20 September 2009 - Seriously, Nobody Noticed That The Window Was Closed?

On 20 September 2009, Levski Sofia lost to their rivals CSKA Sofia 2-0 due in part to the absence of four key players. But it was the reason for the absences that made international headlines.

Earlier that month, the defending Bulgarian league champions received a fax from Russian Premier League champions Rubin Kazan offering to buy the four players--center back Youssef Rabah, right back Zhivko Milanov, midfielder Darko Tasevski, and winger Zé Soares--for a total of €7 million. The quartet traveled to Russia on 19 September to meet with Rubin and undergo medical examinations. As a result, they missed the match against CSKA.

When the players arrived in Russia, Rubin denied any interest in the players and claimed no knowledge of the purported offer. Indeed, the Russian transfer window was closed. The supposed transfer was a hoax.

Speaking about the incident, Tasevski said "I feel oppressed and I'm angry. Things could've been different if we played against CSKA." The match proved to be critical, as Levski finished one point behind CSKA in the final table (though they were both well behind champions Litex Lovech).

A subsequent investigation revealed that several large bets were placed on CSKA to win the derby, leading to speculation that the transfer hoax was intended to tip the scale in favor of a CSKA victory. To date, the culprits remain unidentified.

5 March 2004 - Yes, It's Redundant To Say "The" La Manga Cup

On 5 March 2004, the MetroStars became the first MLS side to win silverware outside the US, defeating Norwegian club Viking 1-0 in the La Manga Cup Final.

Held at La Manga Club resort in Murcia, Spain, the La Manga Cup started in 1999 as a winter tournament for clubs in summer leagues, primarily from the Scandanavian countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Teams from Austria, Russia, and the Ukraine were included in subsequent years. US clubs first participated in 2003, when the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy took part, with the Galaxy earning third-place honors. The Earthquakes returned for the 2004 tournament, along with the Dallas Burn and the MetroStars.

The MetroStars started their tournament run with a 1-0 loss to Viking, but beat remaining group member FK Bødo/Glimt to advance to the semifinals. There, they defeated Dynamo Kyiv 3-2, while Viking ensured a rematch in the Final by beating San Jose on penalties, 1-1 (5-3).

In the Final, the MetroStars took the lead in the 27th minute with a goal from rookie defender Jeff Parke (shown above right, in a match against FC Dallas). The US side had earned a corner kick that was delivered by midfielder Amado Guevara and Parke rose at the far post to head it home past Viking keeper Frode Olsen. The MetroStars continued to apply pressure to the Norwegian side, narrowly missing with a strike in the 33rd minute, and held the Viking attack in check to claim the win.

In recent years, the La Manga Cup has helped propel clubs onto greater glory. Rubin Kazan won the Cup in 2005 and 2006 before claiming their first Russian Premier League titles in 2008 and 2009, while 2007 Cup-winners Shaktar Donetsk went on to win their first UEFA Cup trophy in 2009.

2 November 2008 - Rubin Rises Over Saturn

On 2 November 2008, Rubin Kazan defeated Saturn Moscow Oblast 1-2 to claim the first ever Russian Premier League title in the club's 50-year history.

The teams appeared headed for a scoreless draw when the goals started flowing 15 minutes from time. Rubin's Russian striker Roman Adamov put the visitors ahead in the 75th minute, but the home side soon equalized with an 80th-minute goal from midfielder Pyotr Nemov. The league-winning goal was then scored by Rubin's well-traveled Serbian international striker, Savo Milošević.

Coincidentally, both Adamov and Savo Milošević were playing in their first (and to date only) seasons for Rubin. The club acquired Adamov from FC Moscow in June 2008 and he is currently on loan with Krylya Sovetov Samara. Milošević joined them in March 2008 from Osasuna and retired after the 2008 season.

Although the win over Saturn secured the title with three matches left to play, it turned out to be the decisive match, as Rubin lost those last three, at home to Terek Grozny (1-3), away to CSKA Moscow (4-0), and home to Lokomotiv Moscow (1-2).

Rubin's title was only the third one to be won by a club outside Moscow since the establishment of the Russian Premier League in 1992.