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.

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.

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.

Laudrup is best known for his playing career, a short spell in Getafe and 4 years spent in Brøndby still didn’t earn him firm managerial reputation. Of course, fans did not expect ten victories in a row, but still 8th place in Premier League, UEFA Cup failure and generally weak game couldn’t be ignored. Even though Laudrup’s Spartak gained a victory over worst rival, CSKA, his results are controversial. This could be explained by the allocation of two captains, Titov and Kalynychenko, and Rubin’s tremendous pace.

Laudrup’s full potential will be revealed in the upcoming season, the team had a robust pre-season training, some shopping has been made. On March the 15th we will see a refreshed Spartak. Still after marvelous Zenit and CSKA displays in UEFA Cup one might doubt Spartak’s ability to compete with such pace, temper and uncompromising attitude.

Laudrup will need a hit to win over CSKA and Zenit, Russian best clubs so far.

Soviet Top League was run since 1936 until 1991. Clubs from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have competed for the title. Clubs from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan failed to earn promotion to Soviet Top League.

18 clubs have topped the League, 8 clubs represented Russia, 5 clubs – Ukraine, clubs from Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Lithuania also have won Soviet Top League titles.

4 clubs can be called Soviet football elite: Dynamo (Kyiv, Ukraine), Spartak (Moscow, Russia), Dynamo (Moscow, Russia), CSKA (Moscow, Russia).

Dynamo (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Achievements

Soviet Top League winners: 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990 (13 times)
Soviet Top League runners-up: 1936, 1952, 1960, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1988 (11 times)

Нistory

Dynamo (Kyiv) is the most successful club in Soviet football history. Dynamo was founded in 1927 and has played only in the top leagues. Additionally to Soviet Top League titles it has won UEFA Super Cup, 2 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups, 9 USSR Cups, 3 USSR Super Cups.

In many ways Dynamo was a cutting-edge Soviet club, Dynamo hosted the opening match of The Soviet Top League championship in 1936, however, Dynamo failed to win the Soviet Top League until 1961, even though Dynamo was the first club based outside Moscow to clinch the title.

Late 60s and 70s was a brilliant time for Dynamo. The club gained three consecutive wins of Soviet Top League (1966 – 1968), a few Dynamo stars were voted best USSR players, Olekh Blokhin became the top goal scorer in two consecutive seasons.

In 1973 33-year old Valeriy Lobanovsky was introduced as a new coach and the “Lobanovsky era” baegan. Lobanovsky’s team won UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, as well as a number of domestic cups and titles. Oleh Blokhin won the Golden Ball in 1975. Dynamo’s success grabbed attention to Lobanovsky’s methodology. In 1983 Lobanovsky became a head coach of USSR national football team.

Dynamo’s Soviet Top League history is a history of a battle between the Kyiv club and three Moscow squads, a battle, which Dynamo, holding 13 national titles, ultimately won.

Soviet time legends

Yozhef Sabo is a Soviet player and coach of Hungarian origin. He played for Dynamo in 1959 – 1969, and also coached the team in 1993 – 1997, 2005 – 2005. He is currently Dynamo vice-president. Sabo also won 40 caps for the USSR squad.

Valeriy Lobanovsky is a brilliant Ukranian manager, best known for his work with Dynamo and USSR national side. Dynamo home ground is called in his name, a monument to Valery Lobanovsky is situated in front of the stadium. As a player Lobanovsky made 144 appearances for Dynamo and won 2 caps for the national squad.

Viktor Bannikov was a prominent Dynamo player, he also made 14 appearances for the national side. He is considered one of the best Soviet goalkeepers.

Oleh Blokhin is one of the best Soviet strikers. He played for Dynamo in 1969 – 1988, scoring 211 goals. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1975. Blokhin won 112 caps for the USSR, scoring 42 goals. He is the best goalscorer of the Soviet Top League.

Volodymyr Bezsonov is a brilliant defender, he made 377 appearances for Dynamo in 1976-1990. Bezsonov also won 79 caps for the USSR.

Andriy Bal played for Dynamo in 1981–1990. At the 1982 FIFA World Cup he scored a memorable 20-meter against Brazil.

Spartak (Moscow, Russia)

Achievements

Soviet Top League winners: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1969, 1979, 1987, 1989 (12 times)
Soviet Top League runners-up: 1937, 1954, 1955, 1963, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1991 (12 times)

Нistory

Spartak was established in 1922 and was initially called MKS, Krasnaya Presnya, Pisheviki and Promkooperatzia. Spartak represented Soviet food industry and therefore got a nickname “meat”.

The name Spartak is called in the name of Spartacus, a gladiator-slave who led a rebellion against Rome, the name was proposed by Nikolai Starostin. The three Starostin brothers were prominent Spartak players in the 30s and 40s. The Starostin brothers were repressed by Lavrentiy Beria, head of Soviet secret police under Stalin. Beria was Dynamo (Moscow) patron, therefore severe competition between Spartak and Dynamo emerged. During the 50-s Spartak and Dynamo dominated Soviet Top League.

Spartak also won 10 USSR Cups and USSR Federation Cup.

Because of its popularity Spartak was called “the people’s team”.

Soviet time legends

Nikolai Starostin was a football and hockey player, he was one of the founders of Spartak football club. In the late 1930s many of Starostin’s friends and associates were arrested by Stalin’s secret police, Starostin himself was arrested in 1942. However, a few years later he was vindicated and in 1955 became Spartak president.

Igor Netto is one of the greatest Soviet players ever. He spent his whole career in Spartak, making 368 appearances and scoring 36 goals. Netto captained USSR side from 1954 to 1963, leading USSR to the gold medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics and victory at the European Championship in 1960. He also won 5 Soviet Top League titles and 3 Soviet Cups.

Nikita Simonyan is a prominent football player and manager, with Spartak he won Soviet Top League (4 times) and Soviet Cup (2 times). In 1949, 1950 and 1953 he was Soviet Top League top goalscorer. As a Spartak manager he won 2 Soviet Top League titles as well as 3 Soviet Cups.

Fyodor Cherenkov made 344 appearances for Spartak in Soviet Top League and also earned 34 caps for USSR. Due to his popularity he was called “people’s player”.

Rinat Dasayev is one of the best Soviet goalkeepers, in 1988 was awarded the World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year title.

Evgeny Lovchev made 249 appearances for Spartak and won Soviet Football player of the Year in 1972.

Sergei Rodionov was a brilliant Spartak striker, he scored 119 goals for the club and became Soviet Top League top goalscorer in 1989.

Dynamo (Moscow, Russia)

Achievements

Soviet Top League winners: 1936, 1937, 1940, 1945, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1976 (11 times)
Soviet Top League runners-up: 1936, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1967, 1970, 1986 (11 times)

Нistory

Dynamo Moscow was founded as a factory team in 1887, in 1917 the club became an Interior Ministry club and gained its current name.

Dynamo won the first two Soviet Top League titles in 1936 and 1937 and also was the first Soviet club to tour the West in 1945. Dynamo earned a draw with Chelsea and Rangers, but won over Cardiff City and Arsenal.

In 1972 Dynamo won UEFA Cup Winners Cup, beating Scottish Rangers 3:2.

Soviet time legends

Lev Yashin is considered to be the greatest goalkeeper in the world football history. He was voted the best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Yashin spent his entire career with Dynamo Moscow, from 1949 to 1971, winning 5 Soviet Top League titles and 3 USSR Cups. With USSR national team he won the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 European Championship. From 1950 and 1953 Yashin was also Dynamo ice hockey team goalkeeper.

CSKA (Moscow, Russia)

Achievements

Soviet Top League winners: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1970, 1991 (7 times)
Soviet Top League runners-up: 1938, 1945, 1949, 1990 (4 times)

Нistory

CSKA was founded in 1911 as a football club of Skiing society. The club was called CSKA in 1960 and before that has changed 6 names, including impressive “Red Army Moscow”.

CSKA became a Soviet army club in 1928, all CSKA players had military ranks. Many talented conscripts were transferred to CSKA system from USSR army.

Soviet time legends

Yuri Nyrkov, major general, was a brilliant player of the late 40s CSKA. He started his football career in 1946, having fought in the World War II from 1941 to 1945. He won 3 caps for USSR national side.

Vsevolod Bobrov was one of the best Soviet strikers in the 40s. He is the only man, who captained both football and ice-hockey national teams on the Olympics. In football he was Soviet Top League top goalscorer in 1945 and 1947, in ice-hockey – Bobrov is the only player having scored 10 goals in one game.

Albert Shesternyov made 278 appearances for CSKA since 1959 until 1972, he also won 90 caps with USSR side. He was nominated for Ballon d’Or in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.

Vladimir Kaplichny is a prominent CSKA and USSR national team captain. He won 62 caps with USSR team and made 288 appearances for CSKA.

Vladimir Fedotov is a son of a famous football and ice-hockey player. He spent his whole career in CSKA and won more caps for CSKA than any other player.