All about Spartak Moscow

In the early days of Soviet football many government agencies such as the police, army, and railroads created their own clubs. In contrast to this, Spartak Moscow was created in 1922 as a trade union sports club, thus gaining the image of the "people's team". The founder of the sports society was

Nikolai Starostin. He proposed the name that was derived from Spartacus, a slave who led a rebellion against Rome. Starostin is also credited with the creation of the Spartak logo. Since 1935 the club was a part of the Spartak Sports Society.

Spartak had become a major Soviet football power by 1936, when it won its first Ussr title. As the popularity of football grew in the USSR in the 1960’s Spartak fared well, winning two league titles in that decade. However, the club was less successful in the 1970’s and in 1976 Spartak was relegated into the lower league.

During the following season, the stadium was still full as the club's fans stayed with the team during its time in the lower division. Spartak came back the next year and won the title in 1979, beating Dynamo Kiev and thanks to Spartak supporters, the period is considered to be the start of the modern-style fans' movement in the Soviet Union.

A new page in the club’s history began when the USSR collapsed and its championship ceased to exist. In the newly created Russian league, Spartak led by coach and president Oleg Romantsev dominated and won 9 titles out of 13. Year after year the team also represented Russia in the Champions League.

Problems began when Nikolia Starostin, the club's patriarch, died and left the whole enterprise to Romantsev who sold his stock in 2000 to oil magnate Andrei Cherivkenco The two were soon embroiled in a row that would continue until Romantsev was sacked in 2003. With the club suffering several sub-par seasons until Chervichenko finally sold his stock in 2004. The new ownership made a number of front office changes with the aim of returning the team to the top of the Russian Premier League.

In the 2005 season, Spartak, led by Alexander Stroskys finished 2nd in the league following an impressive run to beat Lokomitiv, Zentiz and Rubin to the last Champions League place.

Following a mixed start to the 2006 season and public criticism from Dmitri Alenichev the team's captain and one of its most experienced players, Starkovs left his position toVladimir Venetov.

Spartak was entitled to place a golden star on its badge in 2003 in commemoration of having won five Russian championships (this having been achieved in 1997).

Spartak has never had its own stadium and the team has played in various Moscow stadiums throughout its history and even once an exhibition match on Red Square. Currently, the club's home ground is the 5-star Luzhikni Arena that officially belongs to another Moscow club,Torpedo.

However, the club's new board has recently declared that "Spartak will soon play on their own stadium

". The federal government has agreed to give land for the stadium near the Tushino air field. The construction will begin in 2007 and is expected to end in 2009.

The Luzhikni Stadium is to be the venue for the final of this seasons Champions League competition, although the plastic pitch that Celtic will have to play on for the qualifying tie will be replaced by then to a conventional grass surface.

Spartak are currently top of the Russian league, which is already at week 10. They will prove stiff opposition for Celtic and are bound to be well prepared given the point they are at in their season.

They are not unbeatable however, as their total of 33 points out of a possible 54 testifies. The fact that they have also conceded 17 goals versus a tally of 24 scored also shows that they are not world-beaters.

It will require a fully focused Celtic to traverse this difficult qualifying round!

Yours in Celtic

Clydebuilt