FC Sheriff Tiraspol

History

The club was founded in 2001 by former policeman Victor Gușan, and employee of the Sheriff company in Moldova. The club entered the second tier of Moldovan football, the Divizia A later that year and won its championship by 14 points to gain promotion to Divizia Națională. The club won its first major honour with the 1999 Moldovan Cup. In the final at the Republican Stadium, Sheriff scored an injury-time equaliser before winning the match against Constructorul Chisinau 2–1 after extra time. Sheriff's first National Division title came in the 2000–01 season, which also included their second Moldovan Cup triumph as they beat Nistru Otaci on penalties after a goalless match. The league triumph was the first of a run of ten consecutively up to 2010, also including league-cup doubles in 2002, 2006 and 2008–10. Sheriff won each Moldovan Super Cup from 2004 to 2010, but did not have to play a match on four occasions due to winning it on default through a double. Sheriff were denied an eleventh successive title by Dacia Chişinău in 2010–11, but reclaimed the title the following season. In 2014–15, they lost the title again, to FC Milsami Orhei in spite of having a superior goal difference, due to their head-to-head record.

The team won the Commonwealth of Independent States Cup in 2003 and 2009, becoming the first team from Moldova to win an international title. Sheriff were the first club in Moldova to sign contract players from Brazil and Africa.

Overview

FC Sheriff Tiraspol is based in Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway state of Transnistria, generally recognized as part of Moldova. The club plays in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football. The club was founded by the Sheriff security company on 4 April 1997, which remains a key sponsor.

The club was officially refounded under the leadership of Victor Guşan, the company's president. The first Sheriff coach, Ahmad Alaskarov, was charged with leading the team to the Moldovan top division.

Sheriff's first football trophy was the 1998–99 Moldovan Cup. The club won promotion to the top flight in 1998, after its first-ever season, and dominated the Moldovan National Division with ten consecutive titles from 2001 to 2010, winning an eleventh in 2012. The side also have eight Moldovan Cup titles, including six double-winning seasons. However, the club has never reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Sheriff Stadium

Sheriff Stadium is the home ground of Sheriff Tiraspol and is owned by the company Sheriff. Construction of the ground began on 1 August 2000, being completed in May 2002, with official opening in July 2002. It was renovated in 2011. The stadium has a seating capacity for 12,746 spectators and is eligible for FIFA/UEFA international events. Beside Sheriff, the stadium hosted also matches of FC Tiraspol and the Moldova national football team.

Asides from main arena of Sheriff Sports Complex, there is also a 8,000 seater stadium, Malaya Sportivnaya Arena, also situated in the same complex, along with 8 training fields, a covered training centre, housing for the players, a college for students and a 5-star hotel.

Sheriff in European cups

From 2001–02 to 2008–09, the club tried to reach the group stage in the UEFA Champions League every year, but failed in the second qualifying round every time.

2009–10 UEFA Europa League

In the 2009–10 season Sheriff finally reached the third qualifying round when they defeated Inter Turku.

In the next round, Sheriff defeated Slavia Prague with an aggregate score of 1–1 over two legs, progressing via the away goal rule due to José Nadson Ferreira's 94th-minute strike in the 2nd leg.

They were then eliminated from the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League by Greek club Olympiacos in a Play-off for the Group Stage . They lost 2–0 in the first leg at home, and 1–0 in the second leg away.

Sheriff then progressed to the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage, and were faced with tough opponents. On 17 September 2009, in their first game in the Europa League, Sheriff managed to snatch a 0–0 away draw from FC Steaua Bucureşti.

On 1 October 2009, in the first home game Sheriff lost 1–0 to Fenerbahçe S.K.

On 22 October, Sheriff produced a stunning 2–0 victory over the famous Dutch club FC Twente in Tiraspol, ending Twente's 17-match unbeaten run.

2 December 2009, Sheriff drew 1–1 at home with FC Steaua Bucureşti.

2010–11 UEFA Champions League

In the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League season, on 14–20 July 2010, Sheriff defeated Dinamo Tirana in the second qualifying round (3:1, 0–1).

Then, on 4 August 2010 it overcame Dinamo Zagreb on penalties (1:1, 1:1, 6:5) to reach the play-off round, the final stage before the Champions League Group stage.

On 18–24 August 2010, in the play-off round against FC Basel, Sheriff lost 1–0 the first match in Switzerland before succumbing to a 3–0 defeat at home.

2010–11 UEFA Europa League

In the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League season, on 30 September 2010, Sheriff recorded a 2–0 victory over FC Dinamo Kiev in Tiraspol.

On 2 December 2010 Sheriff drew 1–1 with Dutch club AZ in Tiraspol.

On 15 December 2010 Sheriff drew 0–0 against FC Dinamo Kiev in Kiev.

European record

UEFA team ranking 2016

As of 28 May 2016. Source

Current squad

As of 29 January 2017

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current youth players with first-team experience

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Honours

Club records

Most appearances (443): Vazha Tarkhnishvili

Most goals (71): Alexey Kuchuk

Record victory (19 October 2005, Moldovan Cup): Sheriff-FC Viitorul Orhei 16:0

Record defeat (UEFA Champions League, 25 July 2001): RSC Anderlecht-Sheriff 4:0

Biggest win in UEFA competition (23 July 2013): Sheriff-FK Sutjeska 5:0

Appearances in UEFA Champions League: 13

Appearances in UEFA Europa League: 7

Player with most UEFA appearances: Vazha Tarkhnishvili (54)

Top scorers in UEFA club competitions: Ismail Isa (5)

Managers

Information correct as of match played 10 December 2016. Only competitive matches are counted.

P – Total of played matches W – Won matches D – Drawn matches L – Lost matches GS – Goal scored GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of matches won Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).