Khimki

FC Khimki (Russian: ФК Химки) is a Russian professional football club based in Khimki. The club returned to the Russian Premier League in the 2020–21 season.

History

The team was formed in 1996 by merging two amateur clubs from Khimki, Rodina, and Novator. Khimki entered the amateur league and played their first official match on 17 May 1997. Of more than 150 amateur teams in the competition, only the champions would be promoted to the Third League. Khimki won the tournament, overcoming Energiya Ulyanovsk in the final match in a penalty shootout.

On 30 January 1997, Khimki became a professional football club. In the Third League regional tournament, Khimki finished second and were promoted to the Second League.

Khimki were promoted to the First Division after the 2000 season. They finished first in the Centre zone of the Second Division, but lost the promotion play-off to Severstal Cherepovets on away goals. After Severstal refused to play in the First Division, their place was given to Khimki.

In 2005, Khimki had a very good run in the Russian Cup, reaching the final. They lost the final match 0–1 to CSKA.

In the 2019–20 Russian Cup, they reached the final once again.

On 15 May 2020, FNL season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. As the club was in the 2nd position in the standings, they were promoted to the Russian Premier League for the 2020–21 season, returning to the top level after an 11-year break.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Химки (russian)