Teams
Rostov
FC Akhmat Grozny
Krasnodar
Zenit St Petersburg
CSKA Moscow
Lokomotiv Moscow
Spartak Moscow
Dinamo Moscow
Rubin Kazan
Ural
Krylia Sovetov
FC Ufa
Arsenal Tula
FC Orenburg
PFC Sochi
Amkar Perm
Anzhi Makhachkala
FK Khimki
FC Nizhny Novgorod
Fakel Voronezh
FK Tambov
Kuban Krasnodar
Mordovia Saransk
Torpedo Moscow
FK Yenisey
SKA Energia Khabarovsk
Rotor Volgograd
Tom Tomsk
Baltika Kaliningrad
Akron Tolyatti
FK Tosno
Dynamo Makhachkala
Wikipedia - Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League (RPL; Russian: Российская премьер-лига, Rossiyskaya premyer-liga; РПЛ), also written as Russian Premier Liga, is the top division professional association football league in Russia. It was established at the end of 2001 as the Russian Football Premier League (RFPL; Russian: Российская футбольная премьер-лига; РФПЛ) and was rebranded with its current name in 2018. From 1992 through 2001, the top level of the Russian football league system was the Russian Football Championship (Russian: Чемпионат России по футболу, Chempionat Rossii po Futbolu).
There are 16 teams in the competition. As of the 2021/22 season, the league had two Champions League qualifying spots for the league winners and league runners-up, and two spots in the UEFA Conference League were allocated to the third- and fourth-placed teams. However, those have all been suspended due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with the national team's participation in international competitions. The last two teams are relegated to the Russian First League at the end of the season, while the 13th and 14th placed teams compete against the National League's 4th and 3rd teams respectively in a two-legged playoff.
The Russian Premier League succeeded the Top Division including history and records. The Top Division was run by the Professional Football League of Russia. Since July 2022, the league is currently called Mir Russian Premier League (Russian: Мир Российская премьер-лига), also written as Mir Russian Premier Liga (after the Mir payment system), for sponsorship reasons.
Since the introduction of the Russian Premier League in 2002, Zenit Saint Petersburg (10 times), CSKA Moscow (6 times), Lokomotiv Moscow (3 times), Rubin Kazan (2 times) and Spartak Moscow (1 time) have won the title. Zenit Saint Petersburg are the current champions winning the competition since 2018–19 until 2022–23 consecutively.
History
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, starting in 1992, each former Soviet republic organized an independent national championship. In Russia, the six Russian teams who had played in the Soviet Top League in 1991 (CSKA Moscow, Spartak Moscow, Torpedo Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Vladikavkaz, and Lokomotiv Moscow) were supplemented with 14 teams from lower divisions to form a 20-team Russian Top Division. The Top Division was divided into two groups to reduce the total number of matches. The number of teams in the Top Division was reduced to 18 in 1993 and 16 in 1994. Since then, the Russian Top Division (and the Premier League since 2002) has consisted of 16 teams, except for a short-lived experiment with having two more teams in 1996 and 1997.[]
Spartak Moscow won nine of the first ten titles. Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz was the only team which managed to break Spartak's dominance, winning the top division title in 1995. Lokomotiv Moscow have won the title three times, and CSKA Moscow six times.[] In 2007, Zenit St. Petersburg won the title for the first time in their history in Russian professional football; they had also won a Soviet title in 1984. 2008 brought the rise of Rubin Kazan, a club entirely new to the Russian top flight, as it had never competed in the Soviet Top League.[]
In preparation for the 2018–19 season, it was decided to hold a rebranding in which a new logo was presented.
As a result of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine, all Russian club and national teams were banned from European competition indefinitely. Spartak Moscow, who were competing in the UEFA Europa League and were the only Russian club team remaining in European competition at the time, were disqualified from their tie against RB Leipzig, who advanced on a walkover.
Comprising of 16 teams, the Russia Premier League follows a round-robin format, where each team plays against every other team twice, once at home and once away. The season typically runs from July to May, with a winter break in December and January.
The league features some of the most successful and historic clubs in Russian football, including Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Lokomotiv Moscow. These teams have a rich history and passionate fan bases, creating an electrifying atmosphere during matches.
The Russia Premier League is known for its competitive nature, with intense rivalries and closely contested matches. The league has witnessed numerous thrilling encounters, showcasing the skills and tactics of both domestic and international players.
The tournament serves as a platform for young talents to showcase their abilities and attract attention from scouts and clubs around the world. Many players who have excelled in the Russia Premier League have gone on to have successful careers in top European leagues.
The league has also made significant strides in recent years, with increased investment in infrastructure, player development, and marketing. This has resulted in improved facilities, higher quality of play, and increased international recognition for the league.
The Russia Premier League has a strong following both domestically and internationally, with matches broadcasted to millions of viewers worldwide. The league's popularity continues to grow, attracting fans from all corners of the globe who are drawn to the excitement and competitiveness of Russian football.
Overall, the Russia Premier League is a thrilling and highly competitive soccer tournament that showcases the best of Russian football. With its rich history, passionate fan base, and talented players, it continues to captivate audiences and establish itself as one of the top leagues in Europe.