FK Zenit Sankt-Petersburg
Sankt Petersburg, Russian Federation
About the Club:
The history of FK Zenit Sankt-Petersburg
FK Zenit Sankt-Petersburg, also known as simply Zenit, is a professional football club based in the city of Sankt Petersburg in the Russian Federation. The club was founded in 1925 and has since become one of the most successful and popular teams in Russian football.
The club's history can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the city of Sankt Petersburg was known as Petrograd. In 1914, a group of workers from the Kirov Factory formed a football team called "Gorokhovaya". This team later became known as "Bolshevik", and it was from this group that the foundation of Zenit was born.
In 1925, the club officially became known as "Zenit" and joined the Soviet Football Championship, which was the top division in Soviet football at the time. However, it wasn't until the 1980s that Zenit really started to establish itself as a force in Russian football.
In 1984, Zenit won their first Soviet Top League title, followed by a second title in 1985. These victories were largely due to the leadership of legendary manager Viktor Prokopenko, who is still considered one of the most successful coaches in Zenit's history.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Zenit became one of the founding members of the Russian Premier League. However, the club struggled to find success in the new league, and it wasn't until the early 2000s that Zenit started to make a name for itself on the international stage.
In 2008, Zenit won their first Russian Premier League title, followed by a UEFA Cup victory later that year. This marked a turning point for the club, as they went on to win several more league titles and establish themselves as a dominant force in Russian football.
Today, Zenit's home ground is the Gazprom Arena, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of over 68,000. The club's fan base, known as the "Blue-White-Sky Blues", is known for their passionate support and has helped create a strong home field advantage for the team.
Zenit's success on the field has also attracted top players from around the world, including the likes of Hulk, Axel Witsel, and Artem Dzyuba. The club's current manager is former Zenit player Sergei Semak, who took over in 2018 and has continued the team's winning tradition.
With a rich history and a bright future ahead, Zenit Sankt-Petersburg continues to be a powerhouse in Russian football and a source of pride for the city of Sankt Petersburg.
Sources:
Official website of Zenit Sankt-Petersburg
2011/12 Russian Premier League season review
Official website of Gazprom Arena
