Football in Russia
Encyclopedia
When the USSR broke down into 15 different countries, the once renowned sports structure collapsed as well. Football
was one of the most popular sports in the Soviet Union. While the national teams and the clubs used to be linked to state institutions or mass organizations, in 1991 they became private enterprises. Just like in many other spheres of business, corrupt and sometimes bloody division of power began. Furthermore, many teams of the erstwhile Soviet Top League
, which was once considered to be one of the strongest and was able to compete with those of England
and Italy
, were now in divided between the national football associations of the newly independent republics. Many of the top brand names lost their financing from the government and were left to rot, waiting for some forms of sponsorship. Citizens of Russia
are interested mostly in the national team
that gets to compete in the World Cup and the European Championship
, and in the Premier league, where clubs from different cities look to become champions of Russia. There are also competitions considered less important, such as the Russian Cup. Some of the most famous clubs include Spartak Moscow
, Lokomotiv Moscow
, CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg
, Dynamo Moscow
. There are in fact six teams in the Premier League from the city of Moscow as it was the first city to recover from the destruction of the old system.
Due to the large extension of the country, the top Russian division and its European
-based clubs have often had problems adjusting to having to play clubs from Siberia
, particularly those from the Far East, such as Okean Nakhodka, Luch-Energia Vladivostok and SKA-Energia Khabarovsk. Although it is very rare that a Far Eastern club competes for the Russian league title or spots in UEFA
competitions, European-based teams often complain about lost matches due to jet lag or other such factors.
Today, football is the number one sport in the country. A very high proportion of men are interested in it to a certain extent (and many children play it regularly) and women also join men when it comes to the national team. The Russian league is rapidly regaining its former strength because of huge sponsorship deals, an influx of finances and a fairly high degree of competitiveness with roughly 10 teams capable of winning the title. Many notable talented foreign players have been and are playing in the Russian league as well as local talented players worthy of a spot in the starting eleven of the best clubs. The relegation battles are also competitive and considered very exciting.
The Russian national team gained attention when they beat traditional European powerhouses The Netherlands 3-1 in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Spain. Nevertheless, four players made the Team of the Tournament. Some players such as Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko
earned big-money moves to the English Barclays Premier League after impressing at the tournament.
Thus now the Russian Premier League are among the best in Eastern Europe, as evidenced by recent victories in the UEFA Cup
(CSKA Moscow defeated Sporting CP in the 2005 final and Zenit St. Petersburg
earned a victory over Rangers F.C.
in the 2008 UEFA Cup
in Manchester) and also claimed the UEFA Super Cup
in a 2-1 win over Manchester United.
. Below it are the First Division and Second Division
, administered by the Professional Football League. The First Division consists of 22 clubs, and the Second Division is split geographically into five zones (West, Centre, South, Ural-Povolzhye, and East) with varying number of clubs. The total number of clubs in the Second Division is 73. After each season, top two clubs of the First Division replace bottom two clubs of the Premier League, and champions of each Second Division zone replace five bottom clubs of the First Division. A championship between youth teams of Premier League clubs also exists.
The Second Division is the lowest level of professional football in Russia. The next level of football is the Amateur Football League, which is split into ten zones: Northwest, Golden Ring, Moscow, Podmoskovye (Moscow region), Chernozemye (Black Earth region), South, Privolzhye (Volga region), Ural and West Siberia, Siberia, and Far East. After each season, the bottom finishers of each Second Division zone are relegated to the Amateur Football League, and the winners of each Amateur Football League are eligible for promotion to the Second Division, subject to meeting Professional Football League requirements.
Seven of the Amateur Football League zones are using one-tier system. The rest (Moscow, Podmoskovye, and Siberia) consist of two divisions with promotion and relegation
. This means that a newly created team can enter the Russian league system at the fourth level and reach the Premier League in three years.
There are also championships of federal subjects
. These competitions that are not part of the league system; clubs can enter the Amateur Football League without participation in them.
There is also an Amateur Football League Cup, a competition for the Amateur Football League clubs. The winners of this cup are eligible for promotion to the Second Division.
Cups of federal subjects are also played.
Russian club sides constantly compete in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. In the last four years Russia has won three major European trophies. These are CSKA Moscow 2004/05 UEFA Cup and Zenit St.Petersburg's UEFA Cup 2007/08 and UEFA Super Cup 2007/08 Triumphs.
1
Next season Russia will have 3 sides competing in the UEFA Champions League. Two have gained Automatic berths. Rubin Kazan and CSKA Moscow. Dynamo Moscow will play through the qualifying rounds to gain the right to join their compatriots.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
was one of the most popular sports in the Soviet Union. While the national teams and the clubs used to be linked to state institutions or mass organizations, in 1991 they became private enterprises. Just like in many other spheres of business, corrupt and sometimes bloody division of power began. Furthermore, many teams of the erstwhile Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
, which was once considered to be one of the strongest and was able to compete with those of England
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
and Italy
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
, were now in divided between the national football associations of the newly independent republics. Many of the top brand names lost their financing from the government and were left to rot, waiting for some forms of sponsorship. Citizens of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
are interested mostly in the national team
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
that gets to compete in the World Cup and the European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, and in the Premier league, where clubs from different cities look to become champions of Russia. There are also competitions considered less important, such as the Russian Cup. Some of the most famous clubs include Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
, Lokomotiv Moscow
FC Lokomotiv Moscow
The following years were rather successful as Lokomotiv were consistent in the national championships. However, performances after World War II suffered and actually in the space of five year Lokomotiv were relegated to the Soviet First League twice. In 1951, Lokomotiv came second and eventually...
, CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
Football Club Zenit is a Russian football club from the city of Saint-Petersburg. Founded in 1925 , the club plays in the Russian Premier League...
, Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...
. There are in fact six teams in the Premier League from the city of Moscow as it was the first city to recover from the destruction of the old system.
Due to the large extension of the country, the top Russian division and its European
European Russia
European Russia refers to the western areas of Russia that lie within Europe, comprising roughly 3,960,000 square kilometres , larger in area than India, and spanning across 40% of Europe. Its eastern border is defined by the Ural Mountains and in the south it is defined by the border with...
-based clubs have often had problems adjusting to having to play clubs from Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, particularly those from the Far East, such as Okean Nakhodka, Luch-Energia Vladivostok and SKA-Energia Khabarovsk. Although it is very rare that a Far Eastern club competes for the Russian league title or spots in UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions, European-based teams often complain about lost matches due to jet lag or other such factors.
Today, football is the number one sport in the country. A very high proportion of men are interested in it to a certain extent (and many children play it regularly) and women also join men when it comes to the national team. The Russian league is rapidly regaining its former strength because of huge sponsorship deals, an influx of finances and a fairly high degree of competitiveness with roughly 10 teams capable of winning the title. Many notable talented foreign players have been and are playing in the Russian league as well as local talented players worthy of a spot in the starting eleven of the best clubs. The relegation battles are also competitive and considered very exciting.
The Russian national team gained attention when they beat traditional European powerhouses The Netherlands 3-1 in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Spain. Nevertheless, four players made the Team of the Tournament. Some players such as Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko
Roman Pavlyuchenko
Roman Anatolyevich Pavlyuchenko is an footballer who currently plays as a centre forward for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and for the Russian national team.-Spartak Moscow:...
earned big-money moves to the English Barclays Premier League after impressing at the tournament.
Thus now the Russian Premier League are among the best in Eastern Europe, as evidenced by recent victories in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(CSKA Moscow defeated Sporting CP in the 2005 final and Zenit St. Petersburg
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
Football Club Zenit is a Russian football club from the city of Saint-Petersburg. Founded in 1925 , the club plays in the Russian Premier League...
earned a victory over Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the 2008 UEFA Cup
2008 UEFA Cup Final
The 2008 UEFA Cup Final was the 37th final of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second tier club football tournament. The match was played at the City of Manchester Stadium, home ground of Manchester City F.C., in Manchester, England, at 20:45 CEST on 14 May 2008.The match was contested by Zenit St. Petersburg...
in Manchester) and also claimed the UEFA Super Cup
2008 UEFA Super Cup
The 2008 UEFA Super Cup was the 33rd UEFA Super Cup, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. The 2008 competition was contested by Manchester United of England, who won the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, and Zenit St....
in a 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Hosting the World Cup
On December 2nd, 2010, Russia was awarded the FIFA World Cup 2018. Russia will host the tournament for the first time.League system
The first level of the Russian league system is the 16-club Premier LeagueRussian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
. Below it are the First Division and Second Division
Russian Second Division
The Russian Second Division is the third level of Russian professional football.In 1998–2010, it was run by the Professional Football League....
, administered by the Professional Football League. The First Division consists of 22 clubs, and the Second Division is split geographically into five zones (West, Centre, South, Ural-Povolzhye, and East) with varying number of clubs. The total number of clubs in the Second Division is 73. After each season, top two clubs of the First Division replace bottom two clubs of the Premier League, and champions of each Second Division zone replace five bottom clubs of the First Division. A championship between youth teams of Premier League clubs also exists.
The Second Division is the lowest level of professional football in Russia. The next level of football is the Amateur Football League, which is split into ten zones: Northwest, Golden Ring, Moscow, Podmoskovye (Moscow region), Chernozemye (Black Earth region), South, Privolzhye (Volga region), Ural and West Siberia, Siberia, and Far East. After each season, the bottom finishers of each Second Division zone are relegated to the Amateur Football League, and the winners of each Amateur Football League are eligible for promotion to the Second Division, subject to meeting Professional Football League requirements.
Seven of the Amateur Football League zones are using one-tier system. The rest (Moscow, Podmoskovye, and Siberia) consist of two divisions with promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. This means that a newly created team can enter the Russian league system at the fourth level and reach the Premier League in three years.
There are also championships of federal subjects
Federal subjects of Russia
Russia is a federation which, since March 1, 2008, consists of 83 federal subjects . In 1993, when the Constitution was adopted, there were 89 federal subjects listed...
. These competitions that are not part of the league system; clubs can enter the Amateur Football League without participation in them.
Cup competitions
The main cup competition in Russia is the Russian Cup. Only professional clubs take part in it.There is also an Amateur Football League Cup, a competition for the Amateur Football League clubs. The winners of this cup are eligible for promotion to the Second Division.
Cups of federal subjects are also played.
European competitions
The Russian League is regarded as the 6th strongest league in Europe, based on its teams performances in European Competition.Russian club sides constantly compete in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. In the last four years Russia has won three major European trophies. These are CSKA Moscow 2004/05 UEFA Cup and Zenit St.Petersburg's UEFA Cup 2007/08 and UEFA Super Cup 2007/08 Triumphs.
Current ranking (2009-10 UEFA competitions)
Correct as of May 21, 2008| Rank 09/10 |
Rank 08/09 |
Mvmt | League | 2003/2004 | 2004/2005 | 2005/2006 | 2006/2007 | 2007/2008 | Coeff. | CL UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It... places |
EL places |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | +1 |  England |
11.250 | 15.571 | 14.428 | 16.625 | 17.875 | 75.749 | 4 | 3 |
| 2 | 1 |  -1 |
 SpainLa Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
14.312 | 12.437 | 15.642 | 19.000 | 13.875 | 75.266 | ||
| 3 | 3 | — |  ItalySerie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
8.875 | 14.000 | 15.357 | 11.928 | 10.250 | 60.410 | ||
| 4 | 4 | — |  FranceLigue 1 Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2.... |
13.500 | 11.428 | 10.812 | 10.000 | 6.928 | 52.668 | 3 | |
| 5 | 5 | — |  GermanyFußball-Bundesliga The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga... |
4.714 | 10.571 | 10.437 | 9.500 | 13.500 | 48.722 | ||
| 6 | 9 | +3 |  RussiaRussian Premier League The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition... |
5.875 | 10.000 | 10.000 | 6.625 | 11.250 | 43.750 | ||
| 7 | 7 | — |  RomaniaLiga I Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"... |
4.333 | 5.500 | 16.833 | 11.333 | 2.600 | 40.599 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | 6 | -2 |
 PortugalPortuguese Liga The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system... |
10.250 | 8.166 | 5.500 | 8.083 | 7.928 | 39.927 | ||
| 9 | 8 | -1 |
 NetherlandsEredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
5.416 | 12.000 | 7.583 | 8.214 | 5.000 | 38.213 | ||
| 10 | 10 | — |  ScotlandScottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
7.375 | 4.750 | 4.250 | 6.750 | 10.250 | 33.375 | 3 | |
| 11 | 14 | +3 |  TurkeyTurkcell Super League The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League... |
6.500 | 5.375 | 4.000 | 6.100 | 9.750 | 31.725 | ||
| 12 | 11 | -1 |
 UkraineUkrainian Premier League The Ukrainian Premier League is the highest division of Ukrainian annual football championship. As the Supreme League it was founded in 1991 after the fold of the Soviet Union's Vysshaya Liga. In 2008 it was reformed into a more autonomous entity of the Football Federation of Ukraine and changed... |
4.875 | 8.100 | 5.750 | 6.500 | 4.875 | 30.100 | ||
| 13 | 12 | -1 |
 Belgium |
5.875 | 6.125 | 5.500 | 4.700 | 4.500 | 26.700 | ||
| 14 | 15 | +1 |  GreeceSuper League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... |
4.166 | 6.166 | 3.333 | 4.666 | 7.500 | 25.831 | ||
| 15 | 13 | -2 |
 Czech RepublicGambrinus Liga The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,... |
7.375 | 2.875 | 4.625 | 5.750 | 5.125 | 25.750 | ||
| 16 | 17 | +1 |  SwitzerlandSwiss Super League The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams... |
1.875 | 2.625 | 9.375 | 4.100 | 6.250 | 24.225 | 1 | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | -1 |
 BulgariaBulgarian A Professional Football Group The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011... |
4.166 | 2.375 | 8.750 | 5.125 | 2.750 | 23.166 | ||
| 18 | 18 | — |  NorwayNorwegian Premier League Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official... |
6.125 | 3.500 | 5.400 | 2.000 | 5.400 | 22.425 | ||
| 19 | 21 | +2 |  DenmarkDanish Superliga The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the... |
4.200 | 1.500 | 3.500 | 6.125 | 5.125 | 20.450 | ||
| 20 | 22 | +2 |  Austria |
2.125 | 7.625 | 3.250 | 1.500 | 3.200 | 17.700 | ||
| 21 | 20 | -1 |
 SerbiaSerbian Superliga Serbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League... |
4.500 | 4.250 | 3.250 | 2.125 | 2.625 | 16.750 | ||
| 22 | 19 | -3 |
 Israel |
2.250 | 3.625 | 1.500 | 6.000 | 2.375 | 15.750 | ||
| 23 | 28 | +5 |  SwedenAllsvenskan Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan... |
1.500 | 3.000 | 2.666 | 1.125 | 5.400 | 13.691 | ||
| 24 | 25 | +1 |  Slovakia |
2.500 | 1.333 | 4.333 | 2.000 | 2.166 | 12.332 | ||
| 25 | 23 | -2 |
 Poland |
4.125 | 2.500 | 1.125 | 2.625 | 1.666 | 12.041 | ||
| 26 | 24 | -2 |
 HungaryHungarian League The Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen... |
4.833 | 4.166 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 11.999 | ||
| 27 | 26 | -1 |
 Croatia |
3.625 | 3.000 | 0.333 | 1.000 | 3.666 | 11.624 | ||
| 28 | 27 | -1 |
 CyprusCypriot First Division The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:... |
1.333 | 1.333 | 3.000 | 1.750 | 2.666 | 10.082 | ||
| 29 | 29 | — |  SloveniaPrvaLiga Telekom Slovenije Slovenian First Football League also known by the abbreviation 1. SNL, is the main football league in Slovenia, and was formed in 1991 after Slovenia became an independent country. From 1920 until the end of the 1990–91 season, the Slovenian Republic League was a lower division of the Yugoslavian... |
2.166 | 3.500 | 2.333 | 1.250 | 0.666 | 9.915 | ||
| 30 | 33 | +3 |  FinlandVeikkausliiga Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name... |
1.666 | 1.666 | 2.333 | 1.333 | 2.625 | 9.623 | ||
| 31 | 31 | — |  LatviaVirsliga -Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs... |
0.833 | 3.166 | 1.333 | 2.166 | 1.333 | 8.831 | ||
| 32 | 30 | -2 |
 Bosnia and HerzegovinaPremier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the top football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the country's most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs with last two teams relegated at the end of every season.... |
1.666 | 1.666 | 1.500 | 1.833 | 1.833 | 8.498 | ||
| 33 | 32 | -1 |
 LithuaniaA Lyga The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by LFF . League size has varied between 8 and 12 teams over the past few years; for its 2011 season, the league features 12 teams... |
0.833 | 2.500 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 1.500 | 7.999 | ||
| 34 | 34 | — |  MoldovaDivizia Nationala The Moldovan National Division is the top division of association football in Moldova. There are 12 teams in the competition. At the end of the season, the bottom club is relegated to the "A" Division and replaced by the lower league's champion.... |
1.500 | 1.500 | 1.666 | 1.500 | 1.333 | 7.499 | ||
| 35 | 35 | — |  Republic of Ireland |
0.333 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 2.833 | 1.000 | 7.332 | ||
| 36 | 38 | +2 |  Macedonia |
1.666 | 0.333 | 1.500 | 1.166 | 1.666 | 6.331 | ||
| 37 | 39 | +2 |  IcelandLandsbankadeild The Úrvalsdeild karla is the top tier of the Icelandic football pyramid. Because of the harsh winters in Iceland, it is generally played in the spring and summer . It is run by the Football Association of Iceland and is currently comprised by 12 clubs. UEFA currently ranks the league 37th in... |
0.500 | 2.500 | 0.833 | 1.000 | 1.166 | 5.999 | ||
| 38 | 36 | -2 |
 GeorgiaUmaglesi Liga The Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union... |
0.333 | 2.666 | 0.666 | 1.166 | 1.000 | 5.831 | ||
| 39 | 37 | -2 |
 LiechtensteinLiechtenstein football Cup The Liechtenstein Football Cup is Liechtenstein's premier football competition, and has been organised annually by the Liechtenstein Football Association since 1946. The winner qualifies to take part in the UEFA Europa League.... 1 |
0.000 | 2.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 0.500 | 5.500 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | 40 | — |  BelarusBelarusian Premier League -Soviet era champions:*1934 BVO *1935 BVO *1936 BVO *1937 Dinamo *1938 Dinamo *1939 Dinamo *1940 DKA *1941-44 unknown... |
0.666 | 0.500 | 1.333 | 1.000 | 1.833 | 5.332 | 1 | 3 |
| 41 | 42 | +1 |  EstoniaMeistriliiga Meistriliiga is the highest division of the Estonian Football Association annual football championship. The league was founded in 1991 and the current, 2011 is the league's 21st season... |
0.333 | 0.833 | 0.833 | 1.500 | 0.833 | 4.332 | ||
| 42 | 44 | +2 |  Azerbaijan |
0.000 | 0.500 | 1.333 | 1.333 | 0.666 | 3.832 | ||
| 43 | 41 | -2 |
 Albania |
0.333 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 0.833 | 0.500 | 3.666 | ||
| 44 | 43 | -1 |
 ArmeniaArmenian Premier League The Armenian Premier League is the top football competition in Armenia. From 1936 to 1991, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the USSR. After independence, the Football Federation of Armenia has been the unit in charge. The seasons run from spring to fall... |
0.666 | 0.500 | 0.666 | 0.500 | 1.333 | 3.665 | ||
| 45 | 45 | — |  KazakhstanKazakhstan Super League The Kazakhstan Premier League is the top division of football in Kazakhstan. The League is controlled by the Football Union of Kazakhstan and was set up in 1992. The League is fed into by the First Division, starting spring and finishing in late fall, making each championship correspond to a... |
0.166 | 0.000 | 1.000 | 0.666 | 0.750 | 2.582 | ||
| 46 | 46 | — |  Northern Ireland |
0.500 | 0.666 | 0.500 | 0.166 | 0.500 | 2.332 | ||
| 47 | 47 | — |  WalesLeague of Wales The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal... |
0.333 | 0.000 | 0.666 | 0.666 | 0.666 | 2.331 | ||
| 48 | 48 | — |  Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands Premier League Football The Faroe Islands Premier League, the top division of football in the Faroe Islands, was founded in 1942. It is organised by the Faroe Islands Football Association. The league has been known as Vodafonedeildin since February 2009 for sponsorship reasons.... |
0.000 | 0.333 | 0.666 | 0.500 | 0.333 | 1.832 | ||
| 49 | 49 | — |  LuxembourgLuxembourg National Division The National Division is the highest football league in Luxembourg. Until 2011, it is to be known as the BGL Ligue, after the Luxembourg Football Federation managed to seal a sponsorship deal with Fortis. Before 2006, it contained twelve teams, but it expanded to fourteen for the 2006-07 season,... |
0.166 | 0.333 | 0.500 | 0.166 | 0.333 | 1.498 | ||
| 50 | 50 | — |  Malta |
0.333 | 0.333 | 0.000 | 0.166 | 0.000 | 0.832 | ||
| 51 | — | — |  MontenegroMontenegrin First League The First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round... |
0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.500 | 0.500 | ||
| 51 | 51 | — |  AndorraAndorran First Division The Andorran First Division is the top football league for the country of Andorra. The league is a part-time league: all of the clubs and the majority of the players are part-time.... |
0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 1 | 1 |
| 53 | 52 | -1 |
 San MarinoCampionato Sammarinese di Calcio Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio is an amateur league competition for football clubs located at the top echelon of the Sammarinese football league system and has been operating since 1985... |
0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.250 | 0.250 |
1
Next season Russia will have 3 sides competing in the UEFA Champions League. Two have gained Automatic berths. Rubin Kazan and CSKA Moscow. Dynamo Moscow will play through the qualifying rounds to gain the right to join their compatriots.
See also
- Sport in RussiaSport in RussiaRussia is a keen sporting country, successful at a number of sports and continuously finishing in the top rankings at the Olympic games. During the Soviet era the team placed first in the total number of medals won at 14 of its 18 appearances; with these performances, the USSR was the dominant...
- List of Russian football transfers summer 2008
- UEFA Euro 2008