by Aleks V |

On this day in 1972, Rangers FC won their sole European trophy, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, in a dramatic 3-2 battle against Dynamo Moscow at Camp Nou in Barcelona. In honor of the 45th anniversary of the historic final, here are some lesser-known facts about the game:

1. The first Soviet team in a European final

Dynamo Moscow in the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup Final. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Dynamo Moscow became the first team from the Soviet Union to compete in the final of a European competition.

2. The managers met again

Rangers FC manager, Willie Waddell, played against Dynamo Moscow manager, Konstantin Beskov, in Dynamo's 1945 tour of Britain. In the post-war friendly vs Dynamo, Waddell's penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper, Alexei "Tiger" Khomich. Dynamo Captain, Beskov, contributed to both of his team's goals against Rangers, earning the free kick for Kartsev's 3rd minute opener and assisting his second goal. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

3. The managers' records still stand

As manager of Kilmarnock in 1964-65, Willie Waddell led the club to its only championship in Scotland's top tier to date. Konstantin Beskov led Dynamo Moscow to victory in the 1994-95 Russian Cup, the club's last trophy while playing in the Premier League.

4. The lone foreigner

Rangers only had one foreign player on their roster in the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup Final - goalkeeper, Gerry Neef, who was on the bench for the duration of the game.

5. 45 years later, the Captains still support their clubs 



Both Captains remain active for their clubs. Rangers defender, John Greig, is the club's honorary life president. He's also on the board of the club's Youth Development Program. Dynamo Moscow defender, Valeri Zykov, attended the Blue-and-Whites' game against Shinnik on May 14, performing the ceremonial kick-off in honor of the 45th anniversary of the match against Rangers.

6. An artist is present

Fans hold up posters for the Rangers vs Dynamo Moscow game. Photo via cenotaph on forum.followfollow.com

Although there was no official match programme for the game, the famous match poster remains a favorite among collectors. The artwork used for the poster is by Spanish artist José Cros Estrems, who was known for his bullfighting illustrations.

7. The NASL connection

Willie Johnston playing for the NASL's Vancouver Whitecaps, 1980. Photo: John Denniston

Rangers' Willie Johnston, Alfie Conn, and Dave Smith all left their mark in the North American Soccer League. Johnston, who scored two goals in the Cup Winners' Cup Final against Dynamo, had two spells for the original Vancouver Whitecaps. The Scot made 59 appearances, tallying three goals and 19 assists. After a successful year playing indoor soccer at the Pittsburgh Spirit (15 goals and 8 assists in 21 games), Conn joined the NASL's San Jose Earthquakes, making two appearances in 1980. Smith played 15 games for the Los Angeles Aztecs and five for the Seattle Sounders during the 1976 NASL Season.

8. One-club men

Rangers manager Willie Waddell. Photo: rangers.co.uk

Rangers skipper John Greig homecoming & fans celebrate 1972 ECWC final win pic.twitter.com/800xyHcBgk

— RetroScotsFitbapics (@RetroScotsFitba) August 3, 2015

Rangers manager, Willie Waddell, was a one-club man during his playing career. Rangers captain, John Greig, was a one-club man both as a player and manager. His involvement with the club continues to this day.

9. A record still stands

Rangers and Dynamo Moscow have played each other on six occasions - three friendlies and three official games. The Gers have never lost to Dynamo, winning five matches and drawing one (the 1945 friendly). The teams last met in 2001, in the UEFA Cup Round of 16.

10. Success for both teams

The 1972 Cup Winners' Cup Final remains both Rangers and Dynamo's greatest success in European competition. Rangers came close to a second European trophy in 2008, but lost to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Final of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup.

by Aleks V |


They're back.

Dynamo Moscow reserved themselves a spot in the 2017/18 Russian Premier League less than a year after being relegated for the first time in their 93-year history.

The club, which currently plays in the Football National League, Russia's First Division, won promotion with seven games to go, breaking a six-year league record for earliest promotion (in 2013, FC Ural won promotion with five games remaining).

A scoreless draw against FC Khimki meant the results of the Baltika-SKA Khabarovsk match would determine their fate. As luck would have it, 90 minutes in Kaliningrad produced an identical scoreboard, guaranteeing Dynamo a top-two finish.

The Blue-and-Whites also extended their unbeaten run in the FNL to 13 games.


Midfielder, Anatoli Katrich, has had a standout performance, racking up a goal and three assists in the last four games.

Dynamo goalkeeper, Anton Shunin, has noticeably improved in goal under Goalkeeper Coach, Roman Berezovsky. The former Dynamo and Armenia keeper fine-tuned Shunin's skills over the course of the season, contributing to the team's goal difference of +30.

The back line is a story as well, with such talents as Swedish centre-back, Sebastian Holmén, Australian international, Luke Wilkshire, and seasoned club veteran, Vladimir Rykov.

In less than a season in charge, Head Coach, Yuri Kalitvintsev, reinvigorated a team whose spirit was at an all-time low. A former Dynamo player, Kalitvintsev, who led Ukraine to victory in the 2009 UEFA Under-19 Euro, was the perfect choice to lead the historic side. He brought together both young and experienced players, whose collective effort now boasts a 22-8-3 (W-D-L) record.

by Aleks V |

Misimovic in action for Guizhou Renhe. Photo: sop.ba

Former Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, Galatasaray, and Dynamo Moscow midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic has retired from professional football. Despite having a year left on his contract with Chinese side Beijing Renhe (formerly Guizhou Renhe), the 34-year-old decided to hang up his boots.

At club level, Misimovic made 506 appearances in all competitions, scoring 136 goals and making 141 assists.

Although he struggled to break into the first team at Bayern Munich at the start of his career, he shone for the reserves, netting in 44 goals in 103 games.

His career includes a historic 2008/09 season at Wolfsburg. "The Plum", as he was known in Germany, helped the club win their first Bundesliga title, ending the season with the most assists (20). He also helped teammates Grafite and Edin Dzeko become the league's top scorers with a combined record total of 54 goals. The three formed a memorable attacking trio.

Misimovic had a decade-long presence at Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he wore the captain's armband. He's the national team's second most-capped player and third all-time goal scorer. One of his most notable performances was a hat-trick in Bosnia's 7-0 win over Estonia in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier.

The attacking midfielder joined Dynamo Moscow from Galatasaray in 2011 and quickly became one of the club's key players. He could always be counted on in the toughest of games, from derbies to Cup competition. Misimovic was a true playmaker. Although goal scoring wasn't his main line of duty, he netted in quite a few, many of which were late goals from the spot. His penalties in the quarterfinal and semifinal of the 2011-12 Russian Cup included a match winner against Zenit and a 73rd minute equalizer against Volga Nizhny Novgorod, respectively. Without a doubt, Mr. Penalty was always a joy to watch.

Setting up goals, though, was his forte. Championat.com writer Sergei Titov wrote in 2015:

"Misimovic, who can come up with a brilliant assist, sitting on a chair and drinking coffee, would be useful even to the current Dynamo, who have Valbuena."

Misimovic assists Kevin Kuranyi in his debut for Dynamo, a derby against Lokomotiv.

The midfielder spent the last three years of his career in China. As one fan put it, he went there "before it was mainstream". With Guizhou Renhe, he won the 2013 Chinese FA Cup and 2014 Chinese Super Cup. He played 105 games at his last club, scoring 18 goals and making 50 assists.

Misimovic first announced his retirement in 2015. That year, I compared another Dynamo Moscow player, Kevin Kuranyi, with basketball's Michael Jordan. Yet it was Zvjezdan Misimovic who compared himself to Jordan when he chose to un-retire. He had hoped Beijing Renhe would retain their position in the Chinese Super League. Unfortunately, the team finished 15th that season and were relegated to the second tier. A fourth place finish in 2016 was not enough to win promotion to China's top division.

There were, of course, other players - and rock bands - that have retired and come back again. Paul Scholes played a testimonial, but then decided to have one more go. The Rolling Stones did multiple Farewell Tours, only to keep on touring. Like many a football and music fan, they just "can't get no satisfaction". Misimovic, it seems, finally has.

A "legend" and "the last romantic" to his fans, he only ever got one straight red card in his 16-year career.

Misimovic and Dzeko at Wolfsburg.

Zvjezdan Misimovic, your country thanks you.

Your clubs thank you.

And I thank you.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Yuriy Kalitvintsev with the 2009 UEFA U-19 Euro trophy. Source: fc-dynamo.ru

Dynamo Moscow's Board of Directors announced Yuriy Kalitvintsev as the football club's new manager, taking over from interim Sergei Chikishev. The 48-year-old Volgograd native played as a midfielder for the club from 1992-1994, making a total of 107 appearances in all competitions and scoring 16 goals, including a hat-trick in a friendly against Italian side Brescia Calcio.

Yuriy Kalitvintsev won most of his silverware at Dynamo Kiev, including four Ukrainian championships, two Cups, and two CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Cups.

He was consistently named one of the top players in both the Russian and Ukrainian championships. He acquired Ukrainian citizenship and was capped 22 times for the Ukraine national team, scoring one goal in their 1-0 win against Croatia in Euro 1996 Qualifying.



His son, Vladislav Kalitvintsev, seems no less gifted. The youngest player to debut for Dynamo Kiev in the modern era, he's already tallied a Premier League title and two Ukrainian Cups.



Kalitvintsev's coaching career has had its ups and downs. After a short spell at Ukraine side Zakarpattia (now FC Hoverla Uzhhorod), he headed Ukraine's Under-19 national team on two occasions, leading them to victory in the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship during his second spell.

He lost out to Myron Markevych and then Oleh Blokhin for the job at the senior team, although he did join the coaching staff of both managers, serving as caretaker after Markevych's resignation.

Volga Nizhny Novgorod gave Kalitvintsev a long-awaited chance to return to the role of head coach. However, his stay at the Russian Premier League was short-lived - appointed to the helm in January 2013, he resigned in March the following year. The club's financial problems took a toll on results - they were 14th in the Premier League with just 18 points after 22 games. Kalitvintsev's Volga were in 7th before the players stopped getting paid, however.

In his first press conference as manager of Dynamo Moscow, Kalitvintsev immediately set his sights higher than simply returning the storied club, relegated last season for the first time in their 93-year history, to the top tier of Russian football. He emphasized the need for the club to have a long-term development strategy, one that is conducive to its homegrown players. He expressed his desire to work closely with the head coach of the club's farm team.

Kalitvintsev's coaching approach will undoubtedly differ from that of his predecessors. "We will communicate with the players," he said. "The team will keep those players who are willing to work, not just earn money."

Kalitvintsev's coaching staff consists of Gennadiy Litovchenko and Yuri Kovtun from his Volga days, as well as ex-Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

The second half of the 2015-16 Russian Premier League season kicks off on Saturday, March 5, with Krylya Sovetov hosting FC Rostov at 14:15 Moscow Time (6:15 a.m. ET). The winter transfer window has produced some exciting additions, giving us plenty to look forward to.

10. The Kuban step

Felipe Santana. Photo: FC Kuban

A struggling Kuban Krasnodar made the best out of the winter transfer window with seven free signings, including Schalke centre back Felipe Santana. The club will still need to pay its players, however. Kuban's financial woes led to a growing debt, with some players not being payed in months. The club's General Director Valery Statsenko said that the debts are currently being paid, and will soon disappear entirely. Meanwhile, manager Sergey Tashuev is tasked with crafting a new team mid-season. It'll be quite challenging, but when you're bottom of the table, there's not much else to do. Will Kuban find a money wise approach to rescue them from the impending doom of relegation?

9. The Bright cousin

Amkar Perm's new signings. Bright Dike is number 10. Photo: FC Amkar Perm

Chinedu Bright Dike, cousin of ex-Spartak forward Emmanuel Emenike, joined mid-table club Amkar Perm this winter as a free agent. The American-born Nigerian forward, who's also the older brother of FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup runner-up Courtney Dike, previously played in the U.S., where he scored 20 goals in 50 games for MLS club Portland Timbers, and had a great run at USL side Orange County Blues FC (6 goals and 2 assists in 10 appearances). It's not every day a former MLS player makes the move to Russia - Yura Movsisyan did so in 2011 - so there will be some added interest to his performance from abroad.

8. Ezekiel sees the Lokomotiv wheel

Photo: FC Lokomotiv on Twitter

The RPL's most expensive signing this winter was Ezekiel Henty, who joined Lokomotiv Moscow from Slovenian club NK Olimpija for 5 million euros. The 22-year-old winger's performance this season in the Prva Liga certainly justifies the sum - eight goals and eight assists in 21 appearances. Plus, he doubles as a centre-forward.

7. Luke brings back the Force

Luke Wilkshire. Photo: FC Terek Grozny

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of big name signings, Australian right-back Luke Wilkshire quietly made his way back to Russia. The defender joined Terek Grozny in November as a free agent, being unattached since leaving Dutch side Feyenoord in August, but was only confirmed in the roster this winter. Last season found Luke struggling with thigh injuries, yet eking out four assists in 27 appearances, including one in Europa League qualifying. At his best, he's a great asset to the back line. He'll fit right in with Terek's powerful defense - the team lost only two games this season and conceded the second lowest number of goals. A winning equation has two parts, and Luke's ability to provide opportunities in the attack can help the 7th placed team move into Europa League territory. We can all be certain the Force is still strong with this one.

6. The young and the restless

21-year-old Tashaev had a goal and an assist in Dynamo's winter friendlies. Photo: rfpl.org

As the second youngest team in the Russian Premier League (average age: 25.9), Dynamo Moscow are entering a new era. It may be one of great difficulty, unexpected surprises, or both. After multiple seasons of transfer shenanigans, UEFA put their foot down, pushing the Moscow club to make adjustments with regards to Financial Fair Play. Dynamo ended up selling their most expensive players - mostly foreigners - and introducing salary caps. With these limits in place, they've had to rely on their U21s, some of who, like Tashaev, Terekhov, Katrich, and Obolskiy, have shown they can play well at the highest level. Dynamo's winter transfer window was marked by the departure of the overrated (Kokorin), the arrival of the underrated (Sebastian Holmen), and a blast from the past in the form of fullback Andrey Eshchenko, on loan until the end of the season a decade after his first loan spell at Dynamo. Like Kuban's Tashuev, Dynamo coach Andrey Kobelev is tasked with rebuilding a team. The only manager to lead Dynamo to a top 3 finish in the 21st century, Kobelev won't follow where the path may lead - he'll leave yet another trail.

5. FC Krasnodar's new stadium

Digital rendering of FC Krasnodar's new stadium.

Andres Villas-Boas is known for his constant complaints regarding the quality of pitches with artificial turf. It won't be long before he shows up to nail his 95 theses on the door of the Russian Football Union. Krasnodar's new stadium, however, won't make the list. The Bulls' new home, which will seat 33,000, is set to host its first game this summer. The turf is au naturale. If it opens in time to see AVB off, one thing's for sure - there's no chance of him complaining about this one.

4. AVB's farewell

Andres Villas-Boas. Photo: Instagram

Andres Villas-Boas has chosen to leave the reigning RPL champions at the end of the season. Under the Portuguese manager, Zenit won the 2014-15 Russian Premier League title and 2015 Super Cup. They are currently the last Russian team standing in Europe. They're also in the semi-finals of the domestic cup tournament. With the title still at stake, there are three opportunities for silverware. If Villas-Boas adds to his trophy collection before leaving Russia, he'll certainly fulfill his mission of "doing for Zenit what Peter the Great did for St. Petersburg".

3. Roman Shirokov

Roman Shirokov. Photo: pfc-cska.com

This is a no-brainer - the Russia national team captain's return to the club where he began his career was one of the biggest transfers this winter. The fact that he joined from Spartak Moscow only adds some extra spice to the derby. As a youth player, Shirokov never made CSKA's senior team. He has something to prove, and that means we'll likely see the return of the original, critically acclaimed midfielder who shone for Zenit five years ago. Leonid Slutsky, who is doing double duty at CSKA and Russia's NT, will be able to keep a better eye on him and help bring back the Shirokov we all love and look forward to seeing.

2. Alenichev's Spartak

"The title is that way." Photo: rfpl.org

Dmitri Alenichev said it loud and clear: He wants to win the title. Spartak are currently fourth, four points behind second placed Rostov and seven behind leaders CSKA. Despite the departure of a handful of key players like Movsisyan and Ozbiliz, Spartak only made one signing in the winter transfer window, acquiring the talented Paraguayan winger Lorenzo Melgarejo from Kuban Krasnodar. However, that signing was a good one - together with Quincy Promes, Spartak now have the season's top two goal scorers at their disposal. For a team with title ambitions, that may come in handy.

1. FC Rostov: A Cinderella Story

Kurban Berdyev: the man with a plan. Photo: FC Rostov

Rostov are the RPL's Leicester City. If Miodrag Bozovic was the Nigel Pearson to the RPL's Leicester, then Kurban Berdyev is their Claudio Ranieri, taking over and finishing what the other began. It's hard to imagine that a team that finished last season in the relegation play-offs is currently 2nd (!) behind CSKA, and has a realistic shot at their first Premier League title. Under Berdyev, Rostov have conceded the least number of goals of any RPL club this season. With 12 more games and 36 possible points left in the season, they'll do their best to keep the dream alive.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

It was just another cold, wintry day in the Moscow Oblast as Dynamo prepared to face off against city rivals Lokomotiv. The pregame fireworks, however, suggested this was no ordinary derby.

This past month, Dynamo Moscow celebrated the 70th anniversary of their historic tour of Britain, in which the team beat Chelsea, Cardiff City, Arsenal and Glasgow Rangers with a combined score of 19:9. Representatives from all four clubs and family of the Dynamo players from the 1945 team were invited to Moscow for anniversary-related festivities and were VIP guests at the derby at Arena Khimki on November 30th.

Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Following a sneak peak at the Dynamo stadium's ongoing reconstruction, the group were joined by the club board for a meal at a restaurant and were shown a video put together by Dynamo TV. Then it was off to Arena Khimki, where the guests were not only treated to gifts, but also to a thrilling match that ended in a 2:2 draw. A ceremonial kick off was performed by Arsenal director Ken Friar OBE and Natalia Frolova, daughter of Dynamo manager Mikhail Yakushin, who coached the team during the tour. Among other attendees were three representatives from Cardiff City, Arsenal legend Liam Brady, ex-Glasgow Rangers defender John "Bomber" Brown, and Chelsea ambassador Tore André Flo.

Flo, who had a spell at Rangers, remembers playing at the old Dynamo stadium, where he scored a goal in his team's 4-1 second leg win over the Moscow club in the second round of the 2001-02 UEFA Cup. The game remains Dynamo's last against a British side in any competition.

Few today can brag about having had a firsthand experience related to the 1945 tour, and Ken Friar is among them. "I remember how as a boy I wanted to see the Arsenal-Dynamo match," he recalls. "But tickets were impossible to get, so I had to listen on the radio." Indeed, 54,000 filled the stands that day at White Hart Lane, the Gunners' temporary home after WWII. The match proved to be one of the most memorable - ask anyone who's heard of the Dynamo tour, and they'll probably mention the high-scoring, controversial contest played in a thick "pea souper" of a fog.

Although there was no match between the British and the Russians this year, smiles were exchanged, and memories were made and shared, just as they were 70 years ago.

Photo: fcdynamo.ru

In true Russian style, events surrounding the anniversary began long before the actual dates, when Dynamo attended Soccerex in Manchester this September. Thus, the visit to Moscow by the British two months later became symbolic - it paralleled the return visits in 1954 and 1955, when Arsenal and Wolverhampton set foot on Dynamo stadium.

Such gatherings demonstrate that the importance of the tour lies beyond the pages of text and photographs. They reignite interest in a shared history, and more importantly remind a new generation of the connection between the future and past.

As a famous Russian expression states, "the new is actually the well-forgotten old".
--

More on the 70th anniversary of Dynamo Moscow's tour of Britain

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by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Part II in a series on the 70th anniversary of Dynamo Moscow's tour of Britain

Explore locations from Dynamo Moscow's tour of Britain in 1945 and see what those places look like today.

Bottom image: Google Maps.

1945. Dynamo Moscow players feed some pigeons in front of Trafalgar Square. One of Sir Edwin Landseer's bronze cast lions pokes his head in at the right.

While London's largest square is no longer host to a large pigeon community after a ban on feeding them was passed in 2003, the rest of the area is just as it appeared to the Dynamo 70 years ago. The building on the left is the London Drummonds branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It has been at its current location since 1760, and held accounts for members of the royal family, including King George III, as well as other important figures such as artist Thomas Gainsborough and potter/abolitionist Josiah Wedgwood, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. The bank is an example of neoclassical architecture, with curved and pointed pediments above its windows and pilasters in between. Behind it stands the Admiralty Arch, commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria. The buildings adjacent to the Arch were previously government offices and are now being redeveloped into a luxury hotel. The archway and buildings surrounding it are another nod to the classics.

Bottom image: Google Maps.

1945. Dynamo striker Vsevolod Bobrov and his teammates feed some pigeons in London. Joining in on the action at the far right with arm extended is fellow forward Konstantin Beskov. A handful of folk clearly not associated with the team also take part.

The scene unfolds in front of London's Grand Hotel, designed by F & H Francis and James Ebenezer Saunders. It opened in 1880, and was replaced by the current Grand Buildings over a century later. The architectural style was completely retained. The Colosseum-like building has many classical elements that originated in Roman times, including the symmetrical facade, pedestrian arcade, pilasters, and Corinthian columns. Much of the area around and across from the building, including the National Gallery, is an homage to the classics.

In 1945, the lobby of the Grand Hotel featured a News Theatre, Bravington's Rings & Watches, an information center, and a Randall's store. There's also a billboard for Ivor Novello's Perchance to Dream, which opened that year at the London Hippodrome. Presented by Tom Arnold, the cast of the musical included Novello himself, who played three different roles, as well as English theater and film actress Margaret Rutherford, winner of an Oscar and a Golden Globe who was later appointed OBE and DBE. She is best known for playing Miss Jane Marple in the films based on Agatha Christie's crime novels.

Speaking of films, London's Grand Hotel makes an appearance in the 1950 movie Seven Days to Noon.

Today, the Grand Building is home to a number of business, including restaurants, a cafe, and a bookstore. The current Grand Hotel stands right across.

Bottom image: Google Maps.

1945. Soviet referee Nikolay Latyshev is surrounded by pigeons in front of a fountain at Trafalgar Square. He doesn't seem to mind, and no yellow cards are shown.

The fountain, one of two at the square, dates back to 1845 and was designed by Charles Barry. At the right is a bronze equestrian statue of King George IV, designed by Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey and unveiled two years before the fountains. At the left are a series of steps leading up to the National Gallery, a museum that houses a stunning collection of paintings from the 13th to the 20th centuries, featuring artists from Michelangelo to Monet. General admission is free.

Top image: William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images. Bottom image: Google Maps.

1945. Arsenal fans line up along the High Road leading up to White Hart Lane for the friendly against Dynamo Moscow. The pub behind them was called Charringtons, after the owners of the land on Tottenham High Road who rented the ground to the club.

Wait - what were Arsenal doing at White Hart Lane? Highbury was an ARP stronghold during WWII, so the team played their home games at the Tottenham ground. The North and South Stand were damaged when the stadium was bombed, and were thus in need of repair. Arsenal returned to Highbury in 1946.

Back to the pub. Though no longer called Charringtons, it still functioned in 2013. For the past 40 years, it was called Valentino's (Rudolph's), after the famous 1920's actor Rudolph Valentino. Since 1999, the road from the pub leading up to the stadium is called Bill Nicholson Way, in honor of the Spurs one-club man who spent a total of 36 years with the club as both a player and a manager.

Unfortunately, the pub is permanently closed and will be demolished as part of Tottenham's Northumberland Development project. The area will feature a new car park.

Part I in a series on the 70th anniversary of Dynamo Moscow's tour of Britain

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Photo: GETTY

Dynamo Moscow have an opportunity to repair their back line and sign productive forwards during this summer’s transfer window. The Blue-and-Whites are in luck – there are a number of young talents, both domestic and foreign, who are looking to prove themselves, as well as seasoned professionals who are eager to continue their careers at the top level. But will UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations get in the way?

Read More at RFN

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

FC Ural vs Dynamo Moscow. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Fyodor Smolov netted in a late goal at Geolog Stadium in Tyumen to give FC Ural their first win against Dynamo Moscow since 1993, and three more points in their race for survival in the Russian Premier League. “Fyodor is in good psychological and physical shape, and he has craftsmanship,” noted Ural manager Alexander Tarkhanov. Smolov, on loan from Dynamo, has been playing the best season of his professional career. The forward created plenty of reason for unrest in the final third throughout the game and assisted captain Gerson Acevedo’s equalizer going into halftime, all before scoring a game-winning sideways volley from a Vladimir Khozin header on the 86th minute. 

Read more at RFN

by Aleks V | @aleksvee


In summer 2010, Schalke 04 forward Kevin Kuranyi signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow. He had already made a name for himself in Germany playing for Stuttgart and Schalke, and was looking for a new challenge. As a free agent, he could have gone anywhere. Ultimately, he chose the Russian Premier League. Though there was interest from Zenit St Petersburg, who, unlike Dynamo, had already won the league title in the post-Soviet championship, the Moscow club had piqued his interest. Ironically, his first goal for the Blue-and-Whites was in a 1:1 draw against Zenit.

Read More at RFN

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Week 19 of the 2014/15 Russian Premier League will feature one of the biggest fixtures of any season - the Moscow derby between Spartak and Dynamo. The oldest derby in Russian football was first played on June 17, 1923. Coincidentally, it was Dynamo Moscow's debut match. The game saw five goals, plenty of action, and a controversial late spot-kick that gave Spartak's predecessor, Krasnaya Presnya, the victory. To top it all off, the referee, Konstantin Kvashnin, would go on to play for and manage both sides! Needless to say, that game set the stage for a rivalry no lesser than the Manchester derby in England or El Derbi madrileno in Spain.

August 2014: The captains stand by for the coin toss. Photo: Konstantin Rybin

Dynamo and Spartak did not just dominate the Soviet Top League for many years, but also played together as one unit in the All-Union Spartakiad and sometimes traveled abroad representing Moscow in international friendlies. As with other rivalries, there were and still are players who leave one team for the other. Although such a move has long been regarded as betrayal, there is less of a stigma these days, since loyalty to one side for a long period of time is a rarity in modern football. Dynamo defender Vladimir Granat, currently on loan at Rostov, will join Spartak at the end of the season. A handful of managers have been at the helm for both sides. Dynamo's current head coach, Stanislav Cherchesov, played in goal for Spartak and managed the red-and-whites in 2007-2008.

While Dynamo's only domestic silverware since the collapse of the Soviet Union is the 1995 Russian Cup, Spartak were consistently successful at the dawn of post-Soviet football. The Romantsev era saw nine league titles, six of them consecutive, along with two Cup wins and a 1997-98 UEFA Cup semi-final appearance. Their streak began to peter out after Romantsev's exit, however. The club had seven managers in nine seasons, and while they did finish runners-up on five occasions, it's been almost 14 years since their last league title, and almost 12 since they last lifted the Russian Cup.

Dynamo, on the other hand, have not won a championship since 1976. The beginning of their title drought shifted the spotlight to their namesakes in Kiev, whose rivalry with Spartak attained a higher popularity in the 1970's. Spartak and Dynamo Moscow's form in recent years, however, has brought back potential for a resurgence of such games as the nostalgic among us have longed for. In the 2012/13 season, Spartak marked one of their biggest victories over Dynamo by winning four goals to nil. That same season, Dan Petrescu led the blue-and-whites to a 5:1 derby win, a score that they hadn't had against Spartak for 64 years.

Dynamo have yet to beat Spartak since that game. The start of the 2014/15 season marked the 200th match between Spartak and Dynamo, a 2:1 win for the red-and-whites away at Arena Khimki.

For the second season, Dynamo's unbeaten streak was cut short at 18 games as they went down 3:1 to Napoli in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16. Spartak saw their own unbeaten run come to an end - after seven home games without a loss, Yakin's men lost 3:1 to Krasnodar on the 8th of March.

Dynamo go into Sunday's game with the spectre of a European play-off round, while Spartak, free from the burden of other competitions, will be looking to rediscover their home field advantage. A six-point gap separates 7th place Spartak from 3rd place Dynamo. At this point in the season, every victory can have a monumental impact. Spartak's patience with managers is always hanging by a thread, and Dynamo are long overdue for a top three finish. What awaits us this time in the biggest Moscow derby?

Spartak Moscow vs Dynamo Moscow - Fast Facts:
200 games played (72-69-59)
Goals: 281-264

2014/15 RPL - Week 19
Spartak Moscow vs Dynamo Moscow
13:30 MSK (6:30am ET)
Otrkitie Arena
Referee: Aleksei Nikolaev
Suspensions: Kim Kallstrom (Spartak)

* Referee Aleksei Nikolaev has officiated three Spartak-Dynamo derbies (2 draws, 1 Spartak win) in which he gave out 17 yellow cards. In each game, he sent off a player after two bookings (2 Spartak, 1 Dynamo).

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

The 2014-15 UEFA Europa League knockout round begins on Thursday, February 19th, and so far, it looks like it'll be a thriller. Most of the teams in the first leg of the Round of 32 will be meeting their opponents for the first time. Belgian Pro League champions RSC Anderlecht will host the group stage stars FC Dynamo Moscow at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Kick-off is at 21:05 CT (3:05pm EST).

Anderlecht

The Belgian club comes out of an unlucky Champions League group, where they faced the likes of Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Galatasaray. With that in mind, they still managed to draw in one leg against each opponent. Anderlecht have been shaky at home in European competition, losing six games in a row before their 2-0 win against Galatasaray. Their domestic record tells a different story. They recently made the final of the Belgian Cup and are set to face Brugge in March. Their last Cup win was in the 2007-08 season.

Key Players

Mitrovic, Vanden Borre, and Mmemba, who all scored two goals in the UCL group stage, will be instrumental in the attack. Steven Defour will bring his experience in UEFA competition, and will likely make his 50th appearance in a UEFA club competition.

Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country

Anderlecht last faced a Russian club in Europe in 2012, when they beat Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the 2nd leg of the Champions League group stage. They are 5-1-6 in Europe against Russian sides with 21 goals for and against, so a game against Dynamo can either make or break their hopes for the next round.

Dynamo Moscow

Dynamo are unbeaten in their last 15 games in all competitions, and recently took home The Atlantic Cup, ending a trophy drought of nearly 20 years. The blue-and-whites are also unbeaten in this season's Europa League from the third qualifying round onward.

Key Players

Mathieu Valbuena never ceases to amaze; he's a universal player who can be instrumental anywhere on the pitch. Be on the lookout for his set piece deliveries. Alex Buttner has stepped up his game, contributing both in the defense and attack. William Vainqueur played alongside Anderlecht's Defour and Cyriac while at R. Standard de Liege.

Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country

Dynamo haven't played a Belgian club in an official match since 1997, when they won 3-2 against KRC Genk in the group stage of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They've lost three of their seven games in Europe against Belgian sides, with a goal difference of 8-10.

The Managers

Neither Besnik Hasi or Stanislav Cherchesov have won a European cup as a player or manager.

In his first ever season as head coach, Hasi won the Belgian Pro League and Super Cup while leading Anderlecht to their first UEFA knockout stage in 3 seasons.

Cherchesov led Dynamo to the UEL group stage and knockout round for the first time in the club's history. In the Russian Premier League, he established Dynamo as a top 4 contender.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Photo: desporto.sapo.pt

It's all come down to a classic clash between the favorites and the underdog. In their first ever meeting, Dynamo Moscow and Orebro SK will play for the 2015 Atlantic Cup on Saturday at 17.30 MSK (9:30am EST). Many are quick to look over a friendly tournament, even one with a trophy. For Dynamo and Orebro, however, it's an opportunity to make history. Dynamo last won a trophy in 1995, taking home the Russian Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout against FC Rotor. The blue-and-whites have also won a friendly tournament, taking home the Ciutat de Barcelona trophy in 1976. Orebro, a club that was founded in 1908, have yet to win a Cup tournament. The closest they came was the 1987-88 Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup), in which they were runners-up to IFK Norrkoping. Unlike Dynamo, who are newcomers to the tournament, Orebro are in the running for a second year in a row. Last year's Atlantic Cup was bittersweet for the Swedes, who finished second to FC Copenhagen on goal difference. Orebro's Alexander Axen will try leading the team to a different result this time around, all the while looking for his first silverware as head coach. It won't be an easy task, however. Dynamo have a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions stemming from last November. Axen won't be alone in his quest - Dynamo's Stanislav Cherchesov has yet to win a trophy in his managerial career. Tomorrow's game will see one manager lifting their club's trophy drought while adding a prestigious award to his resume. The Estadio Algarve awaits.

Road to the Final

Dynamo Moscow - Wins over Copenhagen (2:1) and Goteborg (2:0).


Orebro SK - Defeated Midtjylland in penalties. Won 2:1 against Brondby IF.


Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country
Dynamo Moscow vs Swedish clubs: +8=2-1 | GD: 36-11
Orebro SK vs Russian clubs: -2 | GD: 1-6

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

The fourth edition of The Atlantic Cup kicks off on Friday, January 30 at Algarve, Portugal with reigning champions FC Copenhagen playing Europa League contenders Dynamo Moscow. The tournament, organized by former Sweden and Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz along with ex-Millwall keeper Brian Horne, attracts teams whose domestic tournaments are on pre- or mid-season break during the winter months, providing a chance to get some valuable playing time in a competitive environment. Eight teams from four countries, including two previous winners, will vie for the trophy. This year's Atlantic Cup is the second to feature a team from the Russian Premier League. Dynamo Moscow come off a victorious UEL group stage run, and are the only participating club currently vying for a European Cup. Spartak Moscow finished in 3rd place last year, winning two of their three games and losing 5:0 to the eventual champions.

Unlike last year's tournament, the 2015 Atlantic Cup will feature a group stage and a final contested by the group winners. FC Copehagen won the 2014 Altantic Cup on goal difference after both the Danish side and Swedish runners-up Orebro SK finished with 9 points after 3 games. The Danes did not concede any goals.

Coverage will be provided by TV3 SPORT.

Participating Teams by Country
3 Danish: FC Copenhagen, Brondby IF, FC Midtjylland
2 Swedish: IFK Goteborg, Orebro SK
2 Czech: Mlada Boleslav, Baumit Jablonec
1 Russian: FC Dynamo Moscow

Russian Premier League, Week 11
Dynamo Moscow 0:2 Rubin Kazan
Venue: Arena Khimki
Referee: Igor Nizovtsev (Nizhniy Novgorod)
Goals: 0-1 Ozdoev (48), 0-2 Kanunnikov (71)
Cautions: Kuzmin (12), Ozdoev (41), Zhirkov (51), Buttner (53), Georgiev (68), Kanunnikov (90), Ryzhikov (90+2)

Ozdoev and Vainqueur vie for the ball. Source: Epsilon/Getty Images Europe

There isn't much to say about Dynamo Moscow's loss at home to Rubin Kazan that hasn't already been said when it comes to the Blue-and-Whites previous disappointments. Every problem with today's match has already been addressed and is no new discovery, but rather an annoying sequel that seems to have no ending. With the exception of Vladimir Gabulov in goal, most of the team had a rather poor, lackluster performance. It wasn't entirely expected, considering the team's recent form in the Europa League - a 3rd consecutive victory in the group stage. Unfortunately, Stanislav Cherchesov's side seemed to lack the flair and spark that characterized much of their European success. Say all you want about the month-long Premier League break and the postponed match against Amkar; coming off a 3rd Europa League win should have been enough of a motivator.

Rubin Kazan came off a 5-0 thrashing of Mordovia Saransk, and were themselves in need of points to keep up with the other top 5 contenders. Their solid defense, combined with the absence of accuracy in Dynamo's attack, led to the Blue-and-Whites' first RPL defeat since their game against Zenit in September. The teams seemed to start off on an equal footing, but as halftime drew near, it became evident that the hosts needed to step things up. Surprisingly, they did - thanks to Mathieu Valbuena, whose solo efforts resulted in save after save from Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov. One player doesn't make the team, however, and Dynamo failed to carry the momentum into the second half. Only three minutes in, Magomed Ozdoev, on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow, scored his first goal for Rubin. Getting away from several players, including William Vainqueur, Ozdoev found plenty of space in front of goal and left Gabulov powerless. Rubin looked threatening on the counter, and one of these attacks led to their second goal. After a typical ineffective Dynamo corner, Rubin captain Kuzmin had a brilliant run that ended in a far post delivery to Maksim Kanunnikov. Douglas, who wasn't focused on marking his man, posed no problem for the Rubin forward, who netted in the visitors' second of the evening. The absence of captain Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Carlos Eduardo in midfield did not slow down the Volzhane. In fact, manager Rinat Bilyaletdinov noted ex-Dynamo forward Vladimir Dyadyun's excellent performance in place of Karadeniz. Rubin are not an easy opponent, even without Karadeniz and Eduardo in midfield. Together with goalkeeper Ryzhikov, they have one of the strongest defenses in the league, especially in away games, and that was clearly visible all throughout the 90 minutes. That being said, Dynamo still lacked accuracy on the finish, and sometimes, there wasn't much of a finish at all.

The usual suspects in Kozlov and Douglas made mistakes in defense, and were responsible for both of the opposition's goals. Douglas, who seemed to be improving in recent games, may be going back to his previous problematic spell. Kevin Kuranyi was bashed by the commentators upon coming off, although he rarely saw the ball and was subbed off in the second half. Aleksandr Kokorin came off the bench to help in the attack, but although he saw more of the ball, he had only one shot on goal and was unable to put Ryzhikov to the test. Even in moments when the opposition was a player down (Ozdoev was receiving attention off the pitch) or gave up plenty of space, the Blue-and-Whites failed to take advantage, and looked almost like a hockey team that can't make use of the power play.

Valbuena was undoubtedly Dynamo's top performer. Dynamo goalkeeper Gabulov may be the most-improved; except for one fumble where he let go of the ball in front of the net, he was at the ready for most of Rubin's attempts. Rubin goalkeeper Ryzhikov was deservedly named Man of the Match. All of Dynamo's shots on target saw excellent saves by the keeper.

The usual problems in the attack - no accuracy on the finish and few chances on target - are ever present for Dynamo. Lots of balls were going through the top, another issue for the Blue-and-Whites - they would have had far more chances if they had kept the ball lower. Set pieces were rarely a challenge for Rubin to defend, and are something Cherchesov's side need to work on.

When it comes to tactics, Bilyaletdinov clearly outplayed Cherchesov, parking the bus when needed and launching his team into swift counter-attacks. Rubin may have had less possession, but made the most of their chances, and could have netted in more. The game could have ended 4:2 or 4:3 to Rubin, had both sides made the most of their attempts.

All in all, a disappointment, but hopefully a wake-up call for Cherchesov and co.

Source: fc-dynamo.ru

Football During WWII

A year before the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany, the 6th edition of the Soviet football championship was underway.

Although the derbies between both Dynamo teams and Spartak Moscow were usually at the forefront at different points in time, a match between two of the best known Dynamo sides garnered no less attention. 60,000 would witness a game of open football from kick-off to final whistle. With 13 goals, including an own goal and a penalty scored by the same player, the match tallied the most goals ever scored in the Soviet and subsequently post-Soviet championship. It was also the most goals Dynamo Moscow would score in the domestic tournament.

Before the match, both teams occupied the middle of the table, Dynamo Kiev in 5th place with 7 points and Dynamo Moscow in 10th with 4 points. It would be Dynamo Kiev's 7th match and Dynamo Moscow's 5th.

The wet pitch didn't stand in the way of a goal fest. The first half sees the hosts open the score with an early goal by Nikolai Dementyev. An equalizer by Petr Laiko comes just two minutes later. The tides reverse when Shchegotskiy puts Kiev ahead after a corner kick, only to be followed by another fast equalizer from Sergei Solovyov, ending the first half in a 2:2 draw. The second half kicks off with a series of corners, leading up to the Moscow side scoring 3 goals in less than 2 minutes. The rest, as is often said, is history. The hosts scored their last goal on the 82nd minute, but conceded two more goals before the match was over.


Post-Match

After the game, Dynamo Moscow moved up to 7th place in the league table, trailing just a point behind the 4-way tie for 3rd place. One would think the Moscow Dynamo manager Boris Arkadiev would be pleased that his team got the 3 points and netted in 8 goals; yet he was paying more attention to the fact that they conceded 5. Instead of praise, he had criticism for keeper Yevgeni Fokin as well as the defenders.

The second leg of the tournament saw Fokin keep a clean sheet as Dynamo Moscow scored 7 goals against Dynamo Kiev. Solovyov, Semichastniy and Ilyin once again made the scoreboard. Arkadiev's team would go on to win the championship that year, with an incredible goal difference of 26:3. Dynamo Kiev would finish 8th in the league, leading to the exit of their manager, Mikhail Pechyoniy. It would be twelve years before they won against their Moscow namesakes.

Dynamo Kiev play Dynamo Moscow in June 1945:



The Referee

Vladimir Vonog refereed in the Soviet championship during the 1930's. As a player, he was part of the RSFSR national football team's victorious tour of Scandinavia and Estonia in 1923. He was a man of many talents, being a footballer as well as a successful bandy player. He is considered the first Soviet bandy player to be awarded the title of Honoured Master of Sport. He died in 1942 during the Siege in Leningrad. Since 1952, the bandy players of the Kirov Plant, where he was an organizer of physical culture, have held a Cup tournament in his honour.



Five players from the derby, Radikorskiy, Semichastny, Stankevich, S. Solovyov and Dementyev, would feature in Dynamo Moscow's famous tour of Britain in 1945. 

Sergei Solovyov. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Sergei Solovyov, who scored a goal and made several assists, was a prolific striker at Dynamo Moscow, netting in 21 goals in 23 games. He was the Soviet championship's top scorer in the 1948 season, netting in 25 goals. He holds the record for scoring the fastest hat-trick in the Soviet championship (3 goals in 3 minutes in a 1948 game against Torpedo Moscow). Solovyov totaled 209 appearances and 135 goals for Dynamo Moscow. To this day, he remains the team's all-time top scorer.

Nikolai Dementyev, one of the players to score a double, would feature in Dynamo Moscow's famous 1945 tour of Britain 5 years later. He signed for rivals Spartak Moscow in 1946.

Mikhail Semichastny captained the team for many years and was Dynamo Moscow's first top scorer in the 1936 spring Soviet championship. He started off as a forward, but was switched to a defensive role after becoming known for playing well with his head. He was named Honoured Master of Sports in 1945 and was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1957. Semichastny went on to have a two-year coaching stint at Dynamo, after which he had various jobs in both football and hockey.

Sergei Ilyin was one of the best outside-left forwards in Soviet football. He became an Honoured Master of Sport in 1940. The legendary player made 105 appearances for Dynamo Moscow in the championship, scoring 49 goals. He played 104 games in the Soviet Cup between 1931 and 1944, netting in 83 goals. Ilyin was successful in both football and bandy, earning numerous awards in both sports simultaneously.

Dynamo Kiev, spring 1941.

Petr Laiko, who had the game's first equalizer, was the first Master of Sports in Football from Dnipropetrovsk. He made 80 appearances for Dynamo Kiev, scoring 30 goals. He captained the team and scored their 100th goal in the Soviet championship. Laiko, along with a number of his fellow teammates, ended up in Kazan during the war, where they played for Dynamo Kazan. He returned to Kiev at the end of the war, but his playing career would continue at Stal Dnipropetrovsk (now FC Dnipro).

Konstantin Shchegodskiy

Forward Konstantin Shchegodskiy also wore the captain's armband at Dynamo. The 1940 season saw his return to the team after a most difficult period in his life. He had been wrongfully arrested in the fall of 1938 and spent a year in prison during which he was brutally tortured. It took another year for him to recover his health. During the war, he was involved in the partisan movement and was also a military physical training instructor in the fourth division of the army fire brigade of the Mykilska Slobidka. He was part of a unit that joined the armed convoy and came under fire from the fascist aviation. The survivors scattered, and it was over two months before Shchegodskiy would reach his troops, after which he was appointed senior instructor of military physical training at the Kharkov division of the fire brigade. He joined Petr Laiko and other players in Kazan, where he played for the local Dynamo team. In 1944, he won the Spartakiad of the Republics of Middle Asia and Kazakhstan. He began his coaching career upon returning to Ukraine in fall 1945, starting as a player-coach for Pishchevik Odessa.

Vladimir Greber, who scored an own goal and penalty, ironically debuted for Dynamo Kiev in a match against the Moscow Dynamo in 1936, the first-ever official match between the two teams. A player for whom penalties were a specialty, he is considered one of the top Soviet midfielders of the 1930's. During WWII, Greber fought on the front, and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd Class and the Order of the Red Star for his services and courage. Although he played for the reserves after the war, he played only one more match for the first team in May 1946, the last game of his playing career. He went on to have short coaching stints at various teams.

Three of Dynamo Kiev's players in that match, Aleksei Klimenko, Nikolai Korotkikh, and Vladimir Balakin, would represent FC Start in the infamous 'Death Match' against the German side Flakelf in 1942. It is questionable whether the game had any relation to the fate of the players who suffered at the hands of the Nazis. There are still many myths surrounding the match. The three players, along with a handful of others, were arrested in August 1942. Balakin was the only one to be released. Korotkikh was the last to be arrested. He was tortured to death by the gestapo after they found out he worked for the NKVD. Both Klimenko and Korotkikh were among the victims of the Syrets concentration camp (Babi Yar) in 1943.

The Managers

Boris Arkadiev coaching Lokomotiv Moscow in 1952.

Dynamo Moscow's Boris Arkadiev led the team to the 1940 Soviet league title. He took to the helm at a time when the team was lacking discipline. "Among those I see in front of me...are outstanding masters of sport," he said. "But your position requires you to work harder than ever before." In other words, "to those whom much is given, much is required". He was a master tactician, devoting a lot of time to theory and lectures before and after games, and was known for making the "W-M" formation work at Dynamo. He was also great at spotting young, promising talent, bringing the likes of Solovyov, Dementyev, Stankevich and others to the team. Upon Germany's invasion of the USSR, Arkadiev requested to join the Red Army, but was instead employed as a military training instructor. His association with the Army led to his most successful coaching spell at CSKA, which yielded 5 league titles and 3 Soviet Cups. He also won a Soviet Cup with Lokomotiv.

Dynamo Kiev's Mikhail Pechyoniy spent four years of his playing career and only one year as manager at the club. As a player, he took part and scored in Dynamo Kiev's first international match, a 4:3 loss to a Lower Austria XI. Pechyoniy took to managing Dynamo in 1939, but left at the end of the 1940 season after two consecutive 8th place finishes. He evacuated to Kazakhstan during the war and coached Dinamo Alma-Ata from 1942-43. He returned to Ukraine after the war, spending the rest of his life in Lviv, where he coached Spartak Lviv and a number of youth teams.