FC Arsenal Kyiv

Football club infobox
clubname = Arsenal Kyiv


fullname = FC Arsenal Kyiv
nickname = "Каноніри" ("Cannoneers")
founded = 2001
pattern_la1=
pattern_b1=_redstripes2
pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFFFF
body1=FFFFFF
rightarm1=FFFFFF
shorts1=FF0000
socks1=FF0000|
pattern_la2=
pattern_b2=_redstripes2
pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=000099
body2=000099
rightarm2=000099
shorts2=FF0000
socks2=FF0000
ground = Olimpiysky National Sports Complex
capacity = 83,450
chairman = flagicon|Ukraine Vadym Rabynovich
mgrtitle = Head Coach
manager = flagicon|Ukraine Oleksandr Zavarov
league = Ukrainian Premier League
season = 2007–08
position = 6th

FC Arsenal Kyiv ( _ua. ФК "Арсенал" Київ) is a professional football club in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.

History

In the 1950s, a different club under the same name "Arsenal Kiev" won the 1958 Ukrainian SSR Championship. However in 1963 the club was renamed to "Temp Kiev" and folded a few years later. The current "Arsenal" club originated from the first CSKA Kiev team. This club was originally founded in 1934 in Kharkiv under the name "UVO Kharkiv" and had moved a year later to Kiev and renamed "BO (Budynok ofitseriv) Kiev". In 1947-1956 the team was called "OBО Kiev" and in 1952, under this name, the team reached the semifinal stage of the Soviet National Cup. In 1957 the team played under the name "ОSK Kiev", in 1957-1959 – "SKVО Kiev" and in 1960-1971 – "SKA Kiev". In 1972 the team moved to Chernihiv and changed its name to "SK Chernihiv" and had moved back to Kiev in 1976 as "SKА". In 1981-1982, the team had its last Soviet First League stint at the second level of Soviet football. In 1992 the team was renamed to "ZS Оriyana" and to "CSK ZSU" in 1993. In 1994 the team had merged with FC Borysfen Boryspil under the name "CSKA-Borysfen Boryspil".

Ukrainian Premier League (1995-Present)

The club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League, where it has appeared since the 1995-96 season.

In 1996 two teams split into CSKA Kiev and FC Borysfen Boryspil. After the 2001 season, CSKA Kiev underwent another reformation. Its first team was bought out by the city's government, changing the club's name from "CSKA" to "Arsenal".

The club's greatest achievements include a successful UEFA Cup run in the season of 2001-02, defeating the now defunct Finnish side FC Jokerit and Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. The club has also managed to appear in the domestic cup's finals twice (1998 and 2001), losing both times: first against city-rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv and then against FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

While under the city government's ownership, Arsenal has struggled financially, resorting to loaning many of its first squad players. The city had decreased funding to the club significantly as it sought to reduce its numerous sports holdings. In May 2007, it was announced that the club would be demoted due to financial issues, however soon afterwards it was revealed that "Arsenal" would be purchased by Ukrainian oligarch, Vadym Rabynovich. The new owner started actively financing the club and its transfers.

Honours

Runner-Up

*Ukrainian Cup: 2:: 1998, 2001

Current squad

The squad is given according to the club's official website [http://fcarsenal.com.ua/wp/team/] , as of July 26, 2008

Out on loan

*Fs player|no=—|pos=DF|nat=Tunisia|name=Anis Boussaidi |other=on loan to KV Mechelen
*Fs player|no=—|pos=MF|nat=Brazil|name=Marcinho Guerreiro |other=to Santos
*Fs player|no=—|pos=MF|nat=Senegal|name=Serigne Diop |other=to K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot

"For recent transfers, see List of Ukrainian football transfers summer 2008."

Famous players

Coaches

*flagicon|Ukraine Oleg Kuznetsov (2002)
*flagicon|Ukraine Vyacheslav Grozny (2002 — 2004)
*flagicon|Ukraine Olexandr Baranov (2004 — 2005)
*flagicon|Ukraine Oleksandr Zavarov (2005 — 2008)

League and cup history

:

External links

*uk icon [http://www.fcarsenal.com.ua Official site]
*uk icon [http://arsenal-kiev.com.ua/ Site Arsenal-Kiev]
*en icon [http://ukrainiansoccer.net/upl/onevsall.asp?champID=17&Team=Arsenal Club page at "Ukrainian Soccer"]
*uk icon [http://fans.com.ua/teams/ukraine/arsenal-kyiv/ Club page at FANS.com.ua]
*uk icon [http://www.fcarsenal.kiev.ua/ Fan site]