Muslim region, Tatrstan, amongst people of the same religion.

Alejandro Dominguez, Argentine striker. Dominguez was a key player for Rubin since 2004 until 2007, when he joined Zenit (Saint Petersburg). However in Zenit Alejandro Dominguez failed to establish himself as a first team regular. In the current season Dominguez re-joined Rubin on loan, has already made two appearances and scored.

Estimates

Rubin will make a strong push for the title, but it will be hard to compete with CSKA and Zenit.

Lokomotiv (Moscow)

Lokomotiv hasn’t won Russian Premier League title since 2004, but is traditionally successful in cup-ties.

Manager

Rashid Rakhimov worked brilliantly with Amkar (Perm), but winning a title with Lokomotiv is a much harder task for him.

Star players

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Lokomotiv captain. 24-year old is expected to be a powerful leader for Lokomotiv this season. His challenge is to establish himself as one of the best Russian players, along with Andrei Arshavin and Yuriy Zhirkov.

Dmitri Torbinski is a talented player, who has performed brilliantly in some games for Russian national team, Spartak (Moscow) and Lokomotiv (Moscow). His full talent is yet to be unlocked. Torbinski also has to cope with own dedication which sometimes passes into aggression.

Dmitri Sychev, 25 years old, was regarded as one of the most talented Russian strikers and spent two years in Olympique Marseille. Sychev is able to become the best striker of Russian Premier League and Lokomotiv fans fully expect that.

Estimates

Lokomotiv can make a strong push for the title if all the talented players show their best.

Spartak (Moscow)

Spartak is the most popular football club in Russia, supported by the most aggressive fan movements. Spartak dominated Russian football during the 1990s but in the current season won’t even play in the UEFA Europa League.

Manager

Michael Laudrup has successfully worked with Brøndby (Denmark) and Getafe (Spain), but Spartak, with fans demanding the title every season, is a major challenge for him.

Star players

Stipe Pletikosa, Croatian international, is Spartak first-choice goalkeeper. In his previous club, Shakhtar (Donetsk), Pletikosa was a reserve goalkeeper, but in Spartak he has firmly established himself as a key player.

Vladimir Bystrov, Spartak’s brilliant right winger is arguably the best attacking player in the current squad. Since 2001 until 2005 Bystrov was raised by Spartak’s worst rival, Zenit (Saint Petersburg). Though Bystrov has some personal friends in Zenit squad, his visits to Zenit pitch are often scandalous.

Estimates

Reaching a place in the top-3 will be a success for Spartak, while many supporters are looking forward to winning a title.

Dynamo (Moscow)

One of the best clubs in Soviet Top League history Dynamo (Moscow) has never won a Russian Premier League title.

Manager

Andrey Kobelev started his coaching career in 2006, replacing Yuri Semin as a Dynamo manager. Kobelev is a much fancied manager, under his guidance Dynamo performs in a lively and highly attractive way.

Star players

Vladimir Gabulov is an impressive goalkeeper, he has performed brilliantly in the 2008 season, first for Amkar (Perm), then for Dynamo. His game was a key factor in the club’s success last season.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov failed to establish himself firmly in Sevilla (Spain) starting 11 and decided to return to Russian Premier League. Although being a key player for Dynamo Kerzhakov hasn’t forced his way back to the national squad, he might do so in 2009 season.

Dmitri Khokhlov, Dynamo captain, was one of the best Russian midfielders in the 1990s, he won 53 caps for Russian national squad. Khokhlov is a key player for Dynamo.

Estimates

Few expect Dynamo to win the title this season, but face-to-face Dynamo are not underdogs to any Russian club. Their major drawback is a small squad of just 20 players.

Krylia Sovetov (Samara)

Krylia Sovetov has never won Soviet Top League or Russian Premier League. Still rivals should reckon with them.

Krylia Sovetov is the only European club with players both from North and South Korea, also Oh Beom-Seok (South Korea) and Choe Myong-Ho (North Korea) are hardly communicating.

Manager

Leonid Slutsky, 37 years old, is already an experienced coach, he has worked with 4 teams and reached 3rd place in Russian Premier League final table with FC Moscow.

Star players

Jan Koller, retired Czech international, is the key attacking player for Krylia Sovetov. Jan Koller is one of the best strikers in Russian Premier League.

Estimates

Krylia Sovetov will fight for a place in the top-3, if others slip, they may occupy a higher position.

FC Moscow

Moscow is a young team (established just in 1997) with very few supporters, Moscow is firmly competing in the Russian Premier League and gradually expanding own fan base.

Manager

Miodrag Božovic was very successful with Amkar (Perm), in 2008 he occupied a 4th place in Russian Premier League final table with a very moderate team. Since 2000 Božovic has already managed 9 teams in various countries. Being 196 cm (6′ 5″) high Božovic claims to be the highest football coach in the world.

Star players

Héctor Bracamonte, Argentine striker, is the best attacking player in Moscow squad. Bracamonte is called “Pushkin” by Moscow supporters, due to his likeness with famous Russian poet.

Mariusz Jop, Polish international, is Moscow main defensive player.

Estimates

Miodrag Božovic can make things happen with any players at his disposal, so it’s better to consider FC Moscow as title challengers in 2009.