Sasha from Russia
Sasha from Russia
My name is Aleksandr, I’m 21 and have lived in Moscow, the capital of Russia, all my life. I have a younger sister and still live with my parents. I’m currently studying a Master’s degree at Lomonosov Moscow State University and my area of research is closely connected to football. I’m researching government regulation of football in Russia and comparing it to English, German and Spanish regulations. That’s why now I’m unable to work full time anywhere! It’s a lot of studying! The Football Union of Russia or any professional football club in my country – is where I’d like to start my career.
The biggest city in Europe...
...is Moscow. It has a population of over 16 million people. The difference between living standards in Moscow and any of other Russian regions is high, so, it’s common for people, especially young people, to move to Moscow to study and work. There are lots of Western and Eastern tourists here, especially around Red Square, the State Historical Museum, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Tretyakov’s Gallery and the underground stations that were built in the Soviet period. Moscow’s underground system is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. It’s better to visit Moscow at the end of spring or at the beginning of autumn. It’s too hot in summer, especially in July (30 degrees or more) and absolutely freezing in winter. It was -35 at the beginning of January this year.
I've been a football fan...
...since 2008 when Russia finished third at the European Championships. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much else to be proud of. Even the USSR never won the World Cup. Their best result was 4th place in 1966, the year of the English victory.
I like to watch...
... matches in the stadium, in the pub and at home. There are three football clubs from Moscow in the Russian Premier League (RPL): Spartak, CSKA and Lokomotiv. Dinamo Moscow has already won promotion so will also be in the top division next season. Torpedo Moscow, which was more famous during the 1970s and 1980s, plays in the third division now. I have lots of friends who support both Russian and foreign clubs. When there is an important game, we often go to the pub (and drink Guinness) or to someone’s home if the game is not in Moscow. If Spartak Moscow (the team I support in Russia) plays at home, our “255” community supports the team in the fan sector of the stadium. I have supported Spartak only since 2014 but the club hasn’t won anything since 2003…However, this season Spartak are the Champions of Russia and will play in the Champions League next season! The fans have been waiting for this great achievement for 16 years and now awe are over the moon! Thanks to the manager, Massimo Carrera, who was Antonio Conte’s deputy before he was at Chelsea, and the entire team!
...I have played football since I was a child. Six years ago I decided to be a goalkeeper and I’ve never regretted this. Recently, I’ve joined one of the underdogs in an amateur Moscow league in order to make their performances and results better! I’ve also played for my SPA (School of Public Administration) team at the university for three years. Unfortunately, the lat two seasons were not lucky for us. The best achievement was second place in the University Cup. It was terrible, because we lost the final, conceding a last-gasp goal 10 seconds before the final whistle. We were gutted and took our silver medals immediately an left…
I support...
...Manchester City. It is far from being the most popular team in Russia. I watched them for the first time on the 14th of August in 2010. They were playing Tottenham Hotspur. During the next 3-4 years lots of people who support Arsenal, United or Chelsea have called me a fake fan, but I don’t care about that. I will never forget the last game against “Queens Park Rangers” at the end of the 2011/2012 season. It was a miracle! I also remember the 6-1 away win against United in 2011, the 6-3 home win against Arsenal in 2013 and the Champions League games against PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona. And the Cup Final defeat 0:1 against Wigan Athletic, ohh no what a disater that was!…Unfortunately, neither of my favourite players have been not in the starting 11 this season. Joe Hart plays for Torino and Vincent Kompany was unable to play due to several injuries in a row. But he’s back in the team now! 7 years have passed and so many things at the club have changed...Despite this, I believe that Pep Guardiola will be able to create a team which can win both the Premier League and the Champions League.
My favourite football quote is...
Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Six things you might not know about Russia
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Comments
13/06/2020
points
Wow lovely information about you Sasha and about Russia
Actually I have two friends in Russia , Nataliia from St. Petersburg and Olga from Tyumen and they are so nice and kind friends really.
I think Istanbul is the biggest European city , isn't it ?
Wish you the best of luck in your studies and for your beloved Man City
13/06/2020 17:06
Manchester United
6536
Wow lovely information about you Sasha and about Russia
Actually I have two friends in Russia , Nataliia from St. Petersburg and Olga from Tyumen and they are so nice and kind friends really.
I think Istanbul is the biggest European city , isn't it ?
Wish you the best of luck in your studies and for your beloved Man City
15/07/2017
points
I learned a lot thanks for the information.
15/07/2017 10:16
Liverpool
3705
I learned a lot thanks for the information.
25/05/2017
points
Hi, Sasha. Thanks for your story, it was intertaining. Now I could spot you among the fans if you are going to watch some matches in the Confedration Cup from the stadium! Goodluck with your master's degree.
25/05/2017 16:25
Liverpool
2903
Hi, Sasha. Thanks for your story, it was intertaining. Now I could spot you among the fans if you are going to watch some matches in the Confedration Cup from the stadium! Goodluck with your master's degree.
15/05/2017
points
Sasha, that was a great article.
I am aware your country is hosting the next world cup in 2018. How are the arrangements so far and i trust you would be at the stadium to watch your nation play.
15/05/2017 09:19
Manchester United
4779
Sasha, that was a great article.
I am aware your country is hosting the next world cup in 2018. How are the arrangements so far and i trust you would be at the stadium to watch your nation play.
15/05/2017
points
Hi Kwesimanifest
Thank you for your comment. 5 out of 12 stadiums have already been ready for the World Cup matches, 4 of them will host the Confederations Cup matches. Unfortunately, one of these stadium, which had recently been finished, has low-quality grass on the pitch and the broken roof. The quality was so terrible that it was decided to close the stadium after 2 matches in order to solve this problem. Literally speaking, I don't know what is possible to do when it's too little time before the start of the Cup. The technology of building stadium was disrupted, so, I'm sure that the stadium will be reconstruted after the World Cup. When the building activity began in 2007 it was assumed that i will cost 6,7 million rubles (1$ = 57 RUB). However, the stadium cost approximately 50 miilion rubles and is compared with UFO. According to the research, it would be possible to build 10 Juventus stadiums or 2 Emirates. Lots of people lambaste those who were responsible for the stadium building.
I expect that 7 remaining stadiums will be finished without huge and strange investments and will be ready in time.
Both Confederations Cup and World Cup are the opportunities to develop football infrastructure, including grassroots football, and show Russian hospitality and frendliness to the whole world. Hope, everyone who is going to participate in the both Cups as a player, coach, any other official or a spectator will relish being in Russia.
15/05/2017 20:44
Manchester City
989
Hi Kwesimanifest
Thank you for your comment. 5 out of 12 stadiums have already been ready for the World Cup matches, 4 of them will host the Confederations Cup matches. Unfortunately, one of these stadium, which had recently been finished, has low-quality grass on the pitch and the broken roof. The quality was so terrible that it was decided to close the stadium after 2 matches in order to solve this problem. Literally speaking, I don't know what is possible to do when it's too little time before the start of the Cup. The technology of building stadium was disrupted, so, I'm sure that the stadium will be reconstruted after the World Cup. When the building activity began in 2007 it was assumed that i will cost 6,7 million rubles (1$ = 57 RUB). However, the stadium cost approximately 50 miilion rubles and is compared with UFO. According to the research, it would be possible to build 10 Juventus stadiums or 2 Emirates. Lots of people lambaste those who were responsible for the stadium building.
I expect that 7 remaining stadiums will be finished without huge and strange investments and will be ready in time.
Both Confederations Cup and World Cup are the opportunities to develop football infrastructure, including grassroots football, and show Russian hospitality and frendliness to the whole world. Hope, everyone who is going to participate in the both Cups as a player, coach, any other official or a spectator will relish being in Russia.
14/05/2017
points
Hi Liubomyr
First and foremost, thank you for your response. Yes, I've heard this song..hmmm...approximately a year ago. However, I didn't know what band was singing that song when I was listening it. I got it now. Speaking about my personal attitude on it - this song is a bit strange, I reckon! Only the refrain is about Man City and the other part of that song is about a man who suffers from poverty, denies to find a workplace and has a dream to leave Russia. Definitely not my way of life :D
Someone once told me that that song can be considered as a Russian anthem of Manchester City, but I don't think so. However, it's rather popular among City fans in Russia due to 2 reasons, I suppose. I've already written in my article that the difference between people's living standarts in Russia and even only in Moscow is high. So, the City fans with low income who can't afford themselves a trip to the UK are dreaming about the promotion from rags to riches and leaving Russia. On the other hand, there are lots of well-educated adults who can't fulfil their opportunities here, have some obstructions to develop their careers - so they also would like to leave Russia.
14/05/2017 18:38
Manchester City
989
Hi Liubomyr
First and foremost, thank you for your response. Yes, I've heard this song..hmmm...approximately a year ago. However, I didn't know what band was singing that song when I was listening it. I got it now. Speaking about my personal attitude on it - this song is a bit strange, I reckon! Only the refrain is about Man City and the other part of that song is about a man who suffers from poverty, denies to find a workplace and has a dream to leave Russia. Definitely not my way of life :D
Someone once told me that that song can be considered as a Russian anthem of Manchester City, but I don't think so. However, it's rather popular among City fans in Russia due to 2 reasons, I suppose. I've already written in my article that the difference between people's living standarts in Russia and even only in Moscow is high. So, the City fans with low income who can't afford themselves a trip to the UK are dreaming about the promotion from rags to riches and leaving Russia. On the other hand, there are lots of well-educated adults who can't fulfil their opportunities here, have some obstructions to develop their careers - so they also would like to leave Russia.
13/05/2017
points
Thank you for interesting story, Sasha. When I read it I remember the song ‘Manchester City’ of Russian music band Kluchi (the song is in Russian). Have you heard this song? Do you like it?
13/05/2017 10:44
Watford
4417
Thank you for interesting story, Sasha. When I read it I remember the song ‘Manchester City’ of Russian music band Kluchi (the song is in Russian). Have you heard this song? Do you like it?