FC Zenit Saint Petersburg

Zenit Saint Petersburg
Full name Футбольный клуб Зенит
Nickname(s) Lvi (Lions)
Sine-Belo-Golubye (The Blue-White-Sky Blues)
Zenitchiki (The Anti-aircraft Gunners)
Founded 30 May 1925 (1925-05-30)
Ground Krestovsky Stadium
Ground Capacity 68,134
Owner Gazprombank
Chairman Sergey Fursenko
Manager Roberto Mancini
League Russian Premier League
2016–17 3rd
Website Club website

Football Club Zenit (Russian: Футбо́льный клуб «Зени́т» [fʊdˈbolʲnɨj 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, 2011–12 and 2014–15 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 Zenit team stemmed from several football teams, which changed names and owners many times during the Soviet era after the Revolution of 1917, as 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 the team "Murzinka," founded in 1914, which played in the Obukhovsky stadium from 1914 until 1924, when the team came to be known as "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 to 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

Zenit won their first honours in 1944, claiming the war-time USSR Cup after defeating CSKA Moscow in the well-attended final. The club was always adored in Leningrad, but was not able to make much of a significant impact in the Soviet League. In 1967, Zenit finished last but were saved from relegation because the Soviet leadership decided it would not 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. Zenit won the bronze medal in 1980, also reaching the Soviet Cup Final and winning 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.

Gazprom era

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.

Under Advocaat

Andrey Arshavin, one of the most successful players in Zenit history.

Although Zenit reached the quarter-finals 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—allowing them to compete in the group stage of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League.

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 German side Bayer Leverkusen, 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 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 club history, where they met Scottish side Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium in 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. Andrey Arshavin was named man of the match.[4]

On 29 August 2008, at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, Zenit then 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, the latter being named man of the match in his debut for Zenit.[5]

In the 2008–09 Champions League 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." Zenit ultimately finished in third place in the group, behind Juventus and Real Madrid, and was thus unable to progress to the knockout phase of the competition. This position, however, was good enough to earn the club a place in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup last 32, where the team faced VfB Stuttgart for a place in the last 16 of the competition. After defeating Stuttgart on away goals, Zenit went on to lose 2–1 over two legs against Italian club Udinese.

Under Spalletti

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 mandated him to return the Russian Premier League title to Zenit, win the Russian Cup and progress from the group stage of the Champions League in his first year.

Zenit won the Russian Cup on 16 May 2010 after beating Sibir Novosibirsk in the final (previously beating Volga Tver in the quarter-finals and Amkar Perm in the semi-finals). After 16 games in the 2010 Premier League, with 12 wins and four draws, Zenit claimed 40 points, setting 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, securing forward Aleksandr Bukharov and midfielder Sergei Semak from Rubin Kazan; defenders Aleksandar Luković from Udinese and Bruno Alves from Porto.

On 25 August 2010, Zenit lost its first game under Spalletti to French side Auxerre and failed to advance to the Champions League group stage, instead participating in the Europa League. On 3 October, 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, however, Zenit suffered its first defeat of the season at the hands of rival club Spartak Moscow, just seven games short of finishing the championship undefeated. On 14 November, Zenit defeated Rostov and two games prior to the end of the season won the championship title, the first in Spalletti's managerial career.

Zenit progressed through the knockout stage of the 2010–11 Europa League in first place, then beating Swiss side Young Boys in the Round of 16. On 6 March 2011, Zenit won against CSKA Moscow in the Russian Super Cup, the third Russian trophy won under Spalletti. On 17 March, however, Zenit were knocked out of the Europa League, losing to Dutch team Twente 2–3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

In the 2011–12 Champions League, Zenit began the group stage drawn into Group G alongside Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and APOEL. On 6 December 2011, the team 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 the Round of 16, Zenit were drawn with Portuguese side Benfica, winning the first leg 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 thus eliminated from the competition.

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

Under Villas-Boas

After a series of disappointing results in both the Champions League and the Premier League, Spalletti was fired on 11 March 2014.[7] A week later, the club announced they had negotiated a two-year deal with André Villas-Boas, who himself had been released a few months prior after a disappointing stint as manager of English side Tottenham Hotspur.[8] In the 2014–15 Europa League, Zenit were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Sevilla. In May 2015, Zenit won the Russian Championship, the first championship title under Villas-Boas and the team's fifth-ever on the eve of its 90th anniversary celebration. Zenit then defeated Lokomotiv Moscow in the 2015 Russian Super Cup 1–1 (4–2 on penalties).

Later in the 2015 calendar year, Villas-Boas said that he would be leaving the club after the 2015–16 season. In the 2015–16 Champions League, Zenit began the competition in the group stage. They were drawn in Group H alongside Valencia, Lyon and Gent. They ended the group stage with their best group stage finish ever, winning five out of six matches and emerging as group winners. They were, however, eliminated from the competition in the Round of 16 by Portuguese side Benfica.

On 24 May 2016 Villas-Boas left the club at the end of the season, with Mircea Lucescu appointed the new manager of Zenit.[9][10]

Under Lucescu

On July 2016 Zenit won the Russian Super Cup after they won 0-1 against CSKA Moscow.

During the 2016–17 Europa League, Zenit began the group stage drawn into Group D alongside Maccabi Tel-Aviv, AZ Alkmaar and Dundalk. On 8 December 2016, the team finished the group stage in first place and qualified for the spring knockout phase of Europa League. In the round of 32, Zenit faced R.S.C. Anderlecht and was eliminated 3-3 on aggregate due to the away goals rule. In the league, Zenit's performances in the spring were disappointing and as such the club finished third and missed out on the Champions League for a second succesive year. Zenit was also eliminated in the round of 16 by FC Anzhi Makhachkala 0-4 on aggregate after an abysmal performance and the first (and last) season of Mircea Lucescu was a complete disappointment despite the expectations.

Under Mancini

On 1 June 2017 Zenit appointed Roberto Mancini as the new manager of the team.[11]

Stadiums

Zenit's home ground is now the 21,500-capacity Petrovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.[12] In 2007, the club's former home base at the Kirov Stadium was demolished, to be replaced with a new stadium built for Zenit, Krestovsky Stadium. 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 68,184.[13]

Achievements

Domestic competitions

Champions (5): 1984, 2007, 2010, 2011–12, 2014–15
Champions (4): 1944, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2015–16
Champions (5): 1984, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016
Champions: 2003
Champions: 1980

International competitions

Round of 16: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16
Champions: 2007–08[16]
Champions: 2008[17]
Runner-up: 2000

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="21"|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 |- |align=center|2014–15 | style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1 |align=center|29 |align=center|19 |align=center|7 |align=center|3 |align=center|57 |align=center|17 |align=center|59 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center|UCL
EL |align=center|Group Stage
Quarterfinals |align=left|Brazil Hulk – 21 |align=left|Portugal Villas-Boas |- |align=center|2015–16 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|3 |align=center|30 |align=center|17 |align=center|8 |align=center|5 |align=center|61 |align=center|32 |align=center|59 |style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|Winner |align=center|UCL |align=center|Round of 16 |align=left|Brazil Hulk – 14 |align=left|Portugal Villas-Boas |- |align=center|2016–17 | style="text-align:center; background:#deb678;"|3 |align=center|30 |align=center|18 |align=center|7 |align=center|5 |align=center|50 |align=center|19 |align=center|61 |align=center|Round of 16 |align=center|EL |align=center|Round of 32 |align=left|Russia Dzyuba – 13 |align=left|Romania Lucescu

|}

League results

Players

Current squad

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 Yuri Lodygin
2 Russia DF Aleksandr Anyukov
3 Russia DF Denis Terentyev
4 Italy DF Domenico Criscito (Captain)
5 Argentina MF Leandro Paredes
6 Spain MF Javi García
7 Russia FW Dmitry Poloz
8 Argentina MF Matías Kranevitter
9 Russia FW Aleksandr Kokorin
11 Argentina FW Sebastián Driussi
13 Portugal DF Luís Neto
14 Russia MF Daler Kuzyayev
16 Ecuador MF Christian Noboa
No. Position Player
17 Russia MF Oleg Shatov
18 Russia MF Yuriy Zhirkov
19 Russia DF Igor Smolnikov
21 Russia MF Aleksandr Yerokhin
22 Russia FW Artyom Dzyuba
24 France MF Yohan Mollo
25 Russia DF Ivan Novoseltsev
30 Argentina DF Emanuel Mammana
41 Russia GK Mikhail Kerzhakov
60 Serbia DF Branislav Ivanović
71 Russia GK Yegor Baburin
88 Russia DF Dmitri Bogayev
99 Russia GK Andrey Lunyov

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
15 Russia DF Ibragim Tsallagov (at Dynamo Moscow)
23 Brazil MF Hernani (at Saint-Étienne)
29 Slovakia MF Róbert Mak (at PAOK)
77 Montenegro FW Luka Đorđević (at Arsenal Tula)
No. Position Player
Russia MF Aleksandr Ryazantsev (at Amkar Perm)
Russia DF Yevgeni Chernov (at Tosno)
Russia MF Artur Yusupov (at Rostov)

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 Aleksey Naumov 1992
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 2014–17
Italy Domenico Criscito 2017-

Club officials

Board of directors

Position Name
Chairman of Board Aleksandr Dyukov
President and General Director Sergey Fursenko
Sporting Director Konstantin Sarsania
Deputy General Directors Dmitri Mankin
Deputy General Directors Ilya Gerkus
Deputy General Directors Rosteslav Leontyev
Deputy General Directors Zhanna Dembo
Deputy General Directors Yury Andreyevich
Director of the "Smena" study-practice complex Vasily Kostrovsky

Source: fc-zenit.ru

Management

Position Name
Head Coach Italy Roberto Mancini
Assistant Coach
Coach Ukraine Anatoliy Tymoshchuk
Goalkeeping Coach
Physiotherapist Russia Pavel Pleshkov
Physiotherapist
Fitness Coach
Analyst
Doctor Russia Sergey Pukhov
Academy Director

Source: http://fc-zenit.ru/zenit/coaches/

Kit makers

Years Kit manufacturers
1997–2000 Adidas
2001–02 Diadora
2003–04 Umbro
2005–07 Adidas
2008–09 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 2008–2017
Russia Sergey Fursenko 2017–

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 – May 24, 2016
Romania Mircea Lucescu May 24, 2016 - May 28, 2017[10]

UEFA ranking

As of 22 June 2017[18]
Rank Country Team Points
18UkraineShakhtar Donetsk87.526
19RussiaZenit87.106
20EnglandTottenham Hotspur77.192

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

Partnership

Other football clubs

Corporations

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. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
    7. "Zenit St. Petersburg fires coach Luciano Spalletti". The Moscow News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
    8. "Andre Villas-Boas agrees deal to become Zenit St Petersburg head coach - ESPN FC". ESPNFC.com.
    9. "André Villas-Boas announces he is to quit as Zenit St Petersburg manager". The Guardian. Associated Press. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    10. 1 2 "Mircea Lucescu takes charge at Zenit". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    11. Роберто Манчини назначен главным тренером «Зенита» (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 1 June 2017.
    12. "Petrovsky Stadium". FC Zenit.ru. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012.
    13. "A new stadium for Zenit". FC Zenit.ru.
    14. "Russia – List of Champions". rsssf.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    15. "Russia – Cup Finals". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
    16. "Previous winners". uefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    17. "Previous winners". uefa.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
    18. UEFA Club Coefficients – UEFA.com
    19. "ФК "Зенит" подписал соглашение о партнерстве с ФК "Шальке 04"". FC Zenit.
    20. "Сергей Фурсенко: Партнерство с "Шахтером" – шаг актуальный и своевременный". FC Zenit.
    21. ""Zenit" has begun a partnership with "MegaFon"". FC Zenit.
    22. "Rossiya Airlines becomes official Zenit partner". FC Zenit.
    23. ""Zenit" has begun a partnership with Nissan".
    24. 1 2 "Premium partners". FC Zenit.
    25. "Zenit and Corinthia St. Petersburg 5-star hotel have become partners". FC Zenit.
    26. "Official partners". FC Zenit.
    27. "Zenit launches new partnership with YouTube". FC Zenit.
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