Russian Premier League season 2009

The 2009 Russian Premier League season has come to its end. Rubin (Kazan) are the new old champions, Khimki and Kuban are heading to First division, CSKA have a new coach, Lokomotiv have a new old coach and Zenit hire a new star-coach.

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.

What’s wrong with Zenit?

So far Zenit (Saint Petersburg) are doing not so well in the title chase. Zenit has played 10 games in Russian Premier League (20 games are left to play). With 15 points Zenit occupies 7th place in the table. Read more

Russian Premier League 2009 title challengers: Zenit

Zenit (Saint Petersburg)

FC Zenit, founded in 1925, is one of the best teams in Russia. Since 2007 Zenit dominates Russian football, it has gathered a great bunch of players, including a number of remarkable international players. Since the departure of Andrei Arshavin Zenit is still trying to align its attacking game. Read more