FC Rubin Kazan

FC Rubin Kazan is a professional football club based in Kazan, Russia, founded in 1958. Rubin played its first season in the top-flight in 2003. It has remained there ever since, winning the championship twice in 2008 and 2009. The club also won the 2011-12 Russian Cup and was present in European competitions.

History

FC Rubin Kazan was previously called Iskra from 1958 to 1964 and Rubin-TAN from 1992 to 1993. The name Rubin means "Ruby".

Having never played in the Soviet Top League, the football club joined the Russian First Division in 1992 and fell to the Russian Second Division in 1994. The mayor of Kazan at the time, Kamil Iskhakov, purchased the team in 1996. Rubin won the Second Division in 1997 and was promoted back to the First Division the following season. The next four seasons, the team consistently finished above 8th place. Finally winning the title in 2002, Rubin was promoted to the Russian Premier League for the first time in 2003. Rubin finished third in its debut season to qualify for the UEFA Cup. The team faced a temporary setback in the 2004 campaign finishing in 10th place, but 2005 saw them finish fourth, again qualifying the team for the UEFA Cup.

The Flower of Sentyabrev's Epoch (1958–1965)

The year of 1958 came, and the team formed a part of Class B of the USSR Championship, because of successful performances and the Class B expanding. Nowadays 1958 is considered to be a year of foundation of an up-to-date "Rubin".

"Iskra", thus was the name of a debutant, found itself in the first zone of RSFSR Class B, in which mainly clubs of Povolzhye and Ukraine played.

The debut was on 20 April in Kherson. The team lost to local "Spartak" 2–4. The author of the first goal of "Iskra" in USSR championships was Igor Ignatov. The squad in that game was: Galimov, Zinnourov, Surkov, Khorkov, Kashurin, Dardymov, Polyakov, Markov, Gelman, Ignatov, Sharipov.

In 1958 "Iskra" took 14th place, left below only teams of Ulyanovsk and Volzhsky. Lack of experience and often changes in a coach staff adversely affected the game of "Iskra".

In 1959 "Iskra" was headed by a 50-year-old specialist Nikolay Sentyabrev. Within the next 12 years the post of a head coach of the team was occupied. Neither before nor after no one could reach that period. Earlier Sentyabrev played for the region of Ivanovo and coached "Tekstilschik" (Ivanovo). His work didn't make waiting for results. "Iskra" at one stroke made 9 steps up in the tournament table and stopped at the 5th position. In comparison with the previous season much more goals were scored and less balls were missed. Two footballers – a defender Viktor Surkov and a goalkeeper Ilyas Galimov – were included into the list of RSFSR National Squad. Thus started the epoch of Sentyabrev, with his name all successes of Kazan football of the 60s are connected.

The 1960 season was even more successful. After the first round having only one defeat from "Zvezda" (Perm) the kazanners were among the leaders of the zone. But during the second half "Iskra" improved and finished 4th. This season is memorable also by the fact that in June "Iskra" visited Poland and played the first international matches in its history with Polish teams.

In 1960, Tsentralnyi stadium was founded. On 21 August 1960 "Iskra" played a debut game in a new arena against Metallurg (Kamensk-Uralsky) – 2–1.

In 1961 the kazanners again spent the strong first half of the championship and looked much worse in the second round. The gap from the leaders was one point. Amir Toufatoullin, who scored 17 goals in 22 matches. That year "Iskra" made its way to the last 16 of the USSR Cup, where it lost a rematch to Dynamo (Moscow). Next year a future idol of supporters debuted, one of the most highly skilled and resulting strikers in the club history – Viktor Teterkin. In 1962 and 1963 the kazanners took traditional 3rd place.

The year of 1964 became the turning-point. The squad was strengthened with young Kazan players Islam Minnibaev and Albert Faizoullin. Unsuccessful start of the championship was compensated with 15 matches without a loss in a row at the finish. As a result – second position in the zone and an ability to continue struggle for Class A entrance. But the final round was unfortunate at this time.

During the off-season the club's name was changed to Rubin. The following year the team achieved the highest place in that era.

The skeleton of the team which had been built several years before already remained permanent: defenders Nikolay Markov, Viktor Surkov, Anatoly Fomin, midfielders Vitaly Golubev and Viktor Novishkov, forwards Viktor Teterkin, Alexey Beryuchevsky and Islam Minnibaev. During the whole season "Rubin" being among the leaders of the zone secured second position and followed familiar way to the Semi-final Tournament of the Class B strongest teams. In decisive game against "Sokol" (Saratov) "Rubin" has won 2–1 (Teterkin, Golubev) and got a ticket to Class A first time in its history. "Rubin" returned to Kazan with silver medals.

The End of Sentyabrev's Epoch (1966–1971)

Season 1966 was due to answer the question whether Rubin, a newcomer of Class A, was able to gain a foothold and to survive a competition with more experienced clubs. Club coaches counted on the footballers succeeded in the previous year. Only three players were added – a goalkeeper Ilyas Galimov returned from Leningrad, and forwards Murad Zadikahvili from Kutaisi and Nikolay Vorobyov from Yoshkar-Ola came. First three games were played away. After a zero draw in Batumi and a loss from "Kuban" in Krasnodar the kazanners gained revenge from "Spartak" in Nalchik for the loss in the final of 1965. 2–1 – that was the first win in Class A. The first goal was scored by Alexey Beryuchevsky.

Kazan had to wait for the grand opening of the season until May, 2. That day 22,000 spectators greeted the win over "Dynamo" from Kirovabad. The only goal was scored by Murad Zadikashvili. In the final table "Rubin" stands at the honorable 5th position.

Next year of 1967 considerable changes happened in the squad. The leaders of last years Fomin, Golubev and Novichkov finished to play for the team. "Rubin" had to start forming the middle line from the beginning. Skilful Vladimir Savelyev returned home from "Krylia Sovetov" (Kuibyshev). In the defensive line appeared: Vyacheslav Bulavin who became later famous as a player and a head coach of "Zenit" (Leningrad), and Gennadiy Klimanov, captain of RSFSR Youth Squad. A resulting striker Nikolay Penzin appeared in the attack.

A the final standings "Rubin" has raised its position if to compare with the previous season, it was the 4th position. In USSR Cup the kazanners succeeded in achieving ⅛ final, where they lost to "Chornomorets" (Odessa) – 1–3.

Next year of 1968 Kazan club reduced its positions – the 5th place, but some noticeable events occurred during the season. The most bright one of them was a debut of young and unknown 19-year-old Viktor Kolotov, captain of USSR National Squad in the future. Viktor has become the only "Rubin's" footballer who has played for USSR. He scored his first goal just in the first match against Yugoslavia on 28 October 1970. In general Kolotov has played 55 games and scored 22 goals for the National Team.

In the season of 1969 "Rubin" was close to change the Second Group of Class A for the First one. At the Second Stage "Rubin" in one point left behind the winner – "SKA" (Khabarovsk). And the team repeated the success of 1967, reached ⅛ final of USSR Cup, where has lost to "Sudostroitel" Nikolaev at the extra-time.

In 1970 the structure of the football tournament was modified. United First League was made, and 22 best-of-1969 teams were included.

On a legal ground "Rubin" took his place among them. The debut was April, 11 in Krasnodar (0–1). After that an outdoor draw followed in Kharkov with "Metallist" – 1–1, Viktor Kolotov scored the first goal in the First league. Later followed several wins. In the season-1970 "Rubin" resulted at the 8th position. Hard times came. Viktor Kolotov left for "Dynamo" (Kiev). Ended their careers experienced Vlasov, Minnibaev and Muravyev. There were many newcomers in the team – 11 players. Only 3 of them – Stanislav Cheblukov, Yuri Ibraev and Pavel Zhelanov – were able to consolidate their positions. Besides, the team lost its head coach. Because of state of health Nikolay Sentyabrev has left the club. The season of 1971 the team finished at the last 22nd position and has left the First league.

Came time to form a new team, which will be able to return a former authority to Kazan football.

White line, black line (1972–1977)

In 1972 "Rubin" has been participating in the 5th zone of the Second League, which included mainly clubs of Povolzhye and Middle Asia. During the whole season the kazanners experienced serious problems in the attack. Frankly speaking, after the 21nd[clarification needed] matchday the team had only 14 goals scored (5 of them were annulled because 2 teams has left the tournament). Just to the end of the season a ray of hope has appeared. Newcomers of the team – a goalkeeper Alexander Ivanov, a midfielder Alexander Mashin and a forward Anatoly Yashin – has fit in the game successfully. In the last game of the year "Rubin" has beat "Torpedo" from Togliatii 1–0 and took the 7th place and left the opponent on the 8th one.

The season of 1973 was to be more successful. After a year's interval Murad Zadikashvili has returned from Kutaisi. Three clubs has started to change each other in the top of the league in the struggle for the only ticket to the Semifinal tournament. These teams were "Uralmash" (Sverdlovsk), "Rubin" and "Kord" from Balakovo. Kazanners were the second ones at the final lap. "Uralmash" had just 3 points more. In RSFSR Cup, which was held as an alternative to USSR Cup, "Rubin" reached Semi-final (the club's best result in this tournament), where lost 0–1 to "Vulkan" (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) in an outdoor game. That year (1973) on May, 1 a 24-year-old masseur Eugeny Golov started to work in "Rubin". From that moment "Rubin" has become an integral part of his life. He had passed all steps of a club hierarchy: masseur – doctor – administrator – first president (since 1990) – director (1995–99 and since 2005).

Before the season of 1974 "Rubin" has practically lost no players of a senior squad. It has even strengthened: experienced Alexey Semenov and Vladimir Sergeev came from Dnepropetrovsk, from Baku Renat Kamaletdinov has returned. The start turned out to be sick, "Rubin" was 11th after the first half. In June a change of a "steersman" has happened. Instead of Vladlen Reshitko ex-forward of "Iskra" Yuri Markov took the post of a senior coach. In the final table "Rubin" was the 2nd. In a stubborn struggle kazanners could stand up for this position in a semi-final pellet in Frunze and in a final in Sochi. As a result – an overall 2nd place in the Second League and a pass to the First League.

In 1975 the team was headed by Boris Batanov from "Torpedo" (Moscow), a specialist with a name, indeed, he had a success only as a footballer. After the first half of the year "Rubin" was 17th, and Batanov has left a captain's bridge, which was occupied by Yuri Markov again. Kazanners took 13 points in last 8 games and finished on 11th position.

The beginning of 1976 has encouraged. In the second matchday "Rubin" has beat "Pakhtakor" (Tashkent). The defense with a goalkeeper Alexander Ivanov could stay the whole 90 minutes, and in the middle of the second time Oleg Usov has finished one of "Rubin's" counter-attacks with an accurate shot. However, after that 21 matches without any win followed. Thanks God, that anti record has been never repeated. As a result – the 17th place and a difficultly saved registration in the First League.

In 1977 an attempt to renew a team was undertaken. The changes touched mainly the defensive line. The coaches refused services of age-specific footballers – Klimanov, Faizullin, Sukharev, Antikhovich. Their positions were taken by talented but not experienced yet Usenko, Martynov, Sibgatullin and Schavelev. Dzagnidze from "Kuzbass" debuted in the attack. The youth wasn't ready to play on a serious level, which was needed for the First Division. Result was the last 20th place.

The times of stagnation (1978–1991)

In 1978, the organizers of the competitions have identified "Rubin" in internationalist 4th zone, where in addition to Russian clubs were 13 teams of three republics – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Kazan started poorly, taking on a long Georgian-Armenian exit, which consisted of 6 matches, only 2 points. But slowly the team began to build momentum, and, eventually, ended the season in 6th place.

The leader of "Rubin" attacks became its debutant Sergei Agafonov, invited from Kazan "Raketa". Having scored 22 goals, he set a record of the club for one season. Distinguished, newly scorer and a year later, again hitting the opponent gate 22 times. But it did not help to "Rubin".

In the season of 1979 Kazan set anti-record – 19th place in the second league. During the season in 23 guest matches had been won only 1 game.

In 1980, instead of Aleksei Alekseevich Beryuchevskogo, who led the "Rubin" in two previous seasons, to the post of head coach came Valeriy Salnikov. Together with him came from Taganrog: goalkeeper Ivan Kikhtenko striker – Sergey Suslin, from Makhachkala midfielder – Anatoly Vetrov. "Rubin" was first included in the second (the Volga-Urals) zone of the second league, which became his "home" for the next 10 years. To the end of the season Kazan came in 10th place, and again left without a head coach.

The next attempt to find a suitable mentor for the team finally succeeded in 1981. Credibility, which was enough for the next 7 years (with a break in 1983–84), get Vladimir Mikhailov, in past well-known football player of Moscow Torpedo. Mikhailov invited to Rubin striker Vadim Popov, who immediately set to work – 20 goals in his debut season. At the gate of Gorky's "Volga" Vadim scored 4 goals – the second "poker", made by a player in our team (first in 1958, distinguished Gennady Berezin). In the final table in 1981, Rubin was in 5th place.

In the next in 1982 an attempt was made to win in the zone. In a bitter struggle with Chelyabinsk "Lokomotiv" Kazan in the end gave the first line to the Ural team. Vadim Popov scored 24 goals, updating the club record for the season. Season-1983 did not become a logical continuation of the 1982th, only a 5th place in the zone. In 1984, Rubin participated even worse. With the transfer Vadim Popov to Omsk Irtysh in the attack appeared unsolvable problems. Toothless team action in the attack was partly offset confident playing defensive line, led by Kikhtenko and Martynov, so Rubin could not fall below 10th place.

The game in attack was fixed in season 1985, when to the team came Vladimir Gavrilov, best scorer of "Rubin" in its history. His scoring quality Gavrilov showed in the season-1986, when with 27 balls he became the best scorer of the second league. We can only guess how things would have developed for "Rubin" in the next 1987, if Gavrilov stays in the team. But he decided to try his strength in the first league and moved to the Voronezh "Fakel", and when in autumn after the injury he returned to Kazan, the fans saw on the field only a pale shadow of a formidable striker.

Two of the final season of 80-ths did not bring positive emotions. Moving up did not work, and Rubin began to sink lower and lower on the standings. In 1988, the team score points, mainly due to competently organized games in the defensive by the coach Alexei Alexandrovich Semyonov, who replaced Mikhailov.

At the end of the season-1989, which Kazan finished on 12th place, to the post of head coach of "Rubin" came one of the oldest and most respected football coaches of the country, honored trainer of Russia – Ivan Zolotukhin. " Grandfather" – respectfully called Zolotukhin players and fans.

In 1990, before the team set the goal – to get into the "buffer" league (intermediate between the first and second), for which it was necessary to take place not less than the second. After a magnificent season, Kazan scored equal points with Togliatti "Lada" and gave her a second line due to a smaller number of victories. The following season, "Rubin" make up for all the previous failures. During the Championship from Moscow came a striker Sergei Surov, who together with Vladimir Gavrilov and 20-year-old Oleg Nechaev for three scored 44 goals, making the most formidable line of attack in the zone. Most of all got "EVM" from Ruzayevka, which Kazan scored seven unanswered goals (the biggest victory of the "Rubin" in the championships of the USSR). As a result, the first round Rubin passed without a single defeat. Unbeaten run was interrupted only in the 32 round, but by the time Kazan was unequivocal leader of the tournament. To finish of the championship in 1991, Rubin came first, finishing with dignity "Soviet" phase of its history.

A step away from total collapse (1992–1995)

After the collapse of the Soviet Union broke up into separate tournaments and the championship of the Union. The result is that instead of the union "buffer" league "Rubin" was the first league of first Championship of Russia. In season 1992, it consisted of three territorial zones. Kazan had been included in the central.

In winter, from Moscow came the tragic news – on 13 February died Ivan Zolotukhin. Died respected by everyone "Grandfather" – the man who succeeded for a short time to create in "Rubin" a command with a character – a tough, unyielding and self-confident.

After Zolotukhin a head coach of Rubin became Alexander Ivchenko, previously worked with Omsk Irtysh. In the off-season left the team: Kalachev Igor, Sergei Surov and who decided to continue a career in Poland, Vladimir Gavrilov. Ivchenko brought from Omsk scorer Marat Mulasheva and midfielder Sergei Osipov, came from the Kirov technically Moiseev.

The first game in the championship of Russia on 25 April Rubin lost to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (0–1). Then, in Bashkortostan got its first victory – over Gastello from Ufa, the only goal scored Vadim Potapov. In Kazan, the fans saw their team on 6 May, when in a double-edged uncompromising struggle was beaten Chelyabinsk "Zenit" (3–2). FC Rubin Kazan during the season was in the area 5–7 positions. The leadership in the area immediately took KAMAZ, which in the end got the only ticket to the major league.

In 1993, "Rubin" got a task to take in the tournament of central zone of the first league place no lower than seventh. The reason for this was that from next season the best in the championship-93 teams of three zones were to form a single first league (the current first division), in which representatives from the central zone were "booked" 7 vacancies.

Shortly after the start of the championship refused to finance the team its chief sponsor CAPO Gorbunov. In June, recently approved in the position of head coach Victor Avraamovich Lukashenko left "Rubin". The new coach became Mourad Vahtangovich Zadikashvili. Difficult financial situation was fixed after selling in Volgograd "Rotor" team leaders Oleg Nechaev and Rustem Khuzin (but soon returned to "Rubin" till the end of the season on loan). In the end the season Kazan finished on 8th place, only losing a point to Nizhnekamsk "Neftechimik" and dropped into the second league.

The following year, 1994, coaches Zadikashvili and Semenov assemble a team literally bit by bit. Because of the continuing financial problems from the last season in the team left only 6 players: Grishin, Danilin, Ravil, Blagov, Tatarkin and Kamkov, the rest went to other clubs. Rubin had to resort to the services of veterans and young students of urban football. At the beginning of the season, the first time in the history of the club did there was no money to go to the next game in Gorodishe and Volzhski. As a consequence, two technical defeat of 0–3 and a warning that in case of repeated failure to appear, the team will be disqualified from the tournament. Later, Kazan for the third time staying at home, this time ignoring Tula. Fortunately, and for this act "Rubin" was not disqualified from the championship. One of the key games of the season took place on 2 October in Yoshkar-Ola. 5 minutes before the final whistle, the only goal was scored by our captain, Rubin Ravil, thereby leaving the local "Druzhba" in last place. Residence in the second division was maintained.

In the off-season club finally "divorced" with CAPO Gorbunov and was dependent only on the city. Resolution of the head of administration of Kazan on 13 March 1995 No. 276 were registered municipal institution "Football Club Rubin".

Already during the tournament-1995 in the club there were personnel changes. Instead of a retired Zadikashvili came to the team Vladimir Borisovich Saveliev and Oleg Flegontov, who became head coach, respectively, and the director of the team. Due to intense activity guideline "tandem" Golov-Flegontov, in a short time managed to attract to the team several good level players, who helped the club does not fall lower rank. Only in the final round of the championship determined the fourth failure, who left the second league (with the other three all was clear much earlier). It became "Torpedo" from Pavlov. It had a point less than Rubin.

Kazan team, at the last moment managed to jump off the footboard of the train going to the third league.

Recovering lost ground (1996–2002)

The turning point in the modern history of Rubin Kazan came in 1996, when the patron of the club, Kamil Iskhakrov, became the mayor of Kazan, and helped to improve the financial health of the club. In addition, he set up a two-part goal for the club: to first advance to the first league, and then to the Premier League. With the club finances in order, Rubin Kazan were able to prepare for the season under more relaxed circumstances. As head coach, the experienced Igor Volchok was hired; he too devoted himself to the goal set out by Iskharov. Eighteen new players came to Rubin Kazan, including some who had played for the club previously: Sergey Moiseyev, Rashid Zainutdinov, and Oleg Mironov. In addition, two skilled forwards joined the proceedings: Vladimir Pantyushenko and Rustam Zabirov. The result was that Rubin Kazan finished in 6th place in 1996.

In the following year, 1997, the goal to reach the first league became more complicated through the fact that, according to the rules, only one club from the central zone of the second league could qualify. For this year, Rubin Kazin was strengthened by the return of some of its best players: Sergei Kharlamov, Rustem Bulatov, Airat Ahmetgaliev, Rustem Khuzin. Valery Aleskarov from Nizhnekamsk performed duties as goalkeeper, and Andrey Knyazev from Magnitogorsk played at the top. Having taken the lead in their zone after the third round, the club went on to soldify its position and were actually able to finish first, scoring 102 points out of 120 possible. Thus, the goal of returning the club to the first division was fulfilled. Furthermore, adding to the success of the club in this season, Rubin Kazan managed to win 13 games in a row. Andrey Knyazev was the best scorer of the season, scoring 30 goals (25 of them in the championship). The 1997 season is also notable for Rubin Kazan in that it was the first time in 22 years that the club had a reserve team.

Rubin Kazan went on to excel in the Cup of Russia in 1997–98. First, they beat Fakel Voronej, then Lokomotive Nizhniy Novgorod, and then Arsenal from Tula. In the game against Tula, a goal by Airat Ahmetgaliev became decisive, as it was scored only two minutes before the end of the match, delighting the 15,000 fans in the Tsentralny stadium. Later in 1998, Volchok retired as head coach, and was replaced by Alexander Sergeyevich Irkhin, although he would only last for the remainder of the season. In the first division championship of this year, Rubin Kazan finished in 7th place.

In December 1998, one of Russia's most acclaimed coaches, Pavel Sadyrin took over training duties from Irkhin. He too, however, would only stay for one contract year, enjoying little success with Rubin Kazan, which again finished in 7th place in the 1999 season. In order to fulfil with ambition of playing in the top division of the Russianc championship, Victor Petrovich Antihovich was hired for the 2000 season. At this point, fifteen players left the team, four of which moved into top division clubs: Okroshidze, Bulatov, and Lysenko transferred to CSKA Sennikov, while Khuzin went to Amkar Perm. During the 2000 season, Saratov "Sokol" was the clear favorite for the 1st place, while Rubin Kazin struggled with Torpedo-ZIL for the second qualifying slot to the top division. In a dramatic meeting at the end of the season, Kazan was in 3td place, behind Torpedo by only two points.

The 2001 season did not begin well for Rubin Kazan. As a consequence, there was another change of coaches, as Antihovic was replaced by Kurban Bekievich Berdiyev from Smolensk Kristall. Under his leadership, the club finished the season in 8th place. In the following year, a number of qualified players with experience from the top division were invited to the club: David Chaladze, Gennady Semin, Michail Sinev, and Andrei Konovalov. Overall, the season was a great success, with the club winning 22 of 34 games, and only suffering six defeats. Striker David Chaladze tied with Vyacheslav Kamoltsev for the title of best scorer; both scored 20 goals. Chaladze became the third player in the club's history to scoring four goals in one game, in the match against Krasnoyarsk Metallurg.

2003–2005

Alejandro Domínguez, one of Rubin's most influential players since the team's inception in the Russian Premier League.

2003 saw great changes in Rubin Kazan, as a result of the arrival of a large number of foreign players, including MacBeth Sibaya, Pape Kebe, Andrés Scotti, Tomáš Čížek, and Jiří Novotný. The season began with a defeat against CSKA Moscow. This was followed by the team's first victory in a difficult game against Torpedo-Metallurg. Victories at home over Torpedo Moscow (3–1) and Spartak Moscow (1–0) pulled the club up to a mid-table position. This was followed by 10 matches without defeat, which took Kazan to second place. Fortune changed quickly when a serious injury to goalkeeper Sergei Kozko led to a losing streak. After a home defeat to Zenit St. Petersburg, Rubin dropped to 5th place. Winning the last 3 games of the season — against Krylia Sovetov, Torpedo-Metallurg and reigning champions CSKA Moscow — Rubin Kazan unexpectedly snatched third place.

In 2004 Rubin began on an optimistic note. Almost nobody left the team, and incoming transfers looked promising. From SK Slavia Prague came Adam Petrouš and midfielder Richard Dostálek. In addition, Alejandro Domínguez joined from River Plate. Rubin signed experienced goalkeeper Valeri Chizhov from FC Saturn Ramenskoye and Marat Makhmutov from Torpedo Moscow.

The first victory in the 2005 season came only in the 8th round over Spartak (2–0). It allowed Rubin to leave the last place. Then Kazan managed to climb in the standings, but 7 games without a win once again led Rubin in the danger zone, out of which the team managed to climb only due to a good finish of the season. Tenth place, of course, was seen as a failure after the excellent 2003 season. The UEFA Cup ended in the third round, after a 2–0 away victory Rubin lost their home match 0–3.

2006–2009

Rubin Kazan — Spartak Moscow

In 2006, Rubin had a new president when the head of the club became Alexander P. Gusev, who replaced Kamil Iskhakov. The team did well enough in the Russian Premier League to take part in European cup competitions. In August Rubin the second time in its history played in UEFA Cup. In the second qualifying round Kazan easily passed Belarusian BATE Borisov (3–0 at home and 2–0 away). The next stage Kazan lost to Parma from Italy (both matches 0–1). Russian Championship Rubin finished on fifth position, which allowed it to play next season in Intertoto Cup.

In the 2007 season, again there was a major refurbishment of the team. Rubin added a number of players, but many players left the team before 2008, due to the poor performance of the team: 10th position in the championship of Russia and the defeat in UEFA Intertoto Cup by old rivals Rapid Vienna. The season was further marred by the death of defender Lenar Gilmullin, a Kazan native who played for the first team.

Alexander Bukharov

In 2008, Rubin won the league championship to qualify for the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League Group stage, making them the easternmost team to play in the competition. Their championship season began with a league record seven consecutive wins, including victories against defending champions Zenit St. Petersburg. Rubin clinched its first championship in club history and became only the third club from outside Moscow to win the Russian Premier League (after Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz and Zenit St. Petersburg).

On 20 October 2009, Rubin recorded an upset over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League by winning 2–1 at Camp Nou. This was followed by a 0–0 draw at home two weeks, also against Barcelona. On 21 November 2009, Rubin secured a 0–0 draw against Zenit St. Petersburg to win the Russian Premier League championship for the second season in a row.

Cups successes (2009–2012)

In 2010 Kazan Team started the year with the victory in "Commonwealth of Independent States Cup". In this tournament "Rubin" was presented by Junior team led by Yuri Utkulbayev. In the final Kazan team beat FC Aktobe, the champion of Kazakhstan with the score 5–2.

In March "Rubin" won the Russian Super Cup for the first time. In the frosty "Luzhniki" Kazan team won CSKA with the score 1–0. The sole goal was brought by Alexander Bukharov in the first half.

On UEFA Champions League 2010–11 "Rubin" got once again in the group with the great team of European football "Barcelona". The score of the match in Kazan was 1–1. On the return match Catalan Club won with the score 2–0. The victory in the home match with Copenhagen and 3 draws gave a chance to take the 3rd place in the group and had a UEFA Europa League's qualification for Round of 32, where Kazan team lost to FC Twente from the Netherlands (0–2 and 2–2).

In 2010 "Rubin" took the 3rd place in Russian Championship, so that was the second bronze medal in the history of "Rubin". Due to the mentioned "Rubin" got a chance to start in UEFA Europa League for the third time, this time from the Qualification Round. There "Rubin" knocked out one of the strongest clubs of East Europe, "Dynamo Kyiv" with the score 2–0 and 2–1, but after "Rubin" lost to French "Lyon" (1–3 and 1–1) and went to UEFA Europa League.

In the second most prestigious European club football tournament Kazan team took the second place in the group and reached the Round of 32, where "Rubin" lost to Greek "Olympiacos" (0–1 and 0–1).

Zenit-Rubin. 15 May 2011

The first game of the season was a League of Europe game against the Dutch FC Twente. The final score was 0–2 in favor of the Dutch. In the next match in Enschede, the score was 2–2 with Rubin's goals scored by Christian Noboa and Cristian Ansaldi

In the end of May 2012 there were the new changes at the management of the club. Dmitry Samarenkin, the president of the club, left his post. By the decision of the Supervisory Board Valery Sorokin was appointed to the position. In summer there was another assignment, Andrey Gromov was appointed to the position of Director General.

In July "Rubin" in the match for Russian Super Cup won "Zenit" from Saint Petersburg with the score 2–0 and became the trophy winner.

In the first match of the championship, Rubin defeated Kuban in Krasnodar, with a score of 2–0. Goals were scored by Alan Kasaev and Christian Noboa. The second round was held in Kazan Terek Grozny, with Rubin again winning 2–0. Goals: Gökdeniz Karadeniz and Christian Noboa. In the third round in Makhachkala Rubin lost to local Anji. In the fourth round a match against Spartak Nalchik ended in a draw. In the fifth round, Rubin suffered a major defeat by CSKA Moscow 2–0. In the sixth round Rubin played against Amkar Perm to a draw, 1–1, with the only Rubin goal scored by Alexander Ryazantsev. An Amkar player helped the Rubin Captain Roman Sharonov cut the ball into his own net. In the seventh round there was another draw in Samara playing against Krylya Sovetov, with a score of 2–2. In the eighth round, Rubin faced Premier League newcomers FC Krasnodar at home, the score of 2–1 was in favor of Kazan: two goals for Rubin scored by Gökdeniz Karadeniz, while Roman Sharonov again scored an own goal.

Transfer fraud incident

In September 2009, Rubin were the unknowing participants in a bizarre transfer saga involving four Levski Sofia players (Zhivko Milanov, Youssef Rabeh, Darko Tasevski and Zé Soares). The Bulgarian champions received a fax, supposedly from the Kazan team, offering to buy the footballers. The quoted sum was €7 million. On 20 September 2009, the four players, accompanied by a Levski representative, travelled to Moscow to undergo a medical examination, but the deal fell through, as the phony Rubin representative offered lower salaries than those originally agreed. Official Rubin representatives denied any knowledge of the whole affair, maintaining that they knew nothing about the players in question. It turned out that Levski had fallen victims to fraudsters. It is thought that the incident was masterminded to defraud bookmakers by placing large bets against Levski in their derby match against city rivals CSKA Sofia.

Financial Fair Play ban

On 18 October 2018, the club was banned by UEFA for one year from participating in European competition for UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations violations. The club did not qualify for either 2019–20 season or 2020–21 season of the Champions League or Europa League, and therefore ban expired.

Return to Europe

Rubin finished the 2020–21 Russian Premier League season in 4th place and qualified for European competition (UEFA Europa Conference League) for the first time since the 2015–16 season.