What happened to the football project of billionaires in Russia

Remembering the fate of several football projects from 2004, which were noted in the history of billionaires

The first issue of the Russian the Forbes (April of 2004), in the article "Playing the $ 100 million," Senator Ralif Safin announced the purchase of Sochi football club "Pearl" in order to turn a "dead" team (in 2003 due to financial problems it was disbanded) in the Russian champion. The former first vice-president of "Lukoil", caught in the Forbes list with a fortune of $ 210 million in May, 2004, explained his investment interest in Russian football cancel the business prospects of the sector, predicting clubs fast growth of income from television, implementing merchandise and tickets. However, in 2019 only a few Premier League teams ( "Zenith", "Spartacus", CSKA) have a solid commercial revenues, the rest is almost entirely dependent on sponsorship / state budget subsidies and risk to disappear - as clubs from Forbes Galleries.

"Pearl" (Sochi) - FC "Sochi"

On "Fischt" opened the 2014 Games and rooting for the Russian national team at the World Championship in 2018, and now plays a FC "Sochi"

In 2004, Safin announced Ralif deal did not happen, the investor for the "Pearl" was found only in 2008. They became the owner of a network of gambling "Golden Watermelon" Dmitry Yakushev. For three and a half years he spent on the project more than $ 50 million in 2010, paid a brilliant PR-campaign of the club -. Billboards "We abandoned it," with a picture of the back of David Beckham and videos "The future belongs to us" at the federal TV, and for the season 2011/12 put together a good team led by coach Stanislav Cherchesovym to go in the Premier league. However, in the summer of 2011, the money ran out: Yakushev announced that the "Pearl of the FNL is removed from the championship, but has promised to close all the accumulated debts. Since 2013th club "Sochi" acted PFL few seasons, but in 2017 due to financial problems, was disbanded. New team - and instantly level FNL - resort city received in 2018. Petersburg "Dynamo", which in 2015 saved from bankruptcy by billionaire Boris Rotenberg, has changed its name (now LLC "FC" Sochi ") and registration. With a small arena, "Petrovsky" club with an average attendance of less than 1,000 people moved to a comfortable 45-thousanders "Fischt" by the sea.

"Torpedo" (Moscow)

At the beginning of zero, "Torpedo" is among the leaders of Russian football, but at home games in "Luzhniki" team almost did not collect spectators

In 2004, the team owned by JSC "Luzhniki", is in the top 5 of the best clubs in the country, but it collects an average of 6,000 spectators at the 80000th stadium. A year earlier, a group of businessmen led by Alexander Mamut tried to buy the "Torpedo" for $ 30 million, but the parties have not agreed.

In 2006, the team for the first time in the history of flies from the top division, experiencing serious financial problems, and markets leaders: Igor Semshova in the "Dynamo" (Moscow) for € 4, 5 million, and Emir Spahic in the "locomotive" for € 3 million.

In 2009, the general director of "Luzhniki" Vladimir Aleshin returns Zilu blocking stake in the club for a symbolic association with the prospect of the ruble, "Torpedo" and team-clone "Torpedo-ZIL". However, as a result of a complex mnogohodovki control of "Torpedo" goes to the General Director Alexander Tukmanovu, 24, 5% of the shares to repay the debt in 343 million rubles, the company receives Tatevos Surinov "Elger", as the main shareholder and the investor is the Moscow government. The club briefly deprived of professional status, but soon returns it. In the summer of 2010, a 49% stake in the club buys the company Energy Consulting Mikhail Ponomarev, a longtime fan of "Torpedo", but in the spring of 2011 due to a conflict with Tukmanovym businessman leaving the team.

In 2014, the team for the season back in the Premier League and inglorious flies back to the First Division, and already in 2015 because of debts (more than 200 million rubles), "Torpedo" can not be declared even in the First Division, but for participation costs third on the status of the country's football league - PFL - takes on the ZIL.

In 2017 billionaire Roman Avdeev, a year earlier bought from Mikhail Prokhorov Stadium. Streltcova as part of a large developer OPIN becomes the primary owner (75, 5%) since long in 1 billion.

In 2019 the club "Torpedo Moscow" played in the championship of the PFL and keeps the leaders of the "Center" group. The budget for the 2018/19 season - about 150 million rubles, the title sponsor - Ingrad, goal - reaching the FNL. "We will gradually put before the club high goals" - articulates perspectives "Torpedo" Avdeev.

FC "Moskva"

In the season-2007 "Moscow" Leonid Slutsky has achieved the best result in its short history (4th place), but the coach was fired. Now he works in the Netherlands

The team created the beginning of the championship-2004 on the initiative of the Government of Moscow-based Premier League club "Torpedo-Metallurg" belonging "Norilsk Nickel". By the time the "Norilsk Nickel" bought from ZIL and football infrastructure - for example, they Stadium. Streltsov for 530 million rubles. "Moscow" completes the championship-2004 at the 9th place.

Season 2007 - the best in the history of the "Moscow": 4th place in the championship and the finals of the Russian Cup. In spite of the excellent results, the club parted ways with head coach Leonid Slutsky, appointed during the 2005 season of the double. The official reason for the resignation - the team did not fulfill the task to get into the top-3. But now to resume Slutsk three titles Russian champion (CSKA), experience with the national team (at Euro 2016) and in English, "City Hall". In the 2018/19 season he coached the Dutch "Vitesse", owned by Russian businessman Alexander Chigirinsky. In 2010, "Norilsk Nickel" refuses to finance the "Moscow" and selling players: for example, Alexander Samedov goes to "Dynamo" (Moscow) for € 4, 5 million by the time Prokhorov already has no relation to the "Norilsk Nickel". nor to the "Moscow", but the stadium. Streltsov (and 15 hectares of land around) belongs to one of his businesses - bought for 114 million rubles. The club refused to participate in the Premier League season and later ceases to exist.

In 2016 90, 99% of the shares belonging to the group "Onexim" developer OPIN, including a development project in the area of ​​the stadium. Streltsov, acquires concern "Rossium" Roman Avdeev. value of the asset, according to Forbes in December 2016, is $ 40 million. In 2018 Avdeyev announced the reconstruction of the stadium plans them. Streltsov, which holds its home games "Torpedo Moscow". The capacity of the arena will increase to 15,000, the stands will lay visors, will be removed treadmills, equip club museum and so on. D.

"Kuban" (Krasnodar) - "Crop"

According to the results of the season-2003 team for the first time since 1992, he returned to the Premier League. 50% of "Kuban" buys Oleg Deripaska, is expanding its business presence in the region, however, the team will fly to the first division.

In 2008, Deripaska returns its stake, "Kuban" Krasnodar regional administration, and the main investor of the club becomes ISD Ukrainian businessman Oleg Mkrtchyan. The accumulated debt at the time - more than 120 million rubles - jointly repay the old and new co-owners, as well as team sponsors.

In February 2011 the "Kuban" for € 2 million to buy the striker from Cote d'Ivoire Lacina Traoré. In the 2011/12 season to his credit 18 goals and 5 assists. In the summer of 2012, Traore moved to "Anji" for € 18 million and a percentage of future transfers. In the 2012/13 season, "Kuban" collects 20,934 viewers per game and became the leader of the Premier League on home attendance. plans to build by 2016 a new stadium being actively discussed on 40 000 - 50 000 seats for the € 250-270 million.

In 2015 the "Kuban" played in the final of the Cup of Russia. In the summer of the presidency of the club leaving Alexander Tkachev, a few months before it has left the governor's chair.

In 2016 Oleg Mkrtchyan cease funding "Kuban" and returns the shares of the regional leadership. The club has more than 1 billion rubles of debt, including the players. The team will fly to the first league.

In 2018 due to the debt of 3, 2 billion rubles club is removed from participation in the First Division and disbanded. In 2019 in the PFL - speaks the command "Harvest", created by the regional administration, instead of "Kuban".

In May 2013th, the then governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachev (center) celebrates with the players, "Kuban" out in the European Cups

"Saturn" (Ramenskoye) - "Krasnodar"

In the summer of 2018 at the training base of "Saturn" in Kratovo placed the Portuguese national team with Cristiano Ronaldo (left) - and this is the most significant event in the life of the Moscow Region club in the last decade

In 2004, the Moscow team, from the end of the 1990s, serving in the Premier League, financed from the regional budget. And in the spring Governor Boris Gromov announced attracting sponsors: the company "Nafta-Moscow" billionaire Suleiman Kerimov and OOO "Sphere" promise the club $ 60 million over six years. In 2005, the team enters the new training base in Kratovo (project cost - $ 20 million).

In 2007, on the implementation of the ambitious task - to get into the Champions League - the club gets credit 803, 7 million rubles from the "Moscow Regional Investment Trust Company". This allows the "Saturn" sign several expensive players: so, midfielder Andrei Karyaka received 69, 7 million rubles a year. The team completes Championship 2007 5th place, and comes out in the UEFA Intertoto Cup (then - the third tournament of UEFA significance). In 2011, the debts of "Saturn" reach about 1 billion rubles, the club refused to participate in the Premier League and for several years is deprived of professional status. Place of "Saturn" gets "Krasnodar", created in 2008 by billionaire Sergei Galitsky.

In the summer of 2018 at the training base of "Saturn" in Kratovo Portugal team lives during the World Cup. But the complex reconstruction (grandstand with 500 seats, automatic watering system, and so on. D.) Spent 118 million rubles.

In 2019, "Saturn" - an outsider group "Center" PFL. "Krasnodar" took second place in the Premier League, which nearly went out in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and collects more than 23 000 spectators at each home game.