Last update 13 September, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
FC Anzhi , a team located in the Dagestan region, south of Moscow, It was at the time a club that monopolized headlines around the world due to the impressive transformation that lived after the arrival of the Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov in 2011. Until then, The Anzhi had only had a flash of success in the year 2000, When he ended fourth in the Russian Premier League and got his first classification for the UEFA Cup, Although he was eliminated in the first round by the Glasgow Rangers.
Kerimov's revolution in FC Anzhi in 2011
The acquisition of the club by Kerimov It was an unprecedented economic injection. The tycoon, owner of large gas and oil companies in Daguestán, With an estimated fortune in more than 7.800 million dollars, He did not skimp on expenses to make Anzhi a European football giant.
The first great movement was the hiring of Guus Hiddink as coach, A world experience and former Real Madrid soccer player, Robert Carlos, who signed by 2 years at a rate of 10 millions of dollars annually.
But if Roberto Carlos was already an economic ball, There was still the most prominent signing. That was Samuel Eto’o, who arrived in 2011 With a salary of 20 million per year, becoming The best paid player in the world Above Messi and Christian who were in their prime.
Eto’o joined figures like Yuri zhirkov y Mark Boussoufa, which caused FC Anzhi to become a team full of stars.
A luxury project, much luxury
The life of Anzhi players was also attention due to the extravagances provided by Kerimov. The team lived and trained in Kratovo, an exclusive residential area to 48 km of Moscow, Far from the political and social tensions of Daguestán.
In this luxurious complex, Each player enjoyed individual rooms with state -of -the -art technology, personal bodyguards and translators. Besides, The team used Kerimov's private plane to travel the 1800 km that separate Moscow from Majachkalá every time they played a game at home.
The beginning of the decline
Despite the huge investment and the hired stars, The results did not accompany. The team failed to classify for the Champions League, which, For a project of such magnitude, was considered a failure.
In the summer of 2013, Kerimov's financial problems began to emerge and directly affected the club. A cut of 35% In the budget he led to the exit of key players such as Eto’o, Willian and other important names of the project. The squad was weakened and the team descended in the season 2013-2014, After just getting three victories.
The end of an era
Although FC Anzhi managed to ascend the following season again, It was no longer the ambitious club that once dreamed of reign in Europe. In 2015, A FC A Anzhi footballer died shot and in 2016, Kerimov sold the team to Osman Kadiyev, who fought to avoid bankruptcy, But the decline was irreversible.
Anzhi survived with difficulties in the FNL2, The third Russian category, With a semi -amateur template, composed of local young people. In 2022, The Russian Soccer Union denied the Anzhi the license to continue competing, officially ending your participation in professional football.
He FC Anzhi Majachkála, That one day he dreamed of reign in Europe, He ended his story as a club in oblivion, victim of their own ambitions and the lack of a long -term sustainable project. A dream that crumbled as fast as it came.