Season Preview: Spartak Moscow. Volksteam

By: Ivan | March 10th, 2007

Spartak Location. Spartak has a lot of fans not only in Moscow – they always were like Juventus in Italy. Every second man outside Moscow loves Spartak. The club was big throughout nineties and won 9 Premier League titles but didn’t gain much European success. Anyway “Spartak – champion!” is the most popular slogan among Russian football fans.

Team. Has a long, glorious history. Famed with special build of a game, “Spartak style”: back-to-back passing and parallel running. The beginning of XXI century was the great convulsion to Spartak – they’ve lost big coach Oleg Romantsev, sold key players and bought crap instead. Now, after some changes, team is trying to return on past level with coach Vladimir Fedotov, who is old-timer in Spartak’ management.

Spartak vs Zenit Star. Egor Titov – long-time captain and the last one who played with famous Spartak’ stars of the past. He was declared “keeper of true Spartak spirit” but unfortunately playing worse and worse. But Spartak’ academy grew some good youngsters – Roman Shishkin, Artyom Dzuba and Dmitriy Torbinskiy now reach the first team.

Transfers. It’s strange but Spartak, who claim to win championship, failed transfer campaign. Main aim was Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia but he didn’t arrive and now club have a big problem. They signed Croatian Stipe Pletikosa on last day of transfer period but I’m afraid that won’t be a salvation.

Rivals. Sure it’s another “people’s team” – Zenit St. Petersburg. If you want to have some real Russian football, visit Spartak vs. Zenit (see photo). And another rival is CSKA – not so attended but also very hot derby.

Fact. Vladimir Fedotov said that his team are “the most cheerful” in Premier League. That’s it, Vladimir, that’s it. Only Spartak could left the team bus for going to Champions League match against Inter on subway. And after that concede a goal on 1st minute. Oh yeah. How cheerful.