Full name Football Club Alma-Ata 2008 8th Founded 2000 | Ground Capacity 23,000 Ground Almaty Central Stadium | |
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Dissolved 2008; 9 years ago (2008) League Kazakhstan Premier League | ||
Not to be confused with FC Tsesna (now Kairat Academy) founded in 2010
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FC Alma-Ata (Kazakh: Алма-Ата Футбол Клубы) was a Kazakh association football club based in Almaty between 2000-2008.
History
In 2000 the club was formed as FC Tsesna in Almaty. Tsesna played in the Kazakhstan First Division for the first time in 2003, finishing second and earning themselves promotion to the Kazakhstan Premier League. Following their promotion, the clubs management changed the clubs name to FC Alma-Ata, finishing their debut season in 18th position under the management of Edgar Gess. The following season, first under Igor Romanov, and then Antonius Joore, the club improved and finished 13th. The 2006 was the clubs best season, again with Antonius Joore as their manager, the club finished 5th in the league and won the Kazakhstan Cup for the first time. As a result of their Cup win, they qualified for the 2007-08 UEFA Cup for the first time.
In July 2007 Alma-Ata appointed Arno Pijpers as a consultant, whilst he continued his Kazakhstan National Team duties, in preparation for their debut UEFA Cup matches against Slovakian side ViOn Zlaté Moravce. Alma-Ata were defeat by ViOn Zlaté Moravce 4-2 over the two legs, whilst finishing 6th in the league and reaching the Last 32 of the Cup. The 2008 season was the clubs last season, as after finishing 8th in the League and as Cup runners-up, Alma-Ata declared themselves bankrupt and ceased operations, with the majority of the clubs staff joining FC Megasport before forming FC Lokomotiv Astana.