Russian giants FC Zenit bring glory to St. Petersburg
When Russian YouTubers tend to show their bare strong physiques and muscles in winter, people may wonder what the most "sporty" city is in Russia? In my opinion, the answer is Saint Petersburg.
It is because the city has the nation's most popular soccer team and the world's oldest sports education academy.
China-Russia friendship soccer ambassador: FC Zenit
In October 1955, the St. Petersburg-based soccer club, Zenit, which was called Leningrad Zenit at that time, visited Beijing and had a 2-2 draw with China men's national team.
After the friendly, Chairman Mao, along with national leaders Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, met with players from both sides. Their picture of this meeting became headlines the next day.
FC Zenit players celebrate their 3-0 victory over CSKA Moscow to win the Russian Premier League trophy in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 12, 2019. /VCG Photo
Honor since 1925
FC Zenit, nicknamed the Blue-White-Sky Blues because of their kit, have won a large number of titles and trophies in both national and international competitions.
They won the Russian Premier League, previously Soviet Top League, in 1984, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2019.
They own four Russian Cup championships and five Russian Super Cup titles.
They lifted the UEFA Cup in May 2008.
Three months later, they became the first Russian team to champion at the UEFA Super Cup.
The 94-year club recently made a new record as the most popular soccer team in Russia. Statistics show 1,119,896 fans visited its official website between July 2018 and May 2019.
The home stadium Krestovsky Stadium, also known as Gazprom Arena, set a new record on May 12. The 28th round of the Russian Premier League between Zenit and CSKA Moscow set a new attendance record with 61,494 fans. It was the highest attendance for a Zenit game for the last 35 years.
People carry a giant FC Zenit-branded balloon during a parade in Nevsky Avenue as part of the festivities marking the 316th birthday of the city of St. Petersburg, May 26, 2019. /VCG Photo
Fun facts about FC Zenit
FC Zenit used the red kit in the middle of the 20th century. Now one of their biggest rivals Spartak Moscow are in the red.
Besides red, Zenit players used green-yellow while wearing black shorts in the past, as the club had no traditional colors and played in the outfits in accordance with the trade unions that owned them.
In 1940 the team got its first logo, which featured the famous arrow symbol written in a wave-like arrow.
It was Zenit fans that made the club's scarves three-colored: Blue, white, and sky blue, with the aim of differentiating Zenit from the many other white-sky blue teams. As a result, Zenit became the first team with three colors in the country.
The USSR Championship was the top soccer league of the USSR from 1936 to 1991. Zenit never came second in the USSR Championship but came third in 1980 under head coach Yury Morozov.
FC Zenit fans unveil the giant lion tifo to celebrate the club's victory during the Russian Premier League match in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 12, 2019. /VCG Photo
Sports heritage academy
The world's oldest institution of physical education is Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport, and Health. The St. Petersburg-based academy was founded in 1896 by the prominent scientist Pyotr Lesgaft.
"Sport of the highest achievements plays an important role in the life of the City-upon-Neva," noted Yury Avdeev, chairman of St. Petersburg Committee on Culture and Sport, and also a graduate of the university.
"Nowadays, 66 champions of various Olympic Games live in the Northern Capital."
"Leningrad-Petersburg has given 115 Olympic champions who have won over 139 golden medals and not every country can top this result of the city," he said.