FC Minsk explained

FC Minsk should not be confused with FC Minsk (women).

Clubname:FC Minsk
Fullname:Football Club Minsk
Ground:FC Minsk Stadium
Minsk, Belarus
Capacity:3,000
Chairman:Igor Shloido
Manager:Artyom Chelyadinsky
League:Belarusian Premier League
Season:2023
Position:Belarusian Premier League, 9th of 15
Website:https://fcminsk.by/
Pattern La1:_minsk2324h
Pattern B1:_minsk2324h
Pattern Ra1:_minsk2324h
Leftarm1:FF0000
Body1:FF0000
Rightarm1:FF0000
Shorts1:FF0000
Socks1:FF0000
Pattern La2:_minsk2324a
Pattern B2:_minsk2324a
Pattern Ra2:_minsk2324a
Leftarm2:FFFFFF
Body2:FFFFFF
Rightarm2:FFFFFF
Shorts2:FFFFFF
Socks2:FFFFFF

FC Minsk (Belarusian: ФК Мінск) is a Belarusian professional football club based in Minsk. They play in the Belarusian Premier League, the highest tier of Belarusian football. Their colours are red and navy blue.

History

The club was established in 2006 and was based on the Belarusian First League club Smena Minsk. FC Minsk took over Smena's license and was able to start immediately operating in the Belarusian First League without having to first play in the Second League, the third tier in Belarus. In the club's inaugural season in the First League, they were able to finish in first place guaranteeing them promotion to the Belarusian Premier League.

In their top tier debut season, FC Minsk showed weak performances and were relegated at end of 2007, but they managed to bounce straight back the following year with a dominant campaign in the Belarusian First League scoring 72 goals and failing to win in only 3 of the 26 games. 2008 therefore saw them once again competing in the Belarusian Premier League where they have remained ever since.

A 3rd-placed finish in 2010 saw FC Minsk embark on their first ever European campaign in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. In the first qualifying round, they were pitched against AZAL Baku of Azerbaijan and managed a 3–2 aggregate win over two legs. The second qualifying round saw them drawn against Gaziantepspor of Turkey. After a 1–1 draw at home, the away fixture in Gaziantep saw the Turkish side win 4–1 as the tie finished 5–2 on aggregate in favour of Gaziantepspor.

In 2013, FC Minsk changed their club crest for the current one. The same year they have qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League by winning Belarusian Cup. This campaign was more successful as Minsk first eliminated Valletta of Malta 3–1 on aggregate before beating the Scottish team St. Johnstone in the third qualifying round. After losing 0–1 at home, FC Minsk managed to win 1–0 in Perth and prevailed in penalty shootout 3–2, advancing to the play-offs, where they have lost to Standard Liège of Belgium 5–1 on aggregate.

Club crest

Upon their formation in 2006, FC Minsk adopted a simple white and blue crest which they kept for 7 years until 2013. In 2013, they changed their crest to the current red and navy blue.

Current squad

.[1]

League and Cup history

width=55Seasonwidth=50width=30width=30width=30width=30width=30width=60Goalswidth=45PointsDomestic CupNotes
2006 2nd 1 26 17 5 4 44–13 56 Promoted
2007 1st 14 26 4 9 13 18–34 21 Semi-finals Relegated
2008 2nd 1 26 23 2 1 72–11 71 Round of 16 Promoted
2009 1st 9 26 11 3 12 33–26 36 Round of 16
2010 1st 3 33 18 6 9 59–32 60 Round of 16
2011 1st 9 33 8 11 14 33–40 35 Quarter-finals
2012 1st 6 30 11 6 13 36–46 39 Runners-up
2013 1st 9 32 10 8 14 36–40 38 Winners
2014 1st 7 32 16 4 12 45–36 52 Semi-finals
2015 1st 6 26 12 4 10 29–28 40 Round of 32
2016 1st 4 30 15 8 7 49–24 53 Semi-finals
2017 1st 14 30 3 14 13 19–39 23 Quarter-finals
2018 1st 11 30 7 9 14 34–42 30 Round of 16
2019 1st 9 30 9 9 12 36–44 36 Round of 16
2020 1st 11 30 11 5 14 45–57 38 Round of 16
2021 1st 12 30 8 9 13 32–52 33 Quarter-finals
2022 1st 6 30 12 8 10 47–43 44 Third round
2023 1st 928 8 9 11 33 Round of 16

Honours

FC Minsk in Europe

SeasonCompetitionRoundClub1st Leg2nd LegAggregate
2011–12UEFA Europa League1Q AZAL Baku1–12–13–2
2Q Gaziantepspor1–11–42–5
2013–14UEFA Europa League2Q Valletta1–12–03–1
3Q St Johnstone0–11–0 (aet)1–1 (3–2 p.)
PO Standard0–21–31–5
Notes

Managers

Women's team

See main article: FC Minsk (women). The women's team of Minsk has won the Belarusian Premier League in 2013 and 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. It also has won the Belarusian Women's Cup in 2011, 2013 and 2014.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Футбольный клуб "Минск" – Основой состав. fcminsk.by.
  2. Web site: FK Minsk women trophies. soccerway.com. 14 May 2014.