CSKA Moscow

In 2011 CSKA celebrated its centennial anniversary. It all started long ago, in 1911, when a football section was introduced in the society of skiing amateurs. The first name of the team was ‘OLLS’ (acronym for ‘Obshestvo lyubitelei lyzhnogo sporta’ – Eng. ‘Society of skiing amateurs’). Till 1918 OLLS football team participated in the Moscow region tournament and afterwards they had 4 years of vigorous games in city competitions.

In 1923 all governmental bodies had to set up their own sports teams, so OLLS became a part of the armed forces, which meant the name had to be changed for CDKA, later – for CDSA, then it became CSK MO, and only in 1960 it was CSKA we are now used to. However, at that time the club already had 5 USSR championship titles, won 4 USSR Cups, let alone numerous second and third places.

Throughout its history CSKA had its ups and downs. Thus, after the USSR Olympic team failed in Helsinki the most ‘national’ club was dismissed. Two years later the team was restored, but heroic victories were yet a long way ahead. The restored CSKA never finished higher than in the third place till 1970 when the army club defeated Dinamo 4-3 in deciding matches and won gold medals of the USSR championship.

The success was followed by a row of pathetic performances. Constant coaching turnover only worsened the team environment which was far from perfect in the first place. But things came to worst in 1984 when CSKA was relegated to the first league and played there for 2 long seasons competing with mediocre teams. Promotions were followed by relegations a couple of years.

CSKA experienced a true renaissance only when Valery Gazzaev joined the team: in his first year they won silver medals of the national championship and Russian Cup. And it got better and better. In 2003 CSKA became national champions and in the 2004/2005 season the club won the UEFA Cup. In 2005-2006 the Army team won two consecutive championships. Afterwards CSKA played rather well in the UEFA Champions League. Last season the club made it to the round of 16 but lost to Real Madrid.