Russian Premier League

Russian Premier League

The Russian Football Championship (Russian: Чемпионат России по футболу), currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship (Russian: СОГАЗ — Чемпионат России по футболу) due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. The competition is currently run by the Russian football Premier-League (Russian: Российская футбольная Премьер-Лига). There are 16 teams in the competition. The league has two Champions League qualifying places given to teams who finish in the top two at the end of the season and three Europa League places to teams who finish third, fourth and fifth. Relegation to the National League Championship are given to teams who finish bottom and second-bottom at the end of the season. The Russian Premier League was established in 2001 and succeeded the Top Division, the difference being that the Top Division was run by the Professional Football League of Russia, and the creation of the Premier League gave the clubs a greater degree of independence.

The Russian league has improved considerably lately, and the Russian Premier League is now ranked 9th by UEFA; at one point the league was ranked 6th.

FC Zenit Saint Petersburg are the current Russian Premier League champions.

Read more about Russian Premier League:  Russian Football Premier-League, History, Competition, 2012–13 Clubs, Champions and Top Scorers, UEFA Ranking, All-time Table, Media Coverage

Famous quotes containing the words russian and/or league:

    “Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his “comb” and “spare shirt,” “leathern breeches” and “gauze cap to keep off gnats,” with as much complacency as Bonaparte a park of artillery for the Russian campaign. The quiet bravery of the man is admirable.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.”
    —Bible: Hebrew, Job 5:19-23.