PFC Sochi

PFC Sochi is a Russian professional football club based in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Founded on June 6, 2018, the club was created after FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg relocated to Sochi, making it the only professional football club in the city at the time. The club is owned by Boris Rotenberg, with Dmitry Rubashko serving as Director General. Sochi plays its home matches at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, a venue built for the 2014 Winter Olympics with a capacity of 47,659 spectators, though the club has also used Sochi Central Stadium as an alternate venue.

The club's nickname, "Belo-sinie" (The White-Blues), reflects its traditional white and blue colors, while "Leopardy" (The Leopards) nods to the region's wildlife and the 2014 Olympics mascot. Sochi quickly made a name for itself in Russian football, securing promotion to the Russian Premier League in its debut season. The club's most impressive achievement came in the 2021–22 season when it finished third in the top flight, earning a spot in European competitions for the first time in its history. [edit]

PFC Sochi was founded on June 6, 2018, following the relocation of FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg to Sochi. The club's first manager was Aleksandr Tochilin, who led the team through its inaugural season. In the 2018–19 Russian National Football League season, Sochi finished in the top two, earning promotion to the Russian Premier League for the 2019–20 campaign. The club's debut season in the top flight saw them finish 12th, a respectable result for a newly promoted side.

The 2020–21 season brought a record 10–1 victory over FC Rostov, the biggest win in the club's Premier League history. The following season, under Vladimir Fedotov, Sochi achieved its best-ever league finish, placing third in the 2021–22 Russian Premier League. This secured a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, where the club beat Azerbaijani side Keshla twice before being eliminated by Partizan Belgrade. In the same season, Sochi reached the quarter-finals of the Russian Cup, losing 1–3 to eventual champions Lokomotiv Moscow.

After a period of stability, the club's fortunes declined. Following a series of managerial changes, including stints by Vadim Garanin, Kurban Berdyev, and Dmitriy Khokhlov, Sochi finished 16th in the 2025–26 season and was relegated to the Russian First League. As of the 2026–27 season, the club is competing in the Russian First League, currently sitting 9th after three matches. Despite the setback, the club remains a competitive force in Russian football, with a young squad and a strong fan base. [edit]