Ground Capacity 14,149 Founded 1935 | Chairman Azret Bishenov Manager Khasanbi Bidzhiyev | |
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Full name Professional Football ClubSpartak Nalchik Nickname(s) Red-White, Djigits (Horsemen), Southerners League Russian Football National League | ||
PFC Spartak Nalchik (Russian: Профессиональный футбольный клуб "Спартак" Нальчик) is a Russian association football club based in Nalchik that plays in the second-tier Russian Football National League. They played in the Russian Premier League between 2006 and 2012.
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History
FC Spartak Nalchik was founded in 1935 and played in the regional "B-class" tournament. In 1965, Spartak won the competition and was promoted into "A-class", second group. Spartak played in that tournament from 1966 to 1970.
After reorganization of Soviet league system, Spartak played in the Soviet Second League (1971, 1977, 1978, 1981–1989) and Soviet First League (1972–1976, 1979, 1980), having been promoted and relegated several times. In 1990 and 1991 Spartak played in the Buffer League. The club's best result was a 14th position in the First League in 1974 and 1975.
The club won the title of champions of RSFSR in 1965 and 1970.
In 1992, Spartak Nalchik was entitled to enter Russian First Division. The club was relegated after the 1993 season, but earned promotion back in 1995, after two seasons spent in the Russian Second Division. From 1996 to 2005 Spartak again played in the First Division. In 2005, the team finished second and earned promotion to the Premier League. They were the leaders of Premier League between 10th and 15th rounds in 2006 season. Finally they finished 9th. They led the league again from the 3rd to 8th round in the 2010 season.
Spartak has also been known as "Automobilist" (in 1969–1972) and "Elbrus" (in 1976).
In 2011/12 season the team finished 16th and was relegated to First division.
In January 2014, Minister for Sport and Tourism of Kabardino-Balkaria announced the beginning of bankruptcy proceedings for the club. Later the same month, the Government of Kabardino-Balkaria allocated additional 61 mln roubles for the team from Republican budget.
After the 2013–14 season, the club volunteered to be relegated to the third-tier Russian Professional Football League due to lack of necessary financing for the FNL.
They won their PFL zone in the 2015–16 season and were promoted back to the FNL for the 2016–17.
Current squad
As of 13 February 2017, according to the official FNL website.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Notable players
Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Spartak.