FC ML Vitebsk [1] (Belarusian: ФК МЛ Віцебск, romanized: FK ML Viciebsk)[2] is a Belarusian football club based in Vitebsk. Until 2023, the club represented Rahachow.
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| Full name | Football Club ML Vitebsk | |||
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| Founded | 1983 2014 (reformed) | |||
| Dissolved | 2006 | |||
| Ground | Vitebsky Central Sport Complex, Vitebsk | |||
| Capacity | 8,144 | |||
| Owner | BK Maxline | |||
| Head Coach | Alyaksandr Shahoyka | |||
| League | Belarusian Premier League | |||
| 2024 | Belarusian First League, 2nd of 18 (promoted) | |||
| Website | https://fcml.by/ | |||
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The club competes in the Belarusian Premier League, the top tier of Belarus football, following promotion from the 2024 Belarusian First League.
Previous names
editHistory
editThe team was founded in 1983 as Avtomobilist Rogachev (Awtamabilist Rahachow, Belarusian: Аўтамабіліст) and was renamed to KSM Rogachev (KBM Rahachow, Belarusian: КБМ) next year. Since its foundation and until the dissolution of Soviet Union the team was playing in Belarusian SSR league. In 1988, they were renamed to Dnepr Rogachev (Dnyapro Rahachow, Belarusian: Дняпро Рагачоў).
In 1992, the team joined newly created Belarusian Second League, where they spent next six seasons. After successful 1996 season Dnepr was promoted to the First League. In 1998, they were renamed to FC Rogachev, in 2001, after partnering with local football academy, to Rogachev-DUSSh-1 and finally to Dnepr-DUSSh-1 Rogachev (Belarusian: Дняпро-ДЮСШ-1) in 2002.
The team spent nine seasons in First League until they finished at the last (16th) place in 2005 and were to be relegated back to the Second League. However, due to financial troubles, the team disbanded in early 2006.
Between 2007 and 2013 the amateur team representing Rogachev played in Gomel Oblast league. In 2014, the team reformed as MKK-Dnepr Rogachev (MKK-Dnyapro Rahachow, Belarusian: МКК-Дняпро)and rejoined Second League, before reverting to classic name Dnepr Rogachev (Dnyapro) in 2015.
Maxline takeover
editIn 2021 the team was re-branded into Maxline Rogachev, after being taken over by the eponymous betting company. In the fall of 2022 Maxline defeated Arsenal Dzerzhinsk in the promotion/relegation play-off and won the right to be promoted to Belarusian Premier League for the 2023 season. During the off-season, Maxline were denied Premier League license and stayed in the First League as the result. In early 2023 the club cut ties with Rogachev and relocated to Vitebsk with the intention of having better chances for promotion in the bigger city with better infrastructure.[5]
Maxline took second place in the 2024 Belarusian First League and won the right to play in the elite division.[6]
On 29 December 2024, Maxline changed the name of the club to ML Vitebsk.[7] The change is related to the licensing conditions for the Belarus teams in connection with their transition to the 2025 Belarusian Premier League. According to the rules of the Belarusian Football Federation, clubs cannot be called by the name of bookmakers before being promoted. Thus, Maxline had to shorten itself to two capital letters ML. To them they added Vitebsk, the name of the city where the team is based.[8]
Current squad
edit- As of March 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
editLeague
editLeague
References
edit- ^ "МЛ Витебск". championship.abff.by (in Russian). Archived from the original on 31 December 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "ML Viciebsk – Soccer – Team Profile – Results, fixtures, squad, statistics – Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ ""We'll have to drink a hundred today". How Rogachev's "Maxline" took a big step towards reaching the first league – News : Football.By : Football news of Belarus and the world". Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Vitebsk's "Maxline" will now be called differently – it can be confused with another team cities". Пресссбол (in Russian). 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ FC Maxline relocates to Vitebsk (in Russian)
- ^ ""Макслайн" сменил название – Новости : football.by". football.by. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Витебский "Макслайн" сменил название клуба". bel.football. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Футбольный клуб "Макслайн" поменял название по весьма интересной причине". tochka.by (in Russian). 30 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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