Zenit
Zenit Kazan were established as Dinamo Kazan in 2000. They became Dinamo Tattransgaz Kazan in 2004 and held this name until 2008.
Zenit had all prerequisites to grow into the giants, both Russian and European, when they were founded. Firstly, regional authorities – the Tatarstan Ministry of Internal Affairs, in collaboration with the Kazan City Administration – established them. And were are not talking about any regional authorities here, but authorities of one of the most economically developed regions in Russia. In addition, the world’s largest natural gas reserves company “Gazprom“ has been standing by Zenit practically since the beginning of the club’s existence. No wonder Zenit passed the road from establishing (started to compete in Division 4) to the Superliga in only three years, and to the status of the Russian champions in only seven years.
Their first national title secured them a place in the CEV Champions League for the first time and they grabbed the trophy as the debutants! Zenit took three more trophies in the most prestigious European tournament until today, including the last two, to become the most successful Men’s volleyball club in the Champions League since it has been determined, which was in 2000 – the same year when Zenit were founded. What a coincidence!
If you wondered which famous names wore the jersey of Zenit in the past 17 years, let us help you: Ruslan Olikhver, Dmitriy Fomin, Sergey Tetyukhin, the Americans Clayton Stanley and Lloy Ball, Aleksandr Bogomolov, Aleksandr Korneev, Aleksandr Volkov, the Serbian Nikola Grbić… all the way to the players currently involved in the successes of the Kazan team: Maksim Mikhailov, Cuban Wilfredo León, American Matthew Anderson…
In addition to four Champions League gold medals, Zenit took the Russian Superliga eight times (three in a row), Russian Cup six times (three in a row) and Russian Supercup five times (two in a row). Interestingly, coach Vladimir Alekno, who is still at the helm of Zenit, took part in 20 of those 23 titles!
Trophy No. 24 of the Kazan team is only two matches away. Will they get it in the Champions League Final Four in Rome, Italy? Zenit are the main favorites, that is for sure, but Berlin Recycling Volleys from Germany are to be asked, too (April 29 at 16:30 CET)…
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