With Russian football experiencing an inevitable overhaul at the end of the Soviet Union, the history of the top Russian clubs is more complicated than in many of Europe’s other top leagues.
The Russian Premier League was founded in 1922, replacing the Soviet Top League. Records are mixed as a result.
Biggest Clubs in Russian Football
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Zenit St. Petersburg
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Spartak Moscow
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CSKA Moscow
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Dynamo Moscow
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Lokomotiv Moscow
Obviously, many of the football betting favourites from the Soviet era are no longer part of Russian football, opening up opportunities for teams like Zenit St. Petersburg.
The Russian Premier League live betting markets have never been as popular as their counterparts in England, Germany, Spain, or Italy, but some big names have taken their talent to Russian clubs over the years.
5) Lokomotiv Moscow
Their attendances have been pretty mediocre in recent years, but Lokomotiv Moscow have earned fifth place in these rankings.
They are three-time league champions in the 21st century and have won the Soviet/Russian Cup on 11 occasions.
Eight Champions League appearances since the turn of the century have ensured Lokomotiv are a club with a brand recognised worldwide.
Eder, Joao Mario, Benedikt Höwedes, and Jefferson Farfan are some of the bigger names to have pulled on the Lokomotiv jersey over the years.
While they haven’t been a consistent challenger for the league title over the last 15 years, Lokomotiv retain a significant place in the Russian football history books.
4) Dynamo Moscow
Eleven-time champions of the Soviet Top League, Dynamo Moscow were the second-most successful Russian club during the Soviet Union behind local rivals Spartak Moscow.
Dynamo haven’t won a league title since 1976, but they were third in 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Thiago Silva (one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history), Danny, and Mathieu Valbuena are among the list of former Dynamo players.
In 1972, they reached the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup, which was followed with a quarter-final exit in 1980 and semi-final appearances in 1978 and 1985.
The club has been a non-factor on the continental stage in this millennium. Their resurgence in the 2020s, paired with their historical significance, is enough to slot into fourth in these rankings.
Don’t be surprised if Dynamo are a force to be reckoned with in years to come.
3) CSKA Moscow
Winners of the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 13-time domestic champions, CSKA Moscow slot in at third in the list of the biggest clubs in Russia.
CSKA were something of a glamour club in the 2000s and early part of the 2010s, making multiple appearances in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
From Keisuke Honda and Vagner Love to Miralem Pjanic and Ivica Olic, CSKA were the archetypal tricky Champions League away day for a generation of fans.
Often the early kick-off, the mist of Moscow was synonymous with midweek broadcasts and physical, attritional football, which was occasionally lit up by moments of individual brilliance.
With six league titles and eight runners-up placings since 2002, there is a case to be made that CSKA belong in the top two.
Their UEFA Cup glory in 2005 would certainly help that argument, but Spartak’s superior trophy cabinet keeps the Army Men on the lowest step of the podium.
2) Spartak Moscow
The joint-most successful team since 1992 with 10 league titles, Spartak Moscow have the most top two and top three finishes over that period. Their 22 domestic titles overall are a record.
Dynamo Kyiv were the only team with more league titles than Spartak during the Soviet Top League. Spartak had one more runner-up finish and six more third-placed finishes than the Ukrainian side.
The People’s Team have often been competitive in continental competition, albeit many of those efforts were over two decades ago. Their most recent deep run was a Europa League quarter-final drubbing at the hands of Porto in 2010-11.
Since their last title win in 2016-17, Spartak have only finished in the top two on one occasion. They have finished third twice.
There’s a risk they slip down these rankings if they are not more competitive in the years to come after finishing fifth in 2023-24.
1) Zenit St. Petersburg
The only Russian team to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League since 2011-12 and a Europa League quarter-finalist in 2014-15, Zenit St. Petersburg are the biggest club in Russia.
Along with CSKA, they are one of two Russian clubs to win a major European honour, having lifted the UEFA Cup in 2008.
Zenit have won all 10 of their league titles since 2007 and have won the league in every season since 2018.
Utterly dominant domestically over the last decade-plus, Zenit have welcomed some big names, including Axel Witsel, Claudio Marchisio, and Hulk.
Backed by Gazprom, Zenit have been able to blow their domestic rivals out the water financially.
They might not have the long-term history of Spartak, Dynamo, or Lokomotiv, but Zenit are creating their own legacy in the 21st century.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Adobe*
