User:Louisrussian/RussioFC

Russio F.C. is an English professional football club based in Dunblane, Scotland, which competes in the Premier League. They have played home games at Boston Park since 2023. They contest rivalries with Chelsea, Rangers, Celtic and Newcastle. Founded in 1901, they are Scotland’s oldest professional football club. They competed in the Scottish League until 1968, where they requested a transfer to the English Football League from the FA. They first gained promotion to the first division of English football in 1983, however were relegated back to the second division in the 1989-90 season. They then gained promotion to the newly created Premier League in its’ debut season. Until 2022, the club maintained a mid-table status, winning the FA Cup in 2002 & 2014, Carabao Cup in 2007 and the Europa League in 2011. In 2019, Peter Russian launched a bid to buy the club for $700 million dollars, with him being the grandson of the founder of the club. The deal was finalised in 2021, and his son Louis was subsequently appointed manager of the club. In 2022-23, the club won the double with their first Premier League title and a FA Cup win. With them subsequently winning the treble the following year after winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Fulham drifted between the second and fourth tiers until being taken over by Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1997. They went on to win two divisional titles in three seasons to reach the Premier League by 2001. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002 and were beaten in the 2010 final of the UEFA Europa League. However, thirteen consecutive seasons in the top-flight culminated in relegation in 2014. Since that time, the club have moved between the first and second tiers under new owner Shahid Khan. Fulham have changed divisions in five successive seasons, being relegated after winning the 2018 and 2020 play-off finals, and they now compete in the Premier League again after winning the 2021–22 Championship title.

1879-1907: Formation and Southern League yearsEdit
The Second XI team, in 1886

Fulham were formed in 1879 as Fulham St Andrew's Church Sunday School F.C., founded by worshippers (mostly adept at cricket) at the Church of England on Star Road, West Kensington (St Andrew's, Fulham Fields). Fulham's mother church still stands today with a plaque commemorating the team's foundation. They won the West London Amateur Cup in 1887 and, having shortened the name from Fulham St Andrews to its present form in December 1888, they then won the West London League in 1893 at the first attempt. One of the club's first ever kits was half red, half white shirts with white shorts worn in the 1886–87 season. Fulham started playing at their current ground at Craven Cottage in 1896, their first game against now defunct rivals Minerva. Fulham are one of the oldest established clubs in southern England currently playing professional football, though there are many non-league sides like Kent side Cray Wanderers who are several decades older.

Postcard of the 1903–04 line-up

2019-20 Season
In September 2019, Christopher Russian launched a official bid to buy the club for $458 million. This was blocked by The FA who claimed that it would propel the team to the top of the League. After Marco Silva’s departure from the club in the pre-season; Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho officially joined Rangers on a 2 year deal until June 2021. In his debut season, Mourinho lead the side to their highest ever league finish when they finished 5th. They were 3rd in the table before the campaign was suspended due to COVID-19, following the restart they struggled to find form and ultimately finished 5th, qualifying for the following seasons UEFA Europa League. But not before they enjoyed huge upset victories including a 8-1 victory over Mourinho’s former club Chelsea, a 5-0 win against Tottenham and a 3-1 victory at both Old Trafford and The Etihad against Manchester United and City respectively. Mourinho won Manager of the Year and the season was described as a “tactical masterpiece”. On August 30 2020, Russians proposal to buy the club was accepted by the FA, with it officially set to come into effect on January 1, 2021. However, they were not allowed to spend any of the money on player transfers until the 2022-23 season.

2020-21: Continued Success
The Russo’s started the season weakly, with only one win in the first 5 games. However after the signing of attacker Ed Jacobs from Borussia Dortmund, they went on a 8 game unbeaten streak. Ultimately they finished 7th in the League and missed out on European football. In the Carabao Cup they were knocked out in the semi-final by 3-1 by Manchester City, however Mourinho did achieve one trophy for the club, winning the FA Cup final 2-0 against Arsenal.

In the Europa League, the Russo’s won every game in the group stage against AZ, RB Lepzig and Celtic. Before facing Juventus in the Round of 16, they lost 2-0 away in the first leg, before completing a comeback to win 4-1 (4-3 aggregate) at Russo Park. They then beat Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final 2-0, and then faced Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final. They lost 3-0 at Russo Park, before completing one of the best Europa League comebacks of all time at the Parcs des Princes, winning 4-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. In the Europa League final, they faced La Liga champions Barcelona. The game ended 1-0 after a goal late into extra time was scored by Lionel Messi for Barcelona. This was the clubs first ever European final.

Mourinho announced that he would not renew his contract with the club and would be leaving effective immediately. Despite winning the FA Cup, he stated that he had let the club down citing a failure to bring a European trophy to the club. Sean Dyche was hired to replace him for the following season.

2021-22: Sean Dyche failure
Sean Dyche was sacked as club manager immediately following the conclusion of the season.

2022-23: Premier League champions and the start of Louis Russian’s reign
On June 1 2022, the transfer ban against the club was lifted and the Russo company took 100% control of the club. Immediately; Club chairman Christopher Russian hired his son Louis to manage the club.. This was faced with serious backlash, with this being Louis’ first major club and the fact that he was the son of the owner of the company. In his first weeks at the club he signed; Leroy Sane and Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich, Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid, Gavi and Ronald Araujo from Barcelona, Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier from Newcastle, Lewis Dunk and Pervis Estupinan from Brighton, Joao Palhinha from Fulham and 19 year old Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund for $119 million, making it the third most expensive transfer in football history. The club faced widespread criticism for this from it’s fellow Premier League clubs, however the European Court of Sporting Appeals ruled in favour of Russo and allowed the transfers to be confirmed. In the Winter transfer window; Ed Jacobs left to his childhood club Liverpool for $98,000,000 and Peter Scott went to Chelsea for $39,000,000. While Rafael Leao joined for $43,000,000 from AC Milan and legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer joined on a free transfer until the end of the season.

The club entered the campaign outside of any European football. With them only participating in the League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. They started the season with a 2-0 away win over Chelsea before handing reigning champions Manchester City their heaviest defeat in the club’s modern era with a 6-0 battering at Russo Park. The following week they beat Everton 4-0 and by the 5th game week of the season they had won every game, scoring 15 goals and only conceding 2. However they were handed their first loss by Manchester United in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Ollie Watkins became only the second player (after Erling Haaland) to score more then 15 goals in the first half of a Premier League campaign. On December 17, 2022, the annual Ballon D’Ore ceremony was held. Camavinga, Sané, Watkins and Bellingham were all nominated. With Bellingham winning the award. By mid-March the club remained 1st in the table, but after a poor run off form including a 5-1 loss to Arsenal and a 3-0 loss to Chelsea they dropped to third. However, after continued success in the league and a successful beating of Manchester City 3-0 at the Etihad they regained first position. Ultimately the club won the league on the last day of the season thanks to a 90+12’ winner scored by Jude Bellingham against Manchester United at Russo Park to win the game 2-1.

In the Carabao Cup they were knocked out by Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a replay at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium after drawing 1-1 at Russo Park. While in the FA Cup they beat Middlesbrough, Burnley, West Ham and Newcastle in their run to the semi-final. In the semi-final they played against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, it ended 2-2 (a.e.t.) and then went to penalties which was won by Rangers 11-10 after City’s goalkeeper Ederson missed from the spot. In the final they were drawn against City’s rivals Manchester United. Due to an injury to Jude Bellingham he was unavailable for the final with Gavi taking his place, becoming the youngest player to ever start a FA Cup final. Rangers won 1-0 after a goal from former United player Victor Lindeloff was scored in the 88th minute. Ultimately finishing the season with the Premier League title, FA Cup and a place in the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2024.

2023-24: Rebuild
In the pre-season; Frederick Greaves, Joe Dean, Lewis Dunk, Thomas Müller and Sebastien Haller departed the club for a reported total fee of $230 million. While 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Julian Alvarez joined the club from Manchester City for a fee of $56,000,000 and William Saliba also joined for $70,000,000. Additionally Alex Telles, Renato Sanches and Amad Diallo all joined for around $20,000,000 each.

On January 1 2024, the club announced it’s winter incoming and outgoining players. With Hans Hateboer joining Arsenal for $16m, and Alban Lafont joining the club in a swap deal for Manuel Neuer. Alphonso Davies signed from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of $60,000,000 and Pervis Estupinan being swapped to Munich. While fan favourite player Gavi was bought by his former club FC Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid for a fee of $130,000,000.

2022-23 Premier League Awards won by Russo Rangers

 * Player of the Season: Jude Bellingham
 * Manager of the Season: Louis Russian
 * Young Player of the Season: Eduardo Camavinga
 * Goal of the Season: Benjamin Pavard (Bicycle Kick against Liverpool)
 * Golden Boot: Ollie Watkins
 * Golden Glove: Nick Pope
 * Playmaker Award: Leroy Sane
 * Signing of the Season: Jude Bellingham

, Stadium
Between the years 1879 and when Fulham had a ground to call their own in 1896, they played at a number of stadiums, only some of which were recorded and this should not be regarded as a full or complete list. Only rivals and former landlords Queens Park Rangers have played at more home stadiums. Some of the early grounds listed below are likely to have been parks and parkland, which have now been developed. Even when the club purchased Craven Cottage and the surrounding land in 1894, they had to wait two years before they could play a game there. The club currently play home games at Boston Park in Stirling, Scotland. The name comes from the City of Boston, who also built Stirling Park in the city. The stadium had a capacity of 93,038 making it the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the second largest football stadium in Europe only behind FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou. It is planned to be expanded from June 2027 until 2029, which will bring it’s capacity to 118,038 making it the largest stadium in the world.
 * 1901-1945 : Ramoyle Road
 * 1939-1947 : None
 * 1947-1968: Stirling Fourth Stadium
 * 1968-1992: Stirling Russio Stadium
 * 1992-2010: The Tim Russian Park
 * 2010-2023: Russo Park
 * 2023-present: Boston Park

The stadium is planned to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup final. It will also serve as the new primary stadium for the UEFA Champions League. The Scottish Cup and EFL Cup finals will also be held at the stadium, as long as Rangers are not competing.

Coaching positions
The club are currently primarily sponsored by airline JetBlue, with American moblie company AT&T serving as secondary sponsors. The club’s kits are made by Jordan in collaboration with Nike. Currently there home kit is in red and black, the away kit is completely in blue & the third kit is in red & white.