FC Baltika (Russian: Акционерное Общество «Футбольный клуб «Балтика») is a professional association football club based in Kaliningrad, Russia. The club will return to the Russian First League in the 2024–25 season.
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| Full name | Football Club Baltika Kaliningrad | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Balda | |||
| Founded | 1954 | |||
| Ground | Kaliningrad Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 35,016 | |||
| Owner | Kaliningrad/Kaliningrad Oblast | |||
| General director | Ravil Izmaylov | |||
| Manager | Andrey Talalayev | |||
| League | Russian First League | |||
| 2023–24 | Russian Premier League, 15th of 16th (relegated) | |||
| Website | https://www.fc-baltika.ru/ | |||
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History
editThe club was founded on 22 December 1954 as Pishchevik Kaliningrad. In 1958 the club was renamed Baltika.
The team entered the Soviet League in 1957 and played in Class B (1957–1965), Class A, Group 2 (1966–1970), and Second League (1971–1991). The best result was achieved in 1984, when Baltika won the regional group tournament.
In 1992 Baltika entered the Russian Second Division and won the regional tournament and promotion to the First Division. After a fourth-place finish in 1993 and third position in 1994 Baltika won the division in 1995. In 1996 Baltika achieved the best result in club's history, finishing 7th in the Top Division, the Russian Premier League. Baltika were relegated in 1998, spending a total of three seasons in the top flight. In 1998 Baltika participated in the Intertoto Cup and reached the third round.
Since then, Baltika played in the First Division, except for the 2002 and 2005 seasons which they spent in the Second Division.
In 2018–19 Russian Football National League, they finished 16th (a relegation spot). However, PFL zone East winners FC Sakhalin Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk did not apply for the FNL license, keeping Baltika in the league.[1]
On 19 May 2023, Baltika secured a promotion to the Russian Premier League for the first time in 25 years.[2]
In the 2023–24 Russian Cup, Baltika advanced to the Superfinal.[3]
Baltika finished 15th in the league season and was relegated back to second tier after one year in the Premier League.[4]
On 2 June 2024, Baltika lost the 2024 Russian Cup final to Zenit St. Petersburg with the score of 1–2, Baltika initially led 1–0 and conceded two goals in the 81st minute and in the 5th added minute.[5]
League results
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Current squad
editAs of 12 September 2024, according to the official Russian First League website.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve team
editReserve team
editBaltika's reserve team played professionally in the Russian Third League in 1994 as FC Baltika-d Kaliningrad and in the Russian Second Division in 2006 and 2007 as FC Baltika-2 Kaliningrad.
Notable players
editThese players had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Baltika.
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Club staff
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Sergei Ignashevich
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| Assistant Manager | Dmitri Michkov
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| First-Team Coach | Leonid Tkachenko
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| First-Team Coach |  Artsyom Buloychyk
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| Fitness Coach | Mikhail Solovey
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| Club Doctor | Ruslan Zasiev
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| Team Manager | Evgeniy Buda
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External links
edit- Official website (in Russian)
References
edit- ^ "Сахалин" выиграл первенство ПФЛ в зоне "Восток", но не сыграет в ФНЛ [Sakhalin won the PFL East zone, but will not play in the FNL] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 28 May 2019.
- ^ ""Балтика" завоевала право участия в Мир РПЛ" [Baltika secured the right to participate in Mir RPL] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 19 May 2023.
- ^ ""Балтика" вышла в Суперфинал FONBET Кубка России" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 14 May 2024.
- ^ ""Пари НН" и "Урал" – участники переходных матчей за места в Мир РПЛ" [Pari NN and Ural will play in the relegation play-offs] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Суперфинал FONBET Кубка России LIVE. Гол Алипа приносит "Зениту" победу" [Russian Cup Superfinal: Alip goal gives Zenit the victory] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 2 June 2024.