2006 in Russian football refers to the events of all Russian teams in association football in the year 2006. It was marked by CSKA Moscow's victory in the Russian Premier League. Russia found only limited success in international competition that year.
Russia played two friendly matches under the caretaker coach Aleksandr Borodyuk. On 1 March, they lost 0âÂÂ1 to Brazil in Moscow, and on 27 May drew 0âÂÂ0 with Spain in Albacete.
On 10 April Guus Hiddink announced that he will become manager of Russia team after 2006 FIFA World Cup.https://archive.today/20060412195312/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/EURO/news/Kind=1/newsId=412818.html The contract was signed on 14 April.https://archive.today/20130417201401/http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?119830
The under-21 team played in the qualification for the 2007 European Championship. Russia finished first in the group with Hungary and Finland, winning both matches, and qualified for the play-off against Portugal. In the first play-off match in Moscow, Russia took a 4âÂÂ1 lead, but Portugal overcome the deficit in the return leg, winning 3âÂÂ0 and qualifying for the final tournament on away goals.
The under-19 team finished third in group 1 of the elite round of 2006 European Championship. Russia's opponents were Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia.
The under-17 team won the 2006 European Championship in Luxembourg. After finishing second in a group with Spain, Hungary, and Luxembourg, Russia overcame Germany in the semifinal (1âÂÂ0) and Czech Republic in the final on 14 May (2âÂÂ2, 5âÂÂ3 on penalties). This was the first time Russia won the U-17 European Championship. In order to qualify for the final tournament, Russia finished ahead of Italy, England, and Bulgaria in group 7 of the elite round.
CSKA Moscow won the 2006 title, Torpedo Moscow were relegated for the first time since 1938.
On 14 February two First Division clubs, Alania Vladikavkaz and Lokomotiv Chita, were denied professional licences by Professional Football League and excluded from professional football.http://news.sport-express.ru/online/ntext/12/nl122681.html On 22 February PFL decided to replace Alania and Lokomotiv with Lada Togliatti and Mashuk-KMV Pyatigorsk, the runners-up in the Second Division.https://web.archive.org/web/20060504165714/http://www.pfl.ru/DESIGN.2001/0206.HTM The Russian Football Union did not endorse the exclusion and on 28 February decided to keep Alania and Lokomotiv in the First Division, giving them another chance to fulfill the league requirements.https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005054/http://www.sovsport.ru/news/default.asp?id=215785 Consequently, on 6 March PFL decided to extend the First Division from 22 to 24 clubs, including Alania, Lokomotiv, Lada, and Mashuk-KMV.http://news.sport-express.ru/online/ntext/12/nl125799.html
However, on 20 March the Russian Football Union finally decided to exclude Alania and Lokomotiv from the league. This decision was announced by the Professional Football League on 21 March, five days before the start of the First Division.https://web.archive.org/web/20060527160122/http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?118571
Yevgeny Alkhimov became the top scorer for the second time in a row, this time for Ural with 25 goals.
The following clubs have earned promotion by winning tournaments in their respective Second Division zones:
CSKA Moscow, winners of both the league and the cup in 2005, met the league runners-up Spartak Moscow in a Super Cup match on 11 March. CSKA won the match 3âÂÂ2.
The cup final between CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow was won 3âÂÂ0 by CSKA. Jô scored twice and Vagner Love once. Report
Lokomotiv Moscow and FC Zenit Saint Petersburg continued their participation in the 2005âÂÂ06 UEFA Cup. Lokomotiv were knocked out in the round of 32 by Sevilla, and Zenit recorded two victories over Rosenborg and a win and a draw against Marseille to reach the quarterfinals, where they lost on aggregate to Sevilla, too. Zenit's run in the UEFA cup became the best in club's history.
FC Moskva participated in the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2006. After defeating Belarusian team MTZ-RIPO Minsk 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate in the Second Round, Moskva were paired Hertha Berlin. First leg in Berlin finished 0-0, and Hertha won the second leg 2âÂÂ0 to progress to the UEFA Cup.
CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow qualified for the group stage of the 2006âÂÂ07 UEFA Champions League. CSKA defeated MFK Ruà ¾omberok 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate in the third qualifying round. Spartak's qualification was harder, as they passed FC Sheriff Tiraspol on away goals after two draws in the second qualifying round, and FC Slovan Liberec 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Arsenal F.C., Futebol Clube do Porto, and Hamburger SV will be CSKA's opponents in the group stage, while Spartak will contend against Sporting Clube de Portugal, F.C. Internazionale Milano, and FC Bayern Munich.
Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan qualified for the first round of the 2006âÂÂ07 UEFA Cup. Rubin participated in the second qualifying round, defeating BATE Borisov 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
In the first round, Lokomotiv and Rubin played S.V. Zulte-Waregem and Parma F.C., respectively. Both Russian clubs were eliminated.
Rossiyanka Moscow Oblast won the league, with Spartak Moscow finishing second and Nadezhda Noginsk third. The Cup also went to Rossiyanka, while Spartak were runners-up again.
Russia women's national football team participated in the qualification for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. They finished second behind Germany, failing to qualify.
In AugustâÂÂSeptember Russia hosted the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Russia national team finished second in group A which also included Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, and lost 4âÂÂ0 to China in the quarterfinal. The tournament was won by Korea DPR national team who defeated China 5âÂÂ0 in the final at the Lokomotiv Stadium on 3 September.
Russia qualified for the final tournament of the 2006 UEFA Women's U-19 Championship by winning the group including Portugal, Finland, and Israel in April. In the finals, Russia finished second in group B (with France, Switzerland and the Netherlands) and lost to hosts Germany 4âÂÂ0 in the semifinal.