6 facts about Zenit soccer club, one of the oldest in Russia (PHOTOS)

1. It was originally a factory team

The club grew out of the ‘Stalinets’ soccer team of the Leningrad Metal Plant. In the workshops, the team members were mechanics, turners, modelers, while, on the field, they became attackers, goalkeepers and forwards. After finishing their sports careers, the ‘Stalinists’ returned to their regular jobs. For example, goalkeeper Georgy Shorets first played for the team, then played for the RSFSR national team and, at one point, became the best goalkeeper in the country. After the war, he worked in the criminal investigation department. Forward Alexey Larionov was part of the championship winners in 1944 and, in 1945, he focused entirely on the plant and worked in the model shop until his retirement.

2. The team received its modern name in 1940

In the 1920s and 1930s, almost all Leningrad enterprises were fans of soccer and each production facility had several teams. When ‘Stalinets’ debuted in the city championship in 1931, there were several teams from each of the 178 factories that registered to participate in the championship!

In the late 1930s, the plant was transferred to the People's Commissariat of Armaments, which had its own sports association called ‘Zenit’. The ‘Stalinists’ gradually joined and, in 1940, the team received its modern name – ‘Zenit’.

3. Zenit coaches included Dick Advocaat & Luciano Spalletti

Dutch manager Dick Advocaat led the team to victories in the Russian Championship (after a 23-year break) and the UEFA Cup.

With Luciano Spalletti, Zenit reached the Champions League playoffs for the first time. And with Andre Villas-Boas, the team set a new record – under him, it went on a 13-game winning streak in the Russian Premier League in 2014.

Zenit's roster included players such as Brazilian Hulk, Belgian Axel Witsel, Argentine Alejandro Dominguez and Portuguese Danny at various times.

4. The first Russian team to win the UEFA Super Cup

In the 2007/2008 season, Zenit became the second UEFA Cup winner in Russian history and, in 2008, they beat Champions League winner Manchester United 2-1 to win the UEFA Super Cup.

5. A subway station was named after Zenit

In 2020, the club celebrated its 95th anniversary and won the Russian Premier League. On this occasion, the city authorities decided to rename the ‘Novokrestovskaya’ subway station to ‘Zenit’ and changed its design. The blue-white-and-light blue station, in the club's signature colors, features enlarged copies of its trophies.

6. Plays in a ‘spaceship’ stadium

Zenit's ultra-modern stadium was created by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the creator of the metabolic architecture style. Although it is often dubbed a "flying saucer", the author of the project himself believed that the appearance of the arena is more like a sailboat, because it is no coincidence that it is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland.

*You can learn more about the soccer club at the ‘Zenit 💙 St. Petersburg. 100 years together’ exhibition, which is on display at the ‘Sevkabel Port’ convention center until September 30, 2025.