The Russian Second League 1997 was the 6th edition of the Second Division. There were 3 zones with 61 teams starting the competition (3 were excluded before the end of the season). This was the last season that the professional Russian Third League existed. Next season the Second League became the lowest professional level once again.

Overview

Team	Head coach
FC Arsenal Tula	Yevhen Kucherevskyi
FC Lokomotiv Liski FC Lokomotiv Liski FC Lokomotiv Liski is a Russian association football club from Liski, founded in 1936. It first played on the professional league level in 1995. The highest level it achieved was Russian Second Division, where it plays in 2009.-Current squad:...	Vladimir Ponomaryov
FC Salyut-YuKOS Belgorod	Aleksandr Kryukov Aleksandr Kryukov Aleksandr Fyodorovich Kryukov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan is an association football club based in Astrakhan, Russia. In 2008, they won the Russian Second Division in the South Zone and were promoted to the Russian First Division for 2009.-History:...	Boris Bashkin
FC Spartak Tambov FC Spartak Tambov FC Spartak Tambov is a Russian association football club from Tambov, founded in 1960. As of 2009, it plays in the Russian Second Division. It played on the second-highest level of the Soviet First League from 1960 to 1962...	Vladimir Kovylin Vladimir Kovylin Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kovylin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. Currently, he manages FC Spartak Tambov. As a player, he made his debut in the Soviet Second League in 1976 for FC Revtrud Tambov ....
FC Torpedo Taganrog	Anatoli Bulgakov Anatoli Nikolayevich Bulgakov Anatoli Nikolayevich Bulgakov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz was a Russian association football club from Vladikavkaz, founded in 1983. It first played on the professional level in 1990. The highest level it ever achieved was Russian First Division where it played in 1993 and 1994...	Ruslan Sakiyev
FC Avtozapchast Baksan	Sergei Tashuev Sergei Tashuev Sergei Abuyezidovich Tashuyev is a Russian professional football coach. He manages PFC Spartak Nalchik in the Russian Premier League.He worked as an assistant to Aleksandr Tarkhanov on three different teams...
FC Avtomobilist Noginsk	Vladimir Bodrov
FC Kavkazkabel Prokhladny	Boris Kayushnikov
FC Angusht Nazran FC Angusht Nazran FC Angusht Nazran is a Russian association football club from Nazran. In 2006, the club played in the Russian First Division, the second level of Russian professional football. In 2011, they play in the Russian Second Division....	Timur Kuriyev Timur Kuriyev Timur Eriskhanovich Kuriyev is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Dynamo Vologda FC Dynamo Vologda FC Dynamo Vologda is a Russian football club from Vologda, founded in 1926 and competing professionally since 1966. It was called FC Lokomotiv Vologda until 1966. As of 2009, it plays in the Russian Second Division...	Leon Yagubyants
FC MChS-Selyatino Selyatino	Leonid Nazarenko Leonid Nazarenko Leonid Vasilyevich Nazarenko is a retired Soviet football player and a current Russian coach.-International career:...
FC Venets Gulkevichi	Viktor Zvyagin
FC Avangard Kursk FC Avangard Kursk FC Avangard Kursk is an association football club based in Kursk, Russia. In 2011, it will once again play in the Russian Second Division after taking the last place in Russian First Division in 2010, where it spent one season....	Aleksandr Galkin Aleksandr Ivanovich Galkin Aleksandr Ivanovich Galkin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. As of October 2009, he works as president's assistant on security matters with FC Avangard Kursk.-External links:*...
FC Mosenergo Moscow	Valentin Sysoyev Valentin Borisovich Sysoyev Valentin Borisovich Sysoyev is a Russian professional football coach.-External links:*...
FC Spartak Anapa	Igor Zazroyev Igor Zazroyev Igor Andreyevich Zazroyev is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC SKA Rostov-on-Don FC SKA Rostov-on-Don FC SKA Rostov-on-Don is a Russian association football club based in Rostov-on-Don. The club's rich history includes becoming runners-up of the Soviet Top League in 1966 and winning the Soviet Cup in 1981.-History:...	Sergei Shvetsov
FC Torpedo Armavir FC Torpedo Armavir FC Torpedo Armavir is a Russian association football club from Armavir, founded in 1960. It was active from 1960 to 1969 and from 1990 to 1998...	Nurbiy Khakunov Nurbiy Khakunov Nurbiy Khasambiyevich Khakunov is a Russian professional football coach. Currently, he is a director with FC Krasnodar.-External links:...
FC Energiya Pyatigorsk	Sergei Razaryonov Sergei Razaryonov Sergei Aleksandrovich Razaryonov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Gatchina FC Gatchina FC Gatchina was a Russian football team from Gatchina. It played professionally from 1992 to 1997. Their best result was 7th place in Zone 3 of the Russian Second Division in 1992.-External links:...	Nikolai Gosudarenkov Nikolai Gosudarenkov Nikolai Vasilyevich Gosudarenkov is a Russian professional football coach. As of 2009, he manages an Amateur Football League team FC Novgorod.-External links:*...
FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi	Vladimir Aleynikov

Standings

Notes.

1. FC Dynamo-Zhemchuzhina-2 Sochi was excluded from the league after playing 7 games and gaining 3 points. All their results were discarded. They did not play on national level in 1998.
2. FC Gatchina was excluded from the league after playing 16 games and gaining 18 points. All their results were discarded. They did not play on national level in 1998.
3. FC Energiya Pyatigorsk was excluded from the league after playing 22 games and gaining 13 points (it also won a game against FC Gatchina, who were excluded from the league earlier). All the remaining games were awarded to the opponents with a score of 3-0.
4. FC Avtozapchast Baksan did not play on national level in 1998.

Top goalscorers

33 goals

• Aleksandr Kuzmichyov
  Aleksandr Kuzmichyov
  Aleksandr Vladimirovich Kuzmichyov is a retired Russian professional footballer who played as either a midfielder or striker, and a current coach.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Arsenal Tula)

32 goals

• Dmitri Kirichenko (FC Torpedo Taganrog)

26 goals

• Vladimir Kharin
  Vladimir Kharin
  Vladimir Anatolyevich Kharin is a retired Russian professional football player.-Honours:* Russian Second Division top scorer: 1993 , 1999 .-External links:*...
  
   (FC Lokomotiv Liski)

21 goals

• Andrei Bakalets
  Andrei Bakalets
  Andrei Vasilyevich Bakalets is a retired Russian professional football player. Currently, he works as an administrator with FC Nara-ShBFR Naro-Fominsk.-External links:*...
  
   (FC MChS-Selyatino Selyatino)

16 goals

• Oleg Delov
  Oleg Delov
  Oleg Leonidovich Delov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He made his professional debut in the Soviet Second League in 1981 for FC Avangard Kursk.-References:...
  
   (FC Avangard Kursk)

14 goals
Anderson (FC Arsenal Tula)

• Anatoli Balaluyev
  Anatoli Balaluyev
  Anatoli Anatolyevich Balaluyev is a Russian professional footballer. As of September 2009, he plays for FC Zvezda Serpukhov. He made his debut in the Russian Premier League in 2000 for FC Alania Vladikavkaz.-External links:...
  
   (FC Avtomobilist Noginsk)
• Alik Dulayev (FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz)
• Grigori Ivanov
  Grigori Ivanov
  Grigori Vladimirovich Ivanov is a retired Russian professional footballer. He made his professional debut in the Soviet First League in 1990 for FC Spartak Vladikavkaz.-References:...
  
   (FC Avtodor Vladikavkaz)
• Mikhail Shumilin (FC MChS-Selyatino Selyatino)

Overview

Team	Head coach
FC Rubin Kazan FC Rubin Kazan FC Rubin Kazan is a Russian association football club based in the city of Kazan . Rubin won the Russian Premier League championship in 2008 and 2009.-History:...	Igor Volchok Igor Volchok Igor Semyonovich Volchok is a Russian professional football coach.-External links:*...
FC Amkar Perm FC Amkar Perm FC Amkar Perm is a professional football club playing in Russian Premier League.They are based in the city of Perm and are the easternmost football club in Europe playing in top national competition...	Sergei Oborin Sergei Oborin Sergei Grigoryevich Oborin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Spartak Ryazan FC Spartak Ryazan FC Spartak Ryazan was a Russian football team from Ryazan. It played professionally in 1949 and from 1959 to 1999. It played on the second-highest level in 1949, 1959-1962, 1968 and 1992-1993...	Sergei Nedosekin Sergei Nedosekin Sergei Ivanovich Nedosekin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Energiya Chaikovsky	Sergei Kleymyonov Sergei Kleymyonov Sergei Vasilyevich Kleymyonov is a Russian professional football coach. He is currently the technical director with FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny.-External links:*...
FC Nosta Novotroitsk FC Nosta Novotroitsk FC Nosta Novotroitsk is a Russian association football club. The club finished 16th in the Russian First Division in 2009 and was relegated to the Russian Second Division. In early 2010 it was announced that the club is dissolved due to lack of financing...	Aleksandr Salnov Aleksandr Salnov Aleksandr Vasilyevich Salnov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. In early 2008 he managed FC SOYUZ-Gazprom Izhevsk, but due to lack of proper license was not officially registered as the head coach.-External links:*...
FC Torpedo Arzamas	Valeri Sinau Valeri Sinau Valeri Nikolayevich Sinau is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...  (until July) Vladimir Inyutin (from August)
FC UralAZ Miass	Pyotr Nagayev
FC Don Novomoskovsk	Igor Solovyov
FC Torpedo Pavlovo	Aleksandr Sarafannikov
FC Volga Ulyanovsk FC Volga Ulyanovsk FC Volga Ulyanovsk is professional association football club based in Ulyanovsk, Russia. In 2008, they were relegated to the Russian Second Division 2009 after they finished 17th in Russian First Division...	Aleksandr Korolyov Aleksandr Petrovich Korolyov Aleksandr Petrovich Korolyov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Volga Tver FC Volga Tver FC Volga Tver is an association football club from Tver, Russia, founded in 1957. As of 2009, it plays in the Russian Second Division. It has played professionally in 1937, 1949, 1953 to 1956, 1958 to 1999, and from 2004. In 1992-1995, the club was called Trion-Volga Tver...	Yuri Zubkov
FC Oryol	Vladimir Brykin
FC Tekstilshchik Ivanovo	Vladimir Belkov Vladimir Belkov Vladimir Ivanovich Belkov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Sodovik Sterlitamak FC Sodovik Sterlitamak FC Sodovik Sterlitamak was a Russian association football club based in Sterlitamak.-History:FC Sodovik is a team owned by OAO Soda. The team played in the Republic of Bashkortostan championship, winning it three times in 1967, 1979, and 1991. In 1992, Sodovik replaced Kauchuk, another team from...	Sergei Maksimov
FC Svetotekhnika Saransk	Vladimir Bibikov
FC Spartak-Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo	Leonid Ostroushko
FC Magnitka Magnitogorsk	Viktor Sokolovskiy
FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg is an association football club from Saint Petersburg, Russia. The club played in the Russian First Division in 2010 after winning the Western zone of the Russian Second Division in 2009. But, the club relegated back to the third level after finishing 16th in 2010...	Mark Rubin
FC Spartak Shchyolkovo FC Spartak Shchyolkovo FC Spartak Shchyolkovo is a Russian football club from Shchyolkovo, founded in 1992. It first played on the professional level in 1993. It came second in the division twice, just missing the promotion into the Russian First Division, in 1998 and 1999...	Aleksandr Leksin
FC Sibir Kurgan	Igor Kuznetsov
FC Zenit Izhevsk	Stanislav Korotayev

Standings

Notes.

1. FC Orekhovo Orekhovo-Zuyevo renamed to FC Spartak-Orekhovo.
2. FC Metallurg Magnitogorsk renamed to FC Magnitka.
3. No teams were relegated from this zone.

Top goalscorers

26 goals

• Eduard Zatsepin
  Eduard Zatsepin
  Eduard Konstantinovich Zatsepin is a Russian professional footballer. In 2011, he played for FC Avangard Kursk.-Honours:* Russian Second Division Zone Ural/Povolzhye best player: 2005....
  
   (FC Svetotekhnika Saransk)

25 goals

• Andrei Knyazev
  Andrei Nikolayevich Knyazev
  Andrei Nikolayevich Knyazev is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Rubin Kazan)

22 goals

• Vladimir Filimonov
  Vladimir Filimonov
  Vladimir Nikolayevich Filimonov is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Energiya Chaikovsky)

19 goals
Yuriy Yakovenko

Yuriy Yakovenko

Yuriy Yakovenko is a professional Ukrainian football striker who plays for FC Obolon Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League.Yakovenko is product of youth team systems of FC Arsenal Kyiv, but in July 2010 transferred to other Kyivan club Obolon...

 (FC Torpedo Arzamas)

17 goals

• Sergei Budarin (FC Nosta Novotroitsk)

16 goals

• Vladimir Pantyushenko
  Vladimir Pantyushenko
  Vladimir Nikolayevich Pantyushenko is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Rubin Kazan)

14 goals

• Vitali Papadopulo
  Vitali Papadopulo
  Vitali Vladimirovich Papadopulo ) is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. As of 2009, he works as an administrator with FC Bataysk-2007.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Torpedo Arzamas)
• Konstantin Paramonov
  Konstantin Paramonov
  Konstantin Valentinovich Paramonov is a Russian football coach and a former player. As of 2009, he is an assistant coach with FC Amkar Perm reserve team. He scored the most league goals in Amkar's history...
  
   (FC Amkar Perm)

13 goals

• Aleksandr Katasonov
  Aleksandr Katasonov
  Aleksandr Mikhailovich Katasonov is a Russian professional football coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for FC Khimki.-Career:In the 2005 Virslīga season he was voted as the best forward in the Virslīga...
  
   (FC Amkar Perm)
• Andrei Minvaliyev (FC Tekstilshchik Ivanovo)

Overview

Team	Head coach
FC Tom Tomsk	Vladimir Yurin Vladimir Yurin Vladimir Ivanovich Yurin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
FC Samotlor-XXI Nizhnevartovsk	Sergei Iromashvili Sergei Iromashvili Sergei Aleksandrovich Iromashvili is a Russian professional football coach. Currently, he manages FC Dynamo Barnaul.-External links:...
FC SKA Khabarovsk	Vladimir Susin Vladimir Susin Vladimir Sergeyevich Susin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He last managed FC Mostovik-Primorye Ussuriysk in the Russian Second Division in 2010.-External links:*...
FC Zvezda Irkutsk FC Zvezda Irkutsk FC Zvezda Irkutsk was a Russian football club based in Irkutsk. Zvezda finished first in the Russian Second Division East in 2006, winning promotion to the Russian First Division...	Sergei Muratov Sergei Muratov Sergei Alekseyevich Muratov was a Russian professional football coach and a player.-External links:*...
FC Dynamo Barnaul FC Dynamo Barnaul FC Dynamo Barnaul is the Russian professional club from Barnaul. Founded in 1957. Following the 2008 season, the club was relegated from the Russian First Division to the Russian Second Division.-Current squad:As of October 10, 2011, according to the ....	Aleksandr Gostenin Aleksandr Gostenin Aleksandr Nikolayevich Gostenin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He played 2 games for FC Torpedo Moscow in the European Cup Winners' Cup 1986–87.-External links:*...
FC Chkalovets Novosibirsk	Valeri Yerkovich Valeri Yerkovich Valeri Borisovich Yerkovich is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He currently works as a player agent and a scout.-External links:*...
FC Irtysh Tobolsk	Rudolf Atamalyan Rudolf Atamalyan Rudolf Sergeyevich Atamalyan is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. As of 2009, he coaches 12-13 year old children in a Sochi soccer school.-External links:*...
FC Kuzbass Kemerovo FC KUZBASS Kemerovo FC KUZBASS Kemerovo is an association football club from Kemerovo, Russia, founded in 1946. It plays in the Russian Second Division. It played professionally in 1946, 1948–1949, 1957–2002 and from 2005...	Viktor Shel
FC Dynamo Omsk	Artyom Amirdzhanov
FC Viktoriya Nazarovo	Mikhail Putintsev
FC Amur-Energiya Blagoveshchensk	Vyacheslav Kurtsayev
FC Metallurg Krasnoyarsk FC Metallurg Krasnoyarsk FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk is a Russian football club based in Krasnoyarsk. The club will play in the Russian First Division in 2011 after winning their zone of the Russian Second Division in 2010.-History:...	Yuri Sipkin
FC Metallurg-ZapSib Novokuznetsk	Vitali Golopolosov
FC Angara Angarsk	Ivan Korzhenko
FC Selenga Ulan-Ude	Valeri Mikhnov
FC Torpedo Rubtsovsk	Vladimir Vorzhev
FC Okean Nakhodka FC Okean Nakhodka Okean Nakhodka is a Russian football club based in Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai. The club's colours are white and blue.-History:In 1989 Okean won the RSFSR Cup, and in 1991 they won the regional league....	Pavel Palatin Pavel Palatin Pavel Vladimirovich Palatin is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He currently manages the Amateur Football League side FC LuTEK-Energiya Luchegorsk.-External links:*...
FC Mezhdurechensk	Viktor Kolmogorov

Standings

Notes.

1. FC Amur Blagoveshchensk renamed to FC Amur-Energiya.

Top goalscorers

21 goals

• Aleksandr Yarkin
  Aleksandr Dmitriyevich Yarkin
  Aleksandr Dmitriyevich Yarkin is a retired Russian professional football player.His brother Vladislav Yarkin was also a professional footballer.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Viktoriya Nazarovo)

16 goals

• Vadim Belokhonov
  Vadim Belokhonov
  Vadim Aleksandrovich Belokhonov is a Russian professional football player. In 2009, he played in the Russian Second Division for FC Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Metallurg Krasnoyarsk)

15 goals

• Stanislav Chaplygin
  Stanislav Chaplygin
  Stanislav Vasilyevich Chaplygin is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Metallurg-Zapsib Novokuznetsk)
• Andrei Korovin (FC Amur-Energiya Blagoveshchensk)

14 goals

• Yevgeni Savin (FC Dynamo Barnaul)

13 goals

• Aleksei Kandalintsev
  Aleksei Kandalintsev
  Aleksei Sergeyevich Kandalintsev is a Russian professional football player. In 2010 played for FC Mostovik-Primorye Ussuriysk in the Russian Second Division.-External links:*...
  
   (FC SKA Khabarovsk)
• Dmitri Kudinov (FC Tom Tomsk)

12 goals

• Sergei Ageyev
  Sergei Ageyev
  Sergei Yuryevich Ageyev is a retired Russian professional football player. He currently works as an administrator for the reserves team of FC Tom Tomsk.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Tom Tomsk)
• Vyacheslav Vishnevskiy (FC Tom Tomsk)

11 goals

• Vyacheslav Fomin (FC Irtysh Tobolsk)
• Anatoli Kisurin
  Anatoli Kisurin
  Anatoli Yevgenyevich Kisurin is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Dynamo Omsk)
• Anatoli Panchenko (FC Dynamo Barnaul)
• Sergei Rogalevskiy (FC Kuzbass Kemerovo)
• Yevgeni Sadovnikov (FC Zvezda Irkutsk)
• Igor Zykov
  Igor Zykov
  Igor Nikolayevich Zykov is a retired Russian professional football player.-External links:*...
  
   (FC Selenga Ulan-Ude)

See also

• Russian Top League 1997
• Russian First League 1997
  Russian First League 1997
  -Overview:-Standings:Notes.# FC Lokomotiv Chita awarded 2 home wins, FC Luch Vladivostok awarded 1 home win.# FC Lada Dimitrovgrad renamed to FC Lada-Grad.# FC Lada Togliatti renamed to FC Lada-Togliatti-VAZ....
  
  
• Russian Third League 1997
  Russian Third League 1997
  The Russian Third League 1997 was the 4th and, so far, final time competition on the fourth level of Russian football was professional. In 1998 Russian Third League was disbanded and the Amateur Football League moved back to fourth level of the Russian football pyramid...