Russian Premier League map - 2010 season

The Russian football season kicks off in earnest this coming weekend and to commemorate it Bill Turianksi brings us a map of the Russian Premier League. Some of the big questions of the new season:

• Can Rubin Kazan claim a 3rd straight title which would be the first three-peat since Spartak Moscow's run of six titles ended in 2001?
• Or might it be time for the Red and White of Spartak, Russia's most popular club to regain the title after nine long years?
• How will the four clubs from the south fare (some of whom might not be there for entirely sporting reasons)?

Much to digest in what will surely be another interesting season in Russia as new money from the oligarchs continues to breathe life into the football scene here.

Bill's map highlights the incredible vastness of the country. Tom' Tomsk supporters will surely be excited at the arrival of Sibir Novosibirsk, a mere 200 km away. Their next closest rival is Amkar Perm at 1728 km!

The map includes snapshots of each club, with emblem, titles won and quick facts plus a chart of last season's average attendance. Spartak Moscow led the way at 25,000 (though their cheers surely echoed around the 78,000 capacity Luzhniki Stadium). Pulling up the rear were FC Khimki and FC Moscow, both below 5000 per game and both out of the Russian Premier League next season. FC Moscow in fact left the league entirely and will likely restart in the third-tier Russian Second Division.

For more sports maps take a look at billsportsmaps.com.