Ground Traktor Stadium, Minsk Chairman Sergei Chizh Website Club home page Location Minsk, Belarus Manager Sergei Borovsky | Ground Capacity 16,500 2016 3rd League Belarusian Premier League Founded 1927 | |
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Full name Football Club Dinamo Minsk Arenas/Stadiums Dinamo-Yuni Stadium, Traktor Stadium Profiles | ||
FC Dinamo Minsk (Belarusian: ФК Дынама Мінск, FK Dynama Minsk; Russian: ФК Динамо Минск) is a professional football club based in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk.
Contents
- Soviet Union
- Belarus
- Name history
- Supporters Rivalries
- Current squad
- Reserves
- Notable managers
- League history
- References
It was founded in 1927 as part of the Soviet Dinamo Sports Society, and was the only club from the Byelorussian SSR that competed in the Soviet Top League, playing 39 of the 54 seasons, and winning the title in 1982. Since the independence of Belarus the club participates in the Belarusian Premier League, having won 7 league titles and 3 Belarusian Cups.
Dinamo plays its home games in the 16,500 capacity Traktor Stadium. Dinamo is the second Belarusian team, after FC BATE Borisov to reach UEFA Europa League group stages (2014–15 and 2015–16).
Soviet Union
Dinamo Minsk was founded in 1927 as a part of the Soviet Dinamo Sports Society. They spent some of their history in the lower leagues of the Soviet Union, but in 1940, they promoted in the Soviet Top League, becoming the first and only Belarusian team to compete in the Soviet top division. They relegated to second level in 1952, but immediately returned top level at next year. In 1954, they finished a third place, their best performance in the top flight to date, and were dissolved, being re-founded as Spartak Minsk, only to be renamed in Belarus Minsk in 1959, in honor of the Soviet republic in the national championship. However, in 1962, they return to the original name of Dinamo Minsk. They relegated again from top level in 1955 and in 1957. They played top level again in 1960 season. They relegated again in 1973 and returned to top level in 1975 season. But they relegated immediately in 1976. They returned top level after 2 year.
In 1982, Dinamo Minsk won the Soviet championship for the first and only time in their history. The following year saw them debuting in the European Cup against Grasshopper of Switzerland. They reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup after eliminating Grasshoppers and Gyori ETO of Hungary, only to be eliminated by Dinamo Bucureşti. In 1984–85 season, Dinamo Minsk reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Cup after beating HJK Helsinki, Sporting CP and Widzew Łódź, but were eventually stopped by Željezničar Sarajevo. 1988 saw Dinamo Minsk up to a new European performance, the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, passing through Gençlerbirliği and Real Sociedad, but being eliminated by KV Mechelen.
Dinamo Minsk also participated in Belarusian SSR league. Since mid-50s their appearances were only sporadic and they were represented by youth teams in later seasons. They have won the championship 7 times.
Belarus
Dinamo Minsk won the inaugural season of the Belarusian Premier League in 1992. They become the top team in the new Belarusian championship and won 5 league titles until 1995, making only one appearance in the UEFA Champions League, in 1993. However, after a title in 1997, Dinamo Minsk last won the championship in 2004. The 2000s saw Dinamo Minsk failing to secure any league title in the battle against BATE Borisov, thus finnishing on lower places, mostly second.
In 2014, Dinamo Minsk beat MyPA, CFR Cluj and Nacional to be drawn in Group K of Europa League, along with Italian side Fiorentina, French team Guingamp and Greek side PAOK, becoming the second team, after BATE Borisov, to reach group stages of Europa League. Dinamo finished at the bottom with four points, after a draw with Guingamp and a historical 2–1 victory over Fiorentina.
Name history
Supporters & Rivalries
Dinamo Minsk is one of the most popular teams in Belarus. Among ultras groups, the largest is called Blue White Will. Fans of Dinamo Minsk are friends with Dinamo Brest fans.
The ultras of Dinamo Minsk are famous for their right-wing political orientation and there have been several riots, clashes with the police forces and chants against the Belorussian authoritarian regime, led by long-time President Alexander Lukashenko.
Their political views as well as geographic proximity and contest for dominance of the city make them huge rivals with neighbours Partizan Minsk, whose fans tend to be strongly left-wing.
Belarus
Soviet Union
Current squad
As of March 2017
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserves
There has been several teams that served as Dinamo Minsk official reserve or farm clubs.
Notable managers
League history
Belarus