Soviet Union League Structure

[The Bruce]

Soviet Union League Structure

Introduction
The Soviet Union has always been an intriguing entity that I’ve enjoyed reading about through most of my adult life, couple this with my interest for football and you have a project that’s right up my street. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed researching the history of the league and reconstructing a working model within the FM editor.

With the added competition of being pitted against former Soviet Union teams again, the domination of teams like CSKA Moscow and Dynamo Kiev might well be under threat. New comers and big spenders from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Estonia ensure that there’s something for everyone in this league structure.

I’ve based the league standings on club reputation with a preference for mixing the nations where cutoffs resulted in teams having the same reputation value.

A Brief History
The Soviet League structure was formed in 1936 but ran for 55 years until the fall of the Soviet Union saw the former member states run their own independent footballing leagues and national sides. Previous countries that played their football in the Soviet League structure are:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Estonia
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• Russia
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

So quite a lot of countries with some very strong teams used to mix it up in one big league structure, the most successful clubs coming from Russia (the Moscow area in particular) and the Ukraine. Wins by smaller nations weren’t unheard of as FC Ararat Yerevan (Armenia), FC Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) and FC Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) each winning a top flight title at least once. Continental success was also achieved as FC Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dynamo Tbilisi, and FC Dynamo Moscow all competed in European Cup Finals.

Once the Soviet Union collapsed and each independent nation was in charge of their own league, some of the dominant teams have went on to rule the roost over their compatriots. As with many other Soviet Union enterprises, many teams have since went out of business and no longer exist.

League Structure
I’ve tried to stay as close to life as possible without creating a huge complicated database that is exactly like the old Soviet Union league structure. The three tiers are exactly as they were in 1991 (different teams of course) with the third tier as three regional tiers that host some of the smaller clubs but with room to improve.

Soviet Top League

Spoiler:

Soviet First League

Spoiler:

Soviet Second League

Spoiler:

West Division


Central Division


East Division

Cups
Soviet Cup – Similar to the FA Cup in England, all league teams enter with it being random, unseeded rounds all the way to the final. The winner qualifies for Europe.

Vladimir Lenin Super Cup – The curtain raiser for the season as the Soviet Top League Champions take on the Soviet Cup Winners. £1,000,000 prize money for the winner and £500,000 for the runner-up.

League Rules
No changes to the squad requirements (with regards to non-EU players) and a minimum of 3 U23 players required for each match day squad.

Testing and Download
I’ve ran a couple of test saves with one going for five seasons to ensure that all regional relegations are correct and that the XML works as intended. No issues were found with the leagues being as competitive as you would expect from a huge variety and quality of teams within the divisions.

Download the file below and follow these instructions for installation guidelines and load the Russian league for access to the league structure.

[Nick]

It's ready

I'll be getting this started tonight. Pos repped.

[FG]

Cracking effort Bruce

I'll be starting a game with this soon, it's too good to resist.

[Forza]

Brilliant work here Bruce. Next time im trying to find an interesting save I'll definitely give it a go

[DiegoHull]

Very interesting indeed...
The top league should be hard and competitive enough. I have a very soft spot for Spartak Moscow and this should be a cracking challenge.

Couple of questions (as I will want to add this to my databases):
Have you made all people, cities, clubs etc Soviets (or Russians) or have you simply placed the league in Russia?

Members of a certain age will have seen really good Soviet natonal sides at world cups and euros... They were always good value for entertainment.

[The Bruce]

Simply placed the league in Russia so all the national sides are still independent.

I would have liked to re-make the USSR national side but left them seperate for potential Club & Country saves.

[Eazy-Duz-It]

You should rename Zenit St. Petersburg as Zenit Leningrad.

Top effort anyway, does the patch affect the xml? I'm still on 11.1...

[The Bruce]

I did think of renaming the teams as their old names but couldn't be arsed, I might do it if I add another tier.

I have no idea if an XML created on 11.2.1 would work on the 11.1.0 patch. Give it a try and see!

[Weedles]

Glad to see this up and working Bruce. Good on yah.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

I have no idea if an XML created on 11.2.1 would work on the 11.1.0 patch. Give it a try and see!

In my experience, no, it won't.

[Byron]

Oh wow this looks immense Bruce. I'll have to gie this a go when I get some time away from work

Pos-repped

EDIT: Oops seems I need to spread the love before I give you reputation again.

[Tommo]

This looks like alot of work top effort Bruce. It's a shame that I've already had a save with CSKA otherwise I would have re-visited in the future.

[hokster]

Awesome: going to use this for a C&C game with Dinamo Tbilisi and Georgia.

[dalenichol]

Thanks Bruce, just away to start a game with this

Very tempted to go BATE, should be a good side to build!

Quick question though dude, I know you've mentioned that all the nations are still independent, so am I right in assuming that non Russian teams, like Shakhtar, will still produce non Russian regens?

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by dalenichol

Thanks Bruce, just away to start a game with this

Very tempted to go BATE, should be a good side to build!

This database is perfect for teams like that, far too dominant in their independent league so there's little challenge.

Quick question though dude, I know you've mentioned that all the nations are still independent, so am I right in assuming that non Russian teams, like Shakhtar, will still produce non Russian regens?

Correct, they still produce predominantly Ukrainian regens but there was a small increase in Russia regens appearing at non-Russian clubs.

[dalenichol]

Thanks Bruce, thats sealed it for me

Can't wait to get cracking with this!

[Jethy]

Looks awesome but how does this work with European club tournaments like the Europa League and the Champions League? Which competitions get the European spots countries such as Ukraine and Moldova had considering they are now all under one competition?

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by Jethy

Looks awesome but how does this work with European club tournaments like the Europa League and the Champions League? Which competitions get the European spots countries such as Ukraine and Moldova had considering they are now all under one competition?

The first season all of the individual entrants to European competition compete regardless of the new league setup.

As for what happens to the European spots in the now defunct leagues, I actually have no idea. I would assume they'd simply be redistributed throughout Europe.

[Samoth]

How does Turkmenistan clubs work considering they are part of Asia? Would they gain entry into Europe or?

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by Samoth

How does Turkmenistan clubs work considering they are part of Asia? Would they gain entry into Europe or?

Well the club's have been moved to Europe so I would have to assume that if you were to get a club into continental qualification, then that would be the European competitions.

They're that far down the pyramid that any of my test saves didn't pick up on something like that.

[Samoth]

Well, have cracked open a game with HTTU and will see how it goes .

[dalenichol]

Hey Bruce,

Major kudos with this, It's genuinely the most fun game I've had since FM11 came out. Had a great first season with BATE, won the first division by 9 points, got to the final of the Soviet Cup (after some very helpful draws in my favour) and had a very good run in the champions league and the euro cup. However I have noticed one issue

Spoiler:

This has happened with a large number of my players, they have played plenty of european and cup matches, but it doesnt show on the players history, only the average ratings.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by dalenichol

Hey Bruce,

Major kudos with this, It's genuinely the most fun game I've had since FM11 came out. Had a great first season with BATE, won the first division by 9 points, got to the final of the Soviet Cup (after some very helpful draws in my favour) and had a very good run in the champions league and the euro cup. However I have noticed one issue

Spoiler:

This has happened with a large number of my players, they have played plenty of european and cup matches, but it doesnt show on the players history, only the average ratings.

Glad you're enjoying it dale.

As for your screenshot, what an odd thing to happen! Is it only happening with your own players or are there other players in similar situations that have the same problem with other clubs?

[dalenichol]

No problem Bruce.

Yeah it's very odd, I've looked a bit further and I think I may have figured out a potential reason, which I think would be both outwith your control and in effect for the first season only...hopefully

It seems that it only affects players playing for Russian(or in my case Belarousian) teams at the start of the season and doesn't affect players who have transferred in or out.

I think it must have something to do with the fact that Belarus and Russian leagues start in January as opposed to June/July, and it shows the players stats as if the league was simulated (i.e, when looking at seasons before the game was active, it only shows league apps)... if that makes sense

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by dalenichol

No problem Bruce.

Yeah it's very odd, I've looked a bit further and I think I may have figured out a potential reason, which I think would be both outwith your control and in effect for the first season only...hopefully

It seems that it only affects players playing for Russian(or in my case Belarousian) teams at the start of the season and doesn't affect players who have transferred in or out.

I think it must have something to do with the fact that Belarus and Russian leagues start in January as opposed to June/July, and it shows the players stats as if the league was simulated (i.e, when looking at seasons before the game was active, it only shows league apps)... if that makes sense

I thought it might be something to do with the change in league/continental situations of each club. BATE being in the second tier might have confused the game.

When you've finished your next season, give me a shout if it's still happening.

[dalenichol]

Forgot to mention previously that I check 5 teams and it affected CSKA, Zenit and Spartak, but not Shakthar or Dinamo Kiev.

[Yury Solomatin]

Bruce, your effort is nice, but about several months ago I've already published a much more elaborate update with about 440 teams in four tiers. Here is the link:
http://community.sigames.com/showthr...R-Championship

Locations, stadiums, attendance, etc have been fixed for all these teams.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by Yury Solomatin

Bruce, your effort is nice, but about several months ago I've already published a much more elaborate update with about 440 teams in four tiers. Here is the link:
http://community.sigames.com/showthr...R-Championship

Locations, stadiums, attendance, etc have been fixed for all these teams.

I don't have an account on those forums so can't access your file.

At the end of the day, this was done as a project that I enjoyed researching and utilising the editor to the best of my abilities. It's obviously not as detailed as it could be but my knowledge simply doesn't allow me to make as realistic as possible. I also had no intention of taking the system down to the fourth tier as the amount of work required isn't really worth the final output.

[Yury Solomatin]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

I don't have an account on those forums so can't access your file.

I published it here, too. In the Editor's Plaza. It's OK, I don't mind. I'll republish my latest version here.

Originally Posted by The Bruce

the amount of work required isn't really worth the final output.

If there is a deed, there always appears someome who can accomplish it.

[NLawton]

Hey Bruce, fantastic effort on this.

Just a heads up though, since Saturn have folded and SI have made it so that if the game isn't loaded in Russia January 2011, they have extremely poor quality regens and any challenge against them is pretty much out of the window.

So if you're planning on updating this, maybe you could work around this somehow?

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by NLawton

Hey Bruce, fantastic effort on this.

Just a heads up though, since Saturn have folded and SI have made it so that if the game isn't loaded in Russia January 2011, they have extremely poor quality regens and any challenge against them is pretty much out of the window.

So if you're planning on updating this, maybe you could work around this somehow?

Aye I found that out a few weeks after releasing it, haven't gotten round to updating it though. Will probably just promote a team through each division.

Will hopefully get round to it at some point, thanks for reminding me though.

[NLawton]

That's alright, I had a little feeling that you probably picked this up by now, but since nothing was posted about it, I decided to just in case.

Nalchik would probably be the best replacement, since they're the highest reputation Russian Team in the first league, I suppose.

[The Bruce]

Updated this today with the demise of Saturn and have made the following changes:

Top League: Saturn replaced by Spartak Nalchik
First League: Spartak Nalchik replaced by Zestaponi
Second League Central: Zestaponi replaced by Torpedo Moscow

[FG]

What's happened to Saturn, Bruce? Gone out of business?

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by FG

What's happened to Saturn, Bruce? Gone out of business?

Aye one of a couple of Russian clubs that spent well above their means and being run from council money they were dissolved in January.

Which is shit because I had a good save with them a few years ago.

[IJ]

Did anyone run into any major issues playing this one?

[Nick]

Thinking of starting a game with it, IJ? I have just started a game with Torpedo Moscow. Can't tell you about any problems long term, as I've just started the season, but short term there are no issues.

[Tommo]

I'm a couple of seasons in with this DB and haven't seen any problems so far, IJ. Go for it!

[IJ]

Originally Posted by Nick

Thinking of starting a game with it, IJ? I have just started a game with Torpedo Moscow. Can't tell you about any problems long term, as I've just started the season, but short term there are no issues.

Snap! Well I was thinking about going there again.. I suspect I may end up being "the Mazuuurk" this time around. Its a very different club to the one I played as in 2007/08-ish

[Nick]

You got a link to that (in)famous thread, IJ?

Staff-wise, the club is terrible. But they still have decent facilities and an acceptably sized stadium.

[IJ]

Originally Posted by Nick

You got a link to that (in)famous thread, IJ?

Staff-wise, the club is terrible. But they still have decent facilities and an acceptably sized stadium.

Naturally..

It was refused entry to the legendary games archive, sadly.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by Tommo

I'm a couple of seasons in with this DB and haven't seen any problems so far, IJ. Go for it!

How have the divisions/teams levelled out over time, Tommo?

[Tommo]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

How have the divisions/teams levelled out over time, Tommo?

Not surprisingly there's been a gap between the top few teams and the rest of the league. Terek won it first year and Shakthar in the second year. Tom, Nalchik and Karpaty were relegated first year and Chornomorets, Anzhi and Tbilisi came up.

[Shrewnaldo]

While I remember, Bruce: I played with this for a short time as an Armenian club and the disciplinary rules had been set the same as an international tournament, i.e. suspension for every 2 bookings. Might be worth changing if it wasn't done deliberately.

[The Bruce]

Changed it and reuploaded it, cheers for pointing that out.

[PittiTrueffelschwein]

You're a genious, mate. Thanks a lot from East-Germany

[perfect79]

Bruce, league looks amazing but having trouble downloading it, all I get once I click on the file to download is a new window opening in Steam but it having nothing at all in it. Any ideas

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by perfect79

Bruce, league looks amazing but having trouble downloading it, all I get once I click on the file to download is a new window opening in Steam but it having nothing at all in it. Any ideas

That's strange, I just checked the attachment in the OP and it works fine.

Would you like me to upload it to Megaupload/the like?

[perfect79]

Hi Bruce, thanks managed to get it to work outside of steam, one thing I noticed on your screenshots the clubs had the proper badges etc but when I used the league I was stuck with the default plain designs.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by perfect79

Hi Bruce, thanks managed to get it to work outside of steam, one thing I noticed on your screenshots the clubs had the proper badges etc but when I used the league I was stuck with the default plain designs.

The proper badges are from a megapack I downloaded ages ago, they're independent of the xml of the league structure.

Check out our graphics section to see if we have some ex-Soviet club logos.