FC Zenit Saint Petersburg

"FC Zenit" redirects here. For other uses, see FC Zenit (disambiguation).
Zenit
Full name Футбольный клуб Зенит
(Football Club Zenit)
Nickname(s) Sine-Belo-Golubye (The Blue-White-Sky Blues)
Zenitchiki (The Anti-aircraft Gunners)
Bomzhi (The Tramps)
Founded 30 May 1925
Ground Petrovsky Stadium
Capacity 21,405
Owner Gazprom
Chairman Aleksandr Dyukov
Manager André Villas-Boas
League Russian Premier League
2013–14 2nd
Website Club home page

Football Club Zenit (Russian: Футбо́льный клуб «Зени́т» [fʊtˈbolʲnɨj ˈklup zʲɪˈnʲit], Zenith), also known as Zenit Saint Petersburg, is a Russian football club from the city of Saint Petersburg. Founded in 1925 (or in 1914, according to some Russian sources), the club plays in the Russian Premier League. Zenit were the 2007, 2010 and 2011–12 champions of the Russian Premier League and the winners of both the 2007–08 UEFA Cup and the 2008 UEFA Super Cup.

History

Before Zenit

Zenit's history is tightly connected with the political history of Saint Petersburg, Russia (also called "Petrograd" and "Leningrad" at times in its history). In 1897, the first football match in Russia was held in Saint Petersburg on Vasilievsky Island, an unofficial game between the local English team "Ostrov" and the local Russian team "Petrograd," which the English team won, 6–0. The players of those local teams were amateurs and loosely associated with each other. At the same time, several formal football clubs were founded in Saint Petersburg, mainly around large industrial companies. Players' membership was unofficial and very loose, however, sometimes allowing the same players to play for several different teams during the same season.

Formation of Zenit

The original team Zenit stemmed from several football teams, which changed names and owners many times during the Soviet era after the Revolution of 1917. Powerful political forces manipulated the careers of individual players as well as the fate of the whole team. The club was renamed several times, and its owners and leaders were under political pressure for many decades. The origins of Zenit date back to the beginning of the 20th century, to several predecessor teams in Saint Petersburg that were playing locally. The oldest documented predecessor of Zenit was team "Murzinka", founded in 1914, which played in the same Obukhovsky stadium from 1914 until 1924, when the team became to be called "Bolshevik" (the new name for Obukhovsky industry and its stadium). The team and stadium survived the drama of World War I, the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, and the Russian Civil War of 1918–1922.

In 1925, another predecessor team of Zenit was formed, of workers from the Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod (Leningrad Metal Plant); they were called the "Stalinets" in the 1930s. (Stalinets translates literally to English as "Stalinists"; however, in Russian, the name is a play on words as stal means "steel" in that language.) Historians documented that both predecessor teams of Zenit were playing independently until their official merger at the end of 1939. The Stalinets were not the same team named Zenit that took part in the 1938 USSR championship. The current name of FC Zenit was registered in 1936, as Bolshevik became part of the Zenit sports society and was renamed, three years before the Stalinets merged with it. In 1939, during the rule of Joseph Stalin, Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod became part of the military industry and its sports teams, players, and managers were transferred to the Zenit sports society. FC Zenit was ordered to take in members of the "Stalinets" metallurgical workers' team after the end of the 1939 season.

Zenit in the Soviet League

FC Zenit won their first honours in 1944, claiming the war-time USSR Cup after defeating CSKA in the well-attended final. The club was always adored in Leningrad, but wasn't able to make much of an impact in the Soviet League. In 1967, Zenit finished last but were saved from relegation because the Soviet leadership decided it wouldn't be prudent to relegate a Leningrad team during the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, which occurred in the city. Composer Dmitry Shostakovich and film star Kirill Lavrov were well known as ardent supporters of Zenit, a passion that is reflected in their attendance of many games. FC Zenit won the bronze medal in 1980. They reached Soviet Cup Final and won the Soviet League title in 1984. In 1985, Zenit beat the Soviet Cup holder in the Soviet Super Cup (also called the Season Cup).

Zenit in the Russian League

The LOMO optical plant took up the ownership of the team after the war. In 1990, FC Zenit were re-registered as an independent city-owned professional club, After being relegated in the first year of the Russian League (1992), Zenit returned to the top flight in 1996 and has been decent since. They claimed the 1999 Russian Cup, finished third in the League in 2001, made the Cup final in 2002, became the runners-up in the Premier League, and won the Russian Premier League Cup in 2003. In December 2005, Gazprom took a controlling stake in the club.[1] The deal was announced by Valentina Matviyenko, the Saint Petersburg governor. Gazprom bought the majority of the club and invested over $100 million, buying new players and building the new stadium.

Andrey Arshavin, one of the best players in Zenit history

Although Zenit reached the quarterfinal of the UEFA Cup in 2006, a mediocre start to the league season led to the summer replacement of coach Vlastimil Petržela. In July 2006, Dick Advocaat [2] took over as Zenit's manager. Advocaat worked together with his Assistant Manager, former Netherlands National Youth Team coach Cor Pot. Zenit won the 2007 Russian Premier League, their best league achievement since winning the USSR Championship in 1984. That allowed them to compete in the group stage of the Champions League 2008–09.

In 2008, Zenit won the Russian Super Cup and reached the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup for the second time in their history. In the first leg of the quarter-final away game against Bayer Leverkusen from Germany, the team achieved a 4–1 victory. They qualified for the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history, despite a 1–0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg, and were drawn to play further German opposition in the semi-final, Bayern Munich, considered the top team remaining.[3] A battling performance in the first leg of the semi-final earned Zenit a 1–1 draw away against Bayern Munich. In the second leg at home, Zenit won 4–0, defeating Bayern 5–1 on aggregate and going through to the UEFA Cup final for the first time in the club's history, where they met the Scottish team Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester on 14 May. Zenit won 2–0, with goals from Igor Denisov in the 72nd minute and Konstantin Zyryanov in stoppage time, to lift the club's first ever UEFA Cup. Andrei Arshavin was named man of the match.[4]

On 29 August 2008, at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, Zenit defeated Manchester United 2–1 in the 2008 UEFA Super Cup, becoming the first Russian side to win the trophy. Pavel Pogrebnyak scored the first goal and Danny scored the second. Danny was named for man of the match in his debut for Zenit.[5] In the UEFA Champions League 2008–09 group stage Zenit was grouped with Real Madrid, Juventus, and BATE Borisov in Group H, which by some was marked as the group of death. Unfortunately the team finished in third place in Group H, behind Juventus and Real Madrid and was unable to progress to the knockout phase of the competition. However this position was good enough to earn the club a place in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup last 32 where the team faced Stuttgart of Germany for a place in the last 16 of the competition. This allowed the club a shot to defend the trophy that they won the previous season in Manchester. However after defeating Stuttgart on away goals, they went on to lose 2–1 over two legs against Udinese.

Spalletti era

Zenit against Bayern Munich in 2011

Luciano Spalletti signed a contract with Zenit in December 2009, with Italian coaches Daniele Baldini, Marco Domenichini, and Alberto Bartali also joining the Russian club. The Board of Zenit wanted him to return the Russian Premier League title, win the Russian Cup, and go through the group stage of the Champions League in his first year.

Zenit won the Russian Cup on 16 May 2010, beating FC Sibir Novosibirsk in the final (having beaten Volga Tver in the quarterfinal and Amkar Perm in the semifinal). After 16 games in the 2010 Premier League, with 12 wins and four draws, under Spalletti Zenit have obtained 40 points. This set a new Russian Premier League record for most points won at that stage of the campaign. In the summer transfer window of 2010, Spalletti made his first signings: forward Aleksandr Bukharov and midfielder Sergei Semak came from Rubin Kazan; defenders Aleksandar Lukovic from Udinese and Bruno Alves from FC Porto.

Hulk

On 25 August 2010, Zenit lost its first game under Spalletti to AJ Auxerre and failed to advance to the Champions League group stage, but Zenit moved on to play in UEFA Europa League. On 3 October 2010, Zenit beat Spartak Nalchik to set another Russian Premier League record for most consecutive games going undefeated, with 21 games since the start of the league season. On 27 October 2010, Zenit suffered its first defeat of the season at the hands of rival club Spartak Moscow, seven games short of finishing the championship undefeated. On 14 November, Zenit won FC Rostov and 2 games prior to the end of the season won the championship title. This champions title became the first in Spalletti's career.

Zenit went through to knockout stage of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League in first place. In the Round of 16 stage, Zenit beat BSC Young Boys. On 6 March 2011, Zenit won against PFC CSKA Moscow in the Russian Super Cup, it became the third Russian trophy Zenit won under Spalletti. On 17 March 2011 Zenit were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League, losing to FC Twente 2–3 on aggregate in the quarter final stage.

In the 2011–12 Champions League, Zenit started in the group stage drawn into Group G alongside FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and APOEL. On 6 December 2011, Zenit finished the group stage in second place and for the first time in club's history qualified for the spring knockout phase of Champions League. In 1/8 stage Zenit were drawn with S.L. Benfica of Portugal. In the first leg against Benfica, Zenit won 3–2 at home through two goals from Roman Shirokov and one from Sergei Semak. In the second leg in Lisbon, however, Zenit lost 2–0 and were eliminated from the competition.

In April 2012, Zenit won their second straight Russian Championship after beating Dynamo Moscow.[6]

After a series of disappointing results in both the Champions League and the Russian Premier League, Spalletti was fired on March 11, 2013.[7] A week later, the club announced they had negotiated a 2-year deal with Andre Villas-Boas, who had been released a few months earlier after a disappointing run as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.[8]

Stadiums

Main article: Petrovsky Stadium

Zenit's home ground is now the Petrovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg. Petrovsky Stadium has a capacity of 21,500.[9] In 2007, the club's former home base at the Kirov Stadium was demolished, to be replaced with a new stadium built for Zenit, Gazprom Arena. The new football stadium in Saint Petersburg is currently under construction. Once completed, it will host Zenit's home matches. The stadium will have a capacity of 64,287.[10]

Achievements

Domestic competitions

Champions (4): 1984, 2007, 2010, 2011–12
Runners-up (3): 2003, 2012–13, 2013–14
Champions (3): 1944, 1998-99, 2009-10
Runners-up (3): 1939, 1984, 2001-02
Champions (3): 1984, 2008, 2011
Runners-up (2): 2012, 2013
Champions: 2003
Runners-up: 1986
Champions: 1980

International competitions

Champions: 2007-08[13]
Champions: 2008[14]
Runner-up: 2000

Other

Winners: 2012
Runners-up (2): 2011, 2013

League and cup history

Soviet Union

{|class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#efefef;" ! Season ! Div. ! Pos. ! Pl. ! W ! D ! L ! GS ! GA ! P !Domestic Cup !colspan=2|Europe |- |align=center|1936 |align=center|2nd |align=center|3 |align=center|6 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center|9 |align=center|9 |align=center|13 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1936 |align=center|2nd |align=center|6 |align=center|7 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center|6 |align=center|13 |align=center|12 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1937 |align=center|2nd |align=center|4 |align=center|12 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center|22 |align=center|18 |align=center|25 |align=center|Round of 128 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1938 |align=center|1st |align=center|14 |align=center|25 |align=center|7 |align=center|10 |align=center|8 |align=center|38 |align=center|57 |align=center|24 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1939 |align=center|1st |align=center|11 |align=center|26 |align=center|7 |align=center|7 |align=center|12 |align=center|30 |align=center|46 |align=center|21 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|Runner-up |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1940 |align=center|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|24 |align=center|6 |align=center|6 |align=center|12 |align=center|37 |align=center|42 |align=center|18 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1944 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|Winner |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1945 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center| |align=center|8 |align=center|7 |align=center|7 |align=center|35 |align=center|31 |align=center|23 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1946 |align=center|1st |align=center|9 |align=center|22 |align=center|5 |align=center|5 |align=center|12 |align=center|22 |align=center|45 |align=center|15 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1947 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center|24 |align=center|10 |align=center|2 |align=center|12 |align=center|35 |align=center|49 |align=center|22 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1948 |align=center|1st |align=center|13 |align=center|26 |align=center|4 |align=center|9 |align=center|13 |align=center|29 |align=center|48 |align=center|17 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1949 |align=center|1st |align=center|5 |align=center|34 |align=center|17 |align=center|8 |align=center|9 |align=center|48 |align=center|48 |align=center|42 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1950 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center|36 |align=center|19 |align=center|5 |align=center|12 |align=center|70 |align=center|59 |align=center|43 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1951 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|28 |align=center|10 |align=center|8 |align=center|10 |align=center|36 |align=center|40 |align=center|28 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1952 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|13 |align=center|6 |align=center|2 |align=center|5 |align=center|20 |align=center|21 |align=center|14 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1953 |align=center|1st |align=center|5 |align=center|20 |align=center|11 |align=center|1 |align=center|8 |align=center|25 |align=center|21 |align=center|23 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1954 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|24 |align=center|8 |align=center|7 |align=center|9 |align=center|27 |align=center|26 |align=center|23 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1955 |align=center|1st |align=center|8 |align=center|22 |align=center|5 |align=center|8 |align=center|9 |align=center|23 |align=center|36 |align=center|18 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1956 |align=center|1st |align=center|9 |align=center|22 |align=center|4 |align=center|11 |align=center|7 |align=center|27 |align=center|43 |align=center|19 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1957 |align=center|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|22 |align=center|4 |align=center|7 |align=center|11 |align=center|23 |align=center|41 |align=center|15 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1958 |align=center|1st |align=center|4 |align=center|22 |align=center|9 |align=center|8 |align=center|5 |align=center|41 |align=center|32 |align=center|26 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1959 |align=center|1st |align=center|8 |align=center|22 |align=center|8 |align=center|4 |align=center|10 |align=center|29 |align=center|38 |align=center|20 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1960 |align=center|1st |align=center|15 |align=center|30 |align=center|14 |align=center|5 |align=center|11 |align=center|47 |align=center|37 |align=center|33 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1961 |align=center|1st |align=center|13 |align=center|32 |align=center|12 |align=center|8 |align=center|12 |align=center|50 |align=center|52 |align=center|32 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1962 |align=center|1st |align=center|11 |align=center|32 |align=center|11 |align=center|7 |align=center|14 |align=center|53 |align=center|42 |align=center|29 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1963 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center|38 |align=center|14 |align=center|17 |align=center|7 |align=center|45 |align=center|32 |align=center|45 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1964 |align=center|1st |align=center|11 |align=center|32 |align=center|9 |align=center|9 |align=center|14 |align=center|30 |align=center|35 |align=center|27 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1965 |align=center|1st |align=center|9 |align=center|32 |align=center|10 |align=center|12 |align=center|10 |align=center|32 |align=center|32 |align=center|32 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1966 |align=center|1st |align=center|16 |align=center|36 |align=center|10 |align=center|8 |align=center|18 |align=center|35 |align=center|54 |align=center|28 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1967 |align=center|1st |align=center|19 |align=center|36 |align=center|6 |align=center|9 |align=center|21 |align=center|28 |align=center|63 |align=center|21 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1968 |align=center|1st |align=center|11 |align=center|38 |align=center|10 |align=center|14 |align=center|14 |align=center|35 |align=center|49 |align=center|34 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1969 |align=center|1st |align=center|9 |align=center|26 |align=center|6 |align=center|9 |align=center|11 |align=center|21 |align=center|34 |align=center|21 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1970 |align=center|1st |align=center|14 |align=center|32 |align=center|10 |align=center|7 |align=center|15 |align=center|30 |align=center|40 |align=center|27 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1971 |align=center|1st |align=center|13 |align=center|30 |align=center|8 |align=center|10 |align=center|12 |align=center|29 |align=center|32 |align=center|26 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1972 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|30 |align=center|11 |align=center|11 |align=center|8 |align=center|44 |align=center|30 |align=center|33 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1973 |align=center|1st |align=center|11 |align=center|30 |align=center|9 |align=center|12 |align=center|9 |align=center|33 |align=center|35 |align=center|21 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1974 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|30 |align=center|8 |align=center|15 |align=center|7 |align=center|36 |align=center|41 |align=center|31 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1975 |align=center|1st |align=center|14 |align=center|30 |align=center|7 |align=center|10 |align=center|13 |align=center|27 |align=center|42 |align=center|24 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1976 |align=center|1st |align=center|13 |align=center|15 |align=center|4 |align=center|5 |align=center|6 |align=center|14 |align=center|15 |align=center|13 |align=center| |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1976 |align=center|1st |align=center|5 |align=center|15 |align=center|6 |align=center|4 |align=center|5 |align=center|22 |align=center|16 |align=center|16 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1977 |align=center|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|30 |align=center|8 |align=center|12 |align=center|10 |align=center|34 |align=center|33 |align=center|28 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1978 |align=center|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|30 |align=center|9 |align=center|8 |align=center|13 |align=center|31 |align=center|46 |align=center|26 |align=center|Quarter-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1979 |align=center|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|34 |align=center|11 |align=center|9 |align=center|14 |align=center|41 |align=center|45 |align=center|30 |align=center|Group stage |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1980 |align=center|1st | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|3 |align=center|34 |align=center|16 |align=center|10 |align=center|8 |align=center|51 |align=center|42 |align=center|42 |align=center|Group stage |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1981 |align=center|1st |align=center|15 |align=center|34 |align=center|9 |align=center|10 |align=center|15 |align=center|33 |align=center|43 |align=center|28 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1982 |align=center|1st |align=center|7 |align=center|34 |align=center|12 |align=center|9 |align=center|13 |align=center|44 |align=center|41 |align=center|33 |align=center|Group stage |align=center|UC |align=center|First round |- |align=center|1983 |align=center|1st |align=center|4 |align=center|34 |align=center|15 |align=center|11 |align=center|8 |align=center|42 |align=center|32 |align=center|40 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1984 |align=center|1st | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1 |align=center|34 |align=center|19 |align=center|9 |align=center|6 |align=center|60 |align=center|32 |align=center|47 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|Runner-up |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1985 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center|34 |align=center|14 |align=center|7 |align=center|13 |align=center|48 |align=center|38 |align=center|35 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1986 |align=center|1st |align=center|4 |align=center|30 |align=center|12 |align=center|9 |align=center|9 |align=center|44 |align=center|36 |align=center|33 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|Semi-final |align=center|ECC |align=center|Second round |- |align=center|1987 |align=center|1st |align=center|14 |align=center|30 |align=center|7 |align=center|10 |align=center|13 |align=center|25 |align=center|37 |align=center|24 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1988 |align=center|1st |align=center|6 |align=center|30 |align=center|11 |align=center|9 |align=center|10 |align=center|35 |align=center|34 |align=center|31 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center|UC |align=center|First round |- |align=center|1989 |align=center|1st | style="text-align:center; background:#f65f45;"|16 |align=center|30 |align=center|5 |align=center|9 |align=center|16 |align=center|24 |align=center|48 |align=center|19 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center| |align=center| |- |align=center|1990 |align=center|2nd |align=center|18 |align=center|38 |align=center|8 |align=center|14 |align=center|16 |align=center|35 |align=center|41 |align=center|30 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center|UC |align=center|Second round |- |align=center|1991 |align=center|2nd |align=center|18 |align=center|42 |align=center|11 |align=center|14 |align=center|17 |align=center|44 |align=center|50 |align=center|36 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center| |align=center|

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Russia

{|class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#efefef;" ! Season ! Div. ! Pos. ! Pl. ! W ! D ! L ! GS ! GA ! P !Cup !colspan=2|Europe !Top scorer
(league) !Head coach |- |align=center|1992 |align=center|1st | style="text-align:center; background:#f65f45;"|16 |align=center|30 |align=center|10 |align=center|8 |align=center|12 |align=center|39 |align=center|45 |align=center|28 |align=center|— | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kulik – 13 |align=left|Russia Melnikov |- |align=center|1993 |align=center|2nd,
"Centre" |align=center|2 |align=center|38 |align=center|25 |align=center|8 |align=center|5 |align=center|87 |align=center|33 |align=center|58 |align=center|Round of 32 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kulik – 36 |align=left|Russia Melnikov |- |align=center|1994 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2nd |align=center|13 |align=center|42 |align=center|14 |align=center|12 |align=center|16 |align=center|44 |align=center|49 |align=center|40 |align=center|Round of 64 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kulik – 9 |align=left|Russia Melnikov |- |align=center|1995 | style="text-align:center; background:lightgreen;"|3 |align=center|42 |align=center|24 |align=center|5 |align=center|13 |align=center|68 |align=center|42 |align=center|77 |align=center|Round of 32 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kulik – 19 |align=left|Russia Sadyrin |- |align=center|1996 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="18"|1st |align=center|10 |align=center|34 |align=center|13 |align=center|4 |align=center|17 |align=center|32 |align=center|37 |align=center|43 |align=center|Round of 32 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kulik – 11 |align=left|Russia Sadyrin |- |align=center|1997 |align=center|8 |align=center|34 |align=center|13 |align=center|10 |align=center|11 |align=center|28 |align=center|29 |align=center|49 |align=center|Semifinal | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Ukraine Gorshkov – 5 |align=left|Russia Byshovets |- |align=center|1998 |align=center|5 |align=center|30 |align=center|12 |align=center|11 |align=center|7 |align=center|42 |align=center|25 |align=center|47 |align=center|Round of 16 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Panov – 8
Ukraine Maksimyuk – 8 |align=left|Russia Byshovets
Russia Davydov |- |align=center|1999 |align=center|8 |align=center|30 |align=center|9 |align=center|12 |align=center|9 |align=center|36 |align=center|34 |align=center|39 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|Winner | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Ukraine Popovich – 7 |align=left|Russia Davydov |- |align=center|2000 |align=center|7 |align=center|30 |align=center|13 |align=center|8 |align=center|9 |align=center|38 |align=center|26 |align=center|47 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center|UC
IC |align=center|1st round
Runner-up |align=left|Ukraine Popovich – 10 |align=left|Russia Davydov
Russia Morozov |- |align=center|2001 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|3 |align=center|30 |align=center|16 |align=center|8 |align=center|6 |align=center|52 |align=center|35 |align=center|56 |align=center|Round of 32 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Ukraine Popovich – 7 |align=left|Russia Morozov |- |align=center|2002 |align=center|10 |align=center|30 |align=center|8 |align=center|9 |align=center|13 |align=center|36 |align=center|42 |align=center|33 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|Runner-up | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 14 |align=left|Russia Morozov
Russia Biryukov
Russia Rappoport |- |align=center|2003 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|2 |align=center|30 |align=center|16 |align=center|8 |align=center|6 |align=center|48 |align=center|32 |align=center|56 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center|UC |align=center|1st round |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 13 |align=left|Czech Republic Petržela |- |align=center|2004 |align=center|4 |align=center|30 |align=center|17 |align=center|5 |align=center|8 |align=center|55 |align=center|37 |align=center|56 |align=center|Round of 16 | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 18 |align=left|Czech Republic Petržela |- |align=center|2005 |align=center|6 |align=center|30 |align=center|13 |align=center|10 |align=center|7 |align=center|45 |align=center|26 |align=center|49 |align=center|Semifinals |align=center|UC |align=center|Group stage |align=left|Russia Arshavin – 9 |align=left|Czech Republic Petržela |- |align=center|2006 |align=center|4 |align=center|30 |align=center|13 |align=center|11 |align=center|6 |align=center|42 |align=center|30 |align=center|50 |align=center|Semifinals |align=center|UC |align=center|Quarterfinals |align=left|Russia Arshavin – 7 |align=left|Czech Republic Petržela
Czech Republic Borovička
Netherlands Advocaat |- |align=center|2007 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1 |align=center|30 |align=center|18 |align=center|7 |align=center|5 |align=center|53 |align=center|32 |align=center|61 |align=center|Quarterfinals | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|— |align=left|Russia Pogrebnyak – 11 |align=left|Netherlands Advocaat |- |align=center|2008 |align=center|5 |align=center|30 |align=center|12 |align=center|12 |align=center|6 |align=center|59 |align=center|37 |align=center|48 |align=center|Quarterfinals |align=center|UC | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|Winner |align=left|Turkey Tekke – 8 |align=left|Netherlands Advocaat |- |align=center|2009 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|3 |align=center|30 |align=center|15 |align=center|9 |align=center|6 |align=center|48 |align=center|27 |align=center|54 |align=center|Round of 32 |align=center|UCL
UC |align=center|Group stage
Round of 16 |align=left|Turkey Tekke – 8 |align=left|Netherlands Advocaat
Russia Davydov |- |align=center|2010 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1 |align=center|30 |align=center|20 |align=center|8 |align=center|2 |align=center|61 |align=center|21 |align=center|68 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|Winner |align=center|EL |align=center|1st round |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 13 |align=left|Italy Spalletti |- |align=center|2011–12 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1 |align=center|44 |align=center|24 |align=center|16 |align=center|4 |align=center|85 |align=center|40 |align=center|88 |align=center|Quarterfinals |align=center|UCL |align=center|Round of 16 |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 23 |align=left|Italy Spalletti |- |align=center|2012–13 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|2 |align=center|30 |align=center|18 |align=center|8 |align=center|4 |align=center|52 |align=center|25 |align=center|62 |align=center|Semifinals |align=center|UCL
EL |align=center|Group stage
Round of 16 |align=left|Russia Kerzhakov – 10 |align=left|Italy Spalletti |- |align=center|2013–14 | style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|2 |align=center|30 |align=center|19 |align=center|6 |align=center|5 |align=center|63 |align=center|32 |align=center|63 |align=center|Fifth Round |align=center|UCL |align=center|Round of 16 |align=left|Brazil Hulk – 17 |align=left|Italy Spalletti
Russia Semak
Portugal Villas-Boas

|}

League results

Players

Current squad

As of 25 June 2014.[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Russia GK Yury Lodygin
2 Russia DF Aleksandr Anyukov (2nd vice-captain)
4 Italy DF Domenico Criscito
5 Russia MF Aleksandr Ryazantsev
6 Belgium DF Nicolas Lombaerts (1st vice-captain)
7 Brazil FW Hulk
8 Russia MF Pavel Mogilevets
10 Russia FW Andrey Arshavin
11 Russia FW Aleksandr Kerzhakov
13 Portugal DF Luís Neto
16 Russia GK Vyacheslav Malafeev
17 Russia MF Oleg Shatov
19 Russia DF Igor Smolnikov
No. Position Player
20 Russia MF Viktor Fayzulin
21 Spain MF Javi García
23 Venezuela FW Salomón Rondón
24 Argentina DF Ezequiel Garay
28 Belgium MF Axel Witsel
33 Serbia DF Milan Rodić
35 Portugal MF Danny (captain)
44 Ukraine MF Anatoliy Tymoshchuk
57 Russia DF Dzhamaldin Khodzhaniyazov
71 Russia GK Yegor Baburin
90 Russia FW Ramil Sheydayev
99 Russia MF Ivan Solovyov

For recent transfers, see List of Russian football transfers summer 2014.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
— Argentina DF Cristian Ansaldi (at Atlético Madrid until 30 June 2015)
— Russia MF Aleksei Kayukov (at FC Tom Tomsk until 30 June 2015)
— Russia FW Yevgeni Markov (at FK Yenisey Krasnoyarsk until 30 June 2015)
— Montenegro FW Luka Đorđević (at U.C. Sampdoria until 30 June 2015)

Youth team and Zenit-2 squad

As of 9 March 2015.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
18 Russia MF Konstantin Zyryanov
34 Russia FW Maximilian Pronichev
37 Russia FW Artyom Ponikarov
39 Russia DF Dmitri Skopintsev
40 Russia DF Pavel Barbashov
41 Russia DF Andrei Yakovlev
42 Russia MF Danila Davidenko
43 Russia FW Pavel Nazimov
45 Russia DF Artyom Vodyannikov
46 Russia MF Zakhar Dilanyan
47 Russia MF Valeri Yaroshenko
48 Russia FW Aleksei Gasilin
50 Russia DF Maksim Karpov
51 Russia GK Maksim Rudakov
52 Russia DF Andrei Ivanov
53 Russia DF Ivan Ivanidi
54 Russia MF Daniil Zuyev
55 Russia DF Konstantin Lobov
56 Russia DF Kirill Kostin
58 Russia DF Ilya Zuyev
59 Russia FW Aleksei Yegorov
60 Russia MF Yevgeni Serenkov
61 Russia GK Anton Tsvetkov
62 Russia DF Stepan Rebenko
63 Russia DF Daniil Maykov
64 Russia DF Nikita Novopashin
No. Position Player
65 Russia MF Danila Yashchuk
66 Russia FW Vadim Romanov
67 Russia MF Nikita Andreev
68 Russia MF Vyacheslav Zinkov
70 Russia FW Dmitri Bogayev
72 Russia DF Stepan Zhalobkov
73 Russia MF Pavel Osipov
74 Russia MF Sergei Ivanov
76 Russia FW Pavel Kireyenko
78 Russia DF Dmitri Chistyakov
79 Russia MF Konstantin Troyanov
80 Russia GK Mikhail Mzhelskiy
81 Russia GK Andrei Strozhevskiy
82 Russia FW Aleksei Makarov
83 Russia GK Igor Obukhov
84 Russia DF Mikhail Kovalenko
87 Russia DF Artyom Vyatkin
88 Russia MF Artyom Popov
92 Russia FW Pavel Dolgov
93 Russia FW Ruslan Suanov
94 Russia MF Aleksei Yevseyev
95 Russia GK Aleksandr Vasyutin
96 Russia DF Ilya Kubyshkin
97 Russia MF Dmitri Khodakovskiy
98 Russia FW Yevgeni Kozlov

Reserve squad

Zenit's reserve squad played professionally as Zenit-2 (Russian Second League in 1993, Russian Second Division from 1998 to 2000) and Zenit-d (Russian Third League from 1994 to 1997). Another team that was founded as Lokomotiv-Zenit-2 played as Zenit-2 in the Russian Second Division from 2001 to 2008. By 2008, there was no relation between that team and FC Zenit. Another farm club called FC Smena-Zenit debuted in the Russian Second Division in 2009, taking the spot of the former FC Zenit-2. FC Smena-Zenit was dissolved after the 2009 season because it did not fulfill Zenit's initial expectations. Zenit-2 reentered professional football in the 2013-14 season in the Russian Professional Football League.

Team captains

Name Years
Russia Oleg Dmitriyev 1993–94
Russia Vladimir Kulik 1995–96
Ukraine Yuriy Vernydub 1997–2000
Russia Andrey Kobelev 2000–01
Russia Aleksei Igonin 2001–03
Russia Vladislav Radimov 2003–07
Russia Andrey Arshavin 2007
Norway Erik Hagen 2007
Ukraine Anatoliy Tymoshchuk 2007–09
Russia Vyacheslav Malafeev 2009
Russia Aleksandr Anyukov 2009–12
Russia Vyacheslav Malafeev 2012
Portugal Danny 2012–13
Russia Roman Shirokov 2013
Portugal Danny 2014–

Club officials

Board of directors

Position Name
President Alexander Dyukov
General Director Maxim Mitrofanov
Sporting Director Dietmar Beiersdorfer
Deputy General Directors Dmitri Mankin
Deputy General Directors Ilya Gerkus
Deputy General Directors Rosteslav Leontyev
Deputy General Directors Zhanna Dembo
Deputy General Directors Yury Andreevich
Director of the "Smena" study-practice complex Vasily Kostrovsky

Source: fc-zenit.ru

Management

Position Name
Head Coach André Villas-Boas
Assistant Coach Sergei Semak
Coach Marco Domenichini
Coach Igor Simutenkov
Goalkeeping Coach Mikhail Biryukov
Academy Director Henk van Stee
Assistant Academy director Evgeny Koshelev

Source: fc-zenit.ru

Kit makers

Years Kit manufacturers
1997–2000 Adidas
2001–02 Diadora
2003–04 Umbro
2004–07 Diadora
2007–09 Puma
2010– Nike

Presidents

Name Years
Russia Vladislav Gusev 1990–92
Russia Leonid Tufrin 1992–94
Russia Vitaly Mutko 1995–2003
Russia David Traktovenko 2003–05
Russia Sergey Fursenko 2006–08
Russia Alexander Dyukov 2008–

Head coaches

Name Years
Soviet Union Pyotr Filippov 1936–37
Soviet Union Mikhail Yudenich 1938–39
Soviet Union Konstantin Egorov 1938–39
Soviet Union Pyotr Filippov 1940
Soviet Union Konstantin Lemeshev 1941–45
Soviet Union Mikhail Butusov 1946
Soviet Union Ivan Talanov 1946–48
Soviet Union Konstantin Lemeshev 1948–50
Soviet Union Georgiy Lasin 1950–51
Soviet Union Vladimir Lemeshev 1952–54
Soviet Union Nikolay Lyukshinov 1954–55
Soviet Union Arkadiy Alov 1956–57
Soviet Union Georgiy Zharkov 1957–60
Soviet Union Gennadiy Bondarenko 1960
Soviet Union Evgeniy Eliseev 1961–64
Soviet Union Valentin Fyodorov 1964–66
Soviet Union Arkadiy Alov 1967
Soviet Union Artem Falyan 1968–70
Soviet Union Yevgeniy Goryanskiy 1970–72
Soviet Union German Zonin 1973–77
Soviet Union Yuri Morozov 1977–82
Soviet Union Pavel Sadyrin Jan 1, 1983–June 30, 1986
Name Years
Soviet Union Vladimir Golubev 1987
Soviet Union Stanislav Zavidonov 1988–89
Soviet Union Vladimir Golubev 1989
Soviet Union Anatoliy Konkov 1990
Soviet Union Vyacheslav Bulavin 1990
Russia Yuri Morozov 1991
Russia Vyacheslav Melnikov 1992–94
Russia Pavel Sadyrin Jan 1, 1995–Dec 31, 1996
Ukraine Anatoliy Byshovets Jan 1, 1997–July 23, 1998
Russia Anatoli Davydov 1998–00
Russia Yuri Morozov 2000–02
Russia Mikhail Biryukov 2002
Russia Boris Rappoport 2002
Czech Republic Vlastimil Petržela Jan 1, 2003–May 14, 2006
Czech Republic Vladimír Borovička (Caretaker) 2006
Netherlands Dick Advocaat July 13, 2006–Aug 10, 2009
Russia Anatoli Davydov Aug 10, 2009–Dec 11, 2009
Italy Luciano Spalletti Dec 11, 2009–March 11, 2014
Russia Sergei Semak (Caretaker) March 11, 2014 – March 20, 2014
Portugal André Villas-Boas March 20, 2014–present

UEFA ranking

As of 7 September 2014[16]
Rank Country Team Points
14ItalyAC Milan79.768
15RussiaZenit St. Petersburg75.833
16EnglandManchester City FC73.992

Notable players

Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Zenit.

Soviet Union/Russia
Former Soviet Union countries
Europe
South and Central America
Asia
  • South Korea Hyun Young-Min
  • South Korea Kim Dong-Jin
  • South Korea Lee Ho

Partnership

Other football clubs

Corporations

Possible additional section

The fans of the club have assured that they will also support a bandy team, in case it will be revived.

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Gazprom Buys Zenit". The St. Petersburg Times. 23 December 2005.
    2. ↑ "Gazprom fuels Zenit dream". uefa.com. 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
    3. ↑ "Zenit stuns Bayern in UEFA Cup semi, 4-0". The New York Times.
    4. ↑ Ravdin, Eugene (14 May 2008). "Proud Arshavin spent by star turn". uefa.com (Union of European Football Associations). Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
    5. ↑ "2008: Zenit claim Russian first". uefa.com.
    6. ↑ "The secrets of Zenit's third title success". uefa.com. 28 April 2012.
    7. ↑ http://themoscownews.com/sports/20140311/192384970/Zenit-St-Petersburg-fires-coach-Luciano-Spalletti.html
    8. ↑ http://www.espnfc.com/russian-premier-league/story/1754816/andre-villas-boas-agrees-deal-to-become-zenit-st-petersburg-head-coach
    9. ↑ "Petrovsky Stadium". FC Zenit.ru.
    10. ↑ "A new stadium for Zenit". FC Zenit.ru.
    11. ↑ "Russia – List of Champions". rsssf.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    12. ↑ "Russia – Cup Finals". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
    13. ↑ "Previous winners". uefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    14. ↑ "Previous winners". uefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    15. ↑ "Команда - Официальный сайт ФК "Зенит"". Fc-zenit.ru. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    16. ↑ UEFA Club Coefficients – UEFA.com
    17. ↑ "ФК "Зенит" подписал соглашение о партнерстве с ФК "Шальке 04"". FC Zenit.
    18. ↑ "Сергей Фурсенко: Партнерство с "Шахтером" – шаг актуальный и своевременный". FC Zenit.
    19. ↑ "Zenit launches new partnership with YouTube". FC Zenit.
    20. ↑ "Zenit signs partnership contract with Adamant Jewelers". FC Zenit.
    21. ↑ "Rossiya Airlines becomes official Zenit partner". FC Zenit.
    22. ↑ "FC Zenit and Würth Severo-Zapad are partners".
    23. ↑ "Zenit and the Swedish construction firm NCC signed a partnership agreement". FC Zenit.
    24. ↑ "Zenit and Corinthia St. Petersburg 5-star hotel have become partners". FC Zenit.

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.