The Rise and Fall of Anzhi Makhachkala: What Went Wrong?

In 2011, Anzhi Makhachkala captured global attention by making Samuel Eto'o the best paid footballer on Earth.
The obscure Russian Premier League outfits new billionaire owner reportedly bought Roberto Carlos a £1.2 million Bugatti Veyron and brought former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Guus Hiddink to the club.
After just two years though, Anzhi's house of cards had come crashing down. In this video, HITC Sevens takes a look at the rise and fall, and ultimately what went wrong, at Anji Makhachkala.

[@hakim6158]

Willian, Boussoufa, Eto'o, Zhirkov, Dzsudzsak .. they had some absolute BALLERS

[@private339]

Who’s Roberto Carlos

[@homersimpson6585]

michelle scully Roberto Carlos joined when he was 38 years old And only stayed around a season

[@nba1527]

Yeah, but they were playing in Moscow, not in their city

[@alonsobruni8131]

Dzsudzsak was 24 and he absolutely butchered his career there :D

[@homersimpson6585]

Antal B will that make you feel good if I say he’s doing good for Alain?

[@jacksh993]

2010-2014 really seemed to be the peak of Russian & Ukrainian football, Zenit bought Hulk & Witsel in one window. Dynamo Kyiv bought Mbokani, Jeremian Lens & Belhanda for big money. Shakhtar Donetsk had an unreal team with Fernandinho, Willian, Douglas Costa etc , CSKA, Spartak Moscow & Metalist Kharkiv we’re also splashing out big money on players. Of course Anzhi started what was discussed in this video.

[@Juve-vo3ie]

Not just those years. Starting to 2000 onward Russia was really good.

[@amnknw1976]

I remember using Anzhi just for Eto'o and Dszudszak in fifa 12. I was like 7 so it's fine

[@asxnkmb]

Dzsudzsak. I remember spelling him, since I would almost always go for him in Fifa.

[@dariogutierrez6716]

Haha. I kept using Anzhi in like FIFA 15

[@thelusogerman3021]

I remember using them in fifa 13 for eto and willian

[@lucassamuelson7392]

Yo same and Roberto Carlos in FIFA 12

[@FaizanKhan-tm9rr]

Wait what age were you while playing 2012?????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[@12thMandalorian]

The Rise and Fall of Kaiserslautern should be next

[@3dsaulgoodman43]

Thanks mate. I'd like that too. A bit of exposure towards German football back in the days.

[@hugoumero9723]

@@3dsaulgoodman43 Or Maybe The Rise And Fall Of Boavista Could Be Very Good

[@bzab_z]

@@hugoumero9723 Aren't they in the liga nos

[@thesouthyshow2421]

Abz Gaming Yeah but they were once one of the top teams in Portugal then got relegated

[@samuelevolve184]

Wow I acknowledge that name, Kaiserlautern. Now I wondering where are they now

[@ferdinand0470]

Idea: 7 Players who Were too good to be relegated but stayed at their club. Like Buffon in 2006, Jack Butland 2018.

[@connormckenzie7052]

Jack Butland is shit though.

[@hypehd9694]

Butland is crap

[@ferdinand0470]

HYPE HD he was very good when stoke were in the prem

[@wovortex2993]

HYPE HD good back in the day not anymore

[@tashdidislam5830]

Maybe timo horn of koln

[@Hakimi655]

They were the Chinese club before Chinese club was even a thing

[@brandonhey7797]

Chinese clubs were a thing though.

[@Hakimi655]

Brandon Hey of course they were. I mean before people start caring about them

[@vincenzopacifico]

idea: 7 players who won topscorers in their league even though their club was relegated (like igor protti in serie a 1995/96 or quini 1975/76 in la liga)

[@thinguyendinh9976]

Manuel Badenes (Valladolid) 1957-58 Mick Channon (Southampton) 1973-74

[@vincenzopacifico]

or also angelo vier in bundesliga 2 with rot weiss essen in 1996/97

[@cummerchant542]

Maybe Andy Johnson Crystal palace had a good season they had 7 assists as their highest and Andy Johnson had 20 goals then flopped but maybe not top

[@thodorism6707]

Giakoumakis last year for Venlo scored 26 goals and they were relegated. I don't think he has managed more than 50 in his whole career though

[@thomasbennett712]

What happened to Metalist Kharkiv? I believe a similar thing happened to them.

[@geraldclydeabella3350]

@Yes me either it's hard to watch when they are collapse and initial downfall

[@hakim6158]

Dnipro's story is also tragic

[@lilveacky]

I want a video about them, I know Alejandro Papu Gomez played there

[@thomasbennett712]

@@lilveacky Never made the connection between Alejandro Gomez and Papu Gomez. I feel so stupid for not realising they were the same people.

[@opex5004]

I used to support them now I support Dynamo Kyiv ( I’m Ukrainian )

[@PG-tas]

Rise and Fall of clubs around the world would be a fascinating series of videos. Malaga is another fascinating case

[@thelusogerman3021]

Anzhi was so OP oh the fifa memories

[@Mich-rq1hv]

Excellent video I really thought at the turn of the 2010s that the Russian league would become a clear competitor to the big 5 leagues in Europe Anzhi had big singings also CSKA whit players like Doumbia Vagner Love also Zenith whit Hulk and Witsel I definitely thought that leagues whas going to be by the 2020s a much bigger league plus whit the World Cup that whas coming unfortunately it never fulfilled

[@TheTomClyde]

2014 Ukranian crisis stopped big money investments in the League and some internal problems of preparing young players. But now Russia has some cool young players like Golovin, Miranchuk brothers, Barinov, Bakayev etc

[@serebbi]

Doumbia ? XD 40 years old striker 😂

[@theanomity3185]

Damn good video idea, i used to think they’re gonna be a giant, but now they’ve disappeared

[@moviesjean23]

The guy was just doing his laundry 🧺 as soon he finished he left 😹😹😹

[@nyclas2207]

I think the story of dnipro dnipropetrovsk is also very interesting. I remember when they made a great match against Sevilla at the Euro league final in 2015

[@imranreaza3337]

I was thinking about Anzhi just a week ago, great vid!

[@Ivan18584]

Pls do 7 best position changing players e.g John stones changed form winger to centre back at age of 14

[@white_will_smith]

Let's be honest beckenbauer will probably win

[@Ivan18584]

Y T yes but still it’s interesting

[@white_will_smith]

@@Ivan18584 i would still like to see it as well don't get me wrong

[@ameer911hq]

or laurent blanc from midfielder to center half

[@TO-kk7xf]

Cats and Tricks everyone changes positions like that in their youth. Maybe a list of players that did it half way throughout their career then it’d be better.

[@liberath]

France u20 World Cup 2013 winning squad Where are they now?

[@LateFiddle392]

7 best throw in takers. Underappreciated skill set.

[@12thMandalorian]

Rory Della is number one or we riot

[@gingerninjaproductions]

@@12thMandalorian no chance Edmilson Dove ;)

[@ermisgrivas8280]

Rory Delap

[@WhyAreAllTheGoodUsernamesTaken]

Steinthor Torsteinsson

[@marko_079]

Branislav Ivanovic

[@JoeLisle]

I remember when Newcastle played this in Europe and cisse scored in the last kick of the match

[@kaihiggins725]

same, I was there. We literally referred to it as 'Newcastle beat eto's team'

[@parovozrufclm]

Bloody Finaly a video about my country

[@Yodawes]

Yes you are right.... but about dagestan... that is not the best part of beautiful russia. Where are you from?

[@parovozrufclm]

@@Yodawes North-east of Moscow that's why i support Lokomotiv

[@parovozrufclm]

@@Yodawes I've been to Dagestan tho it's stunning and not as dangerous as a few years ago

[@Yodawes]

@@parovozrufclm that is good to hear!

[@Yodawes]

@@parovozrufclm nice!! I am dutch but my grandmother is from oblast Kirov

[@Fred51015]

7:30 There is on time I can think of where football has been used to stop conflict. Ivory coast 2005 after confirming qualification to 2006 World cup

[@brandonhey7797]

He meant on a domestic level.

[@mikibabic8187]

That closing remark about billionaire owners is so relevant these days in the light of the Super League formation attempt.

[@joecurrie2381]

You should do 7 players who have played for the most clubs

[@walker63163]

POV: You’re here from the goalkeeper video looking for the QaNON comments

[@aratakeneikawa6589]

Did you find it yet?

[@yamieruki]

Hey, get out of my head

[@alexx4282]

What a great video! What sources do you use to be so well informed? This is so well researched and presented, it is incredible to see how far you have come since your early days on KZbin.

[@abelmeszlenyi77]

This club had a significant role in ruining Balázs Dzsudzsák's career when he was Hungary's promising rising young star at PSV... After he left Anzhi he wasn't the same and didn't get those offers from big club as he did at PSV. So in my country we really hate Anzhi for that

[@kazuarkocsard]

He ruined his own career. He made the decision to play for them...

[@play-s-_______-osu]

@@kazuarkocsard what if they activated his release clause and he couldn't go anywhere but there

[@jonashavik1317]

Damian Lillard😍😍

[@play-s-_______-osu]

@19mackay92 oh ok

[@abelmeszlenyi77]

@@kazuarkocsard Yes i know i wanted to add it that we also blame Dzsudzsák cause he was chaseing money instead of development

[@salvadoracosta4510]

Rise and Fall of a club sounds like a great new series. I’d like to see Milan next. Keep up the fantastic work Alfie

[@fionahendry9493]

Teams that rise and fall are not remembered as giants of the game milan will always be a giant they are certain to be a force again

[@salvadoracosta4510]

Fiona Hendry so by that logic your think Arsenal will be a force again? (please say yes lol)

[@fionahendry9493]

@@salvadoracosta4510 theres afew teams in england a can mention if some billionaire came in and the right manager explain why not were was man city before there owners came u couldnt tell me 2 players in there team without google it ma point is obvously yes

[@brandonhey7797]

@@fionahendry9493 Leeds United are another.

[@RobJaskula]

Great video as ever, Alfie! Very tight script. Been hoping to see this one since the Dnipro video; I remember thinking Anzhi's odd collection of players was prime to be beaten by Newcastle, but was definitely still scared of Eto'o!

[@mrkd2k10]

This was really an excellent video, definitely prefer seeing this channel go down this route

[@fritzguldenpfennig2486]

Any other South Africans hear him say Durban? 😂

[@gingerninjaproductions]

Haha yes

[@RobJaskula]

American and heard that as well

[@nintendogamer4703]

Fritz XXI-TFK-777 yeah, wtf?😂

[@harveyvanderliiner6286]

😂😂😂

[@Champ1012]

what was he saying

[@joepoole7807]

Really enjoy this type of video :)

[@sleepsciencevideos]

Very good video showing how the politics of the region are wrapped up with the fortunes of this club

[@thatmallowman8369]

7 smallest cities with the best teams

[@wrgproductions1381]

THAT_MALLØW_MAN done that

[@ricardoquaresma1803]

Mönchengladbach

[@thatmallowman8369]

WRG Productions it was seven best teams not be based Ina city

[@vennulahteenmaki7664]

Very interesting video. Would love to see more of these.

[@RandomAssist]

Didn't Drogba essentially single highhandedly end the civil war in Ivory Coast?

[@KR-ew5ms]

NobleJag 293 yeah, but I think that’s already a video

[@ronankrah5286]

No, he paused. War still resumed until 2007. Then, it restarted in 2011.

[@TunaStrata]

Nope.

[@ihenriquez1991]

Tell the story of Jorge “El Magico” Gonzalez

[@salvadoracosta4510]

Ivan Henriquez yesssss that needs some light shed on it

[@josergarcia1979]

Hell nahhh only ppl from El Salvador knows him dawwg

[@ihenriquez1991]

Jose Garcia and your point is ?

[@brandonhey7797]

@@josergarcia1979 That's exactly the point.

[@hunafour905]

7 best/worst outcome following 'change of manager' during a season.

[@kukuq6149]

Rubin Kazan XI that beat barcelona at camp nou, where are they now?

[@chibifirestorm]

same happened to Metalist Kharkiv

[@geraldclydeabella3350]

Please don't I have nightmares about the Downfall of Metallist Kharkiv

[@geraldclydeabella3350]

Please don't I have nightmares about the Downfall of Metallist Kharkiv

[@jonathanhernandez9545]

Do Top 7 Mexican players of all time please!!

[@sameerbernard1167]

I miss my team so much. Im lucky to have talked to Willer and Shamil Lahiyalov since 2020. Got his #10 kit in my closet

[@JudeBlackwell740]

Video idea: 7 longest stints in a 2nd tier

[@uddingstonbluenose]

Bert Konterman scoring the only goal for Rangers in the single leg UEFA Cup match in 'neutral' Poland in 2001. UK foreign office didn't allow travel to Dagestan at the time and in turn Anzhi refused to travel to Glasgow.

[@vrdnyn]

Great vid mate

[@jackpearce5267]

Do one for Rivaldo heading to Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan

[@williamlee7672]

The guy in the left on 6:20 sort of looks like an overweight Benzema.

[@FranzFridl]

So... Benzema

[@alexdevine9713]

Franz Fridl he’s fitter than you

[@matthewgarcia3435]

The one on the right looks like Kyle Walker after a long holiday in the desert

[@MrGts92]

@@FranzFridl lmao, exactly what I was thinking.

[@MrGts92]

@@alexdevine9713 what a shit comeback lol

[@isaacchristmas6127]

Love these videos boss

[@returnofthemick4531]

7 greatest players who served in wars

[@ghillie7948]

Drogba in ivory civil war.

[@brandonhey7797]

@@ghillie7948 Nah.

[@alistairpryce8319]

You forgot to forgot one HUGE positive coming out of Dagestan in all this trouble like the number of mixed martial artists that are establishing themselves as the best in the world such as the UFC champion khabib nurmagomedov!!!

[@HITCSevens]

Must admit, I only realised Khabib was from Dagestan whilst making this video.

[@bmp0898]

Do a video about teams that went bankrupt like Anzhi itself, Dnipro, Metalist, Bury, Palermo, Rangers...

[@smktru]

This is actually a class video

[@EnglishforFOOTBALLFANS]

Great channel - keep going :)

[@iwanlatchford6505]

Do a ‘where are they now’ of this team

[@sbongadlamini388]

In the KGB

[@zalimkhanzakaev]

and right now the club is living out its last days in the 3rd Russian division, the team was taken from the club in debt and played out by students from the academy(((

[@uriustosh]

Props on actually pronouncing the name of the club at least close to correct, which seems almost impossible for 99& of Western sports reporters, journalists and commentators.

[@matttrustain5261]

Great video

[@MFC343]

The rise and fall of Dynamo Moscow?

[@geraldclydeabella3350]

From Yashin and 10 times Soviet Top League Champion to Relegation

[@edzolospeed905]

Rise and fall of Sunderland?

[@1giane]

TGH Hypah there was no rise

[@edzolospeed905]

Yousaf Jamal kindoff

[@merilum]

Day 11 asking Alfie for the All Time Antartica XI.

[@alwayselvis5574]

Really good and interesting video

[@AlbertoFolres]

I played there in the career mode. Don't remember what year

[@pres9314]

I love your videos

[@thecricketbatrefurbisher1430]

First great video could you upload another video on football manager

[@jonaskristoffersen4706]

You were 7th

[@91sonic1]

I love this series

[@Kennyy14]

Can you do an update as they’ve now dissolved

[@samb3637]

Sunderland Til I Die season 1 where are they now!!

[@nickkruger7962]

Interesting video

[@ROL4NDpkmnguide]

I understand that if you were a billionaire you would like to buy your local team, but if you some from one of the most dangerous places in Europe maybe it’s better to buy a team in a safer place that footballers would like to go to...

[@packingawoody4554]

Can you do a video on the best European player of all time?

[@FootballAndSuch]

The rise and fall of Manchester United next, used to be quite a big club at one point didn't they?

[@Roxyx2]

UsEd tO bE qUiTe a BiG cLuB aT OnE pOiNt dIdN'T tHeY? i mean yeah, if you ask about 1970s, they were really shit

[@Green-bs3mh]

Make a video about Ufa

[@mrkipling2201]

I’d always wondered about what happened to them as well.

[@aguycalledmario3346]

I'm gonna do create a club in fifa 22 with them I suggest you should too.

[@DailyBritishClips777]

The rise and fall of Dnipro

[@jameshogan1738]

5:00 to 6:30 is when you need to fill in the word count for an assignment with things nothing go to do with the topic

[@switchblade185]

I remember a rumour that they made a unbelievable bid for Messi at one time? Somewhere around £400 million mark? Still they did get beaten by a Stewart Downing goal against Liverpool the in Europa League soooo

[@nf9563]

I was thinking that they would become the next big European team but....

[@timofeysavitskiy3912]

ВПЕРЁД АНЖИ МАХАЧКАЛА, ВПЕРЁД, ВПЕРЁД!

[@LoonaVanza]

7 best La Masia graduate ever 7 best La Masia graduate left the club 7 best La Masia graduate never given chances in 1st team even having potential. All time best 11 of lamasia graduates including subs, full team, manager.

[@jameswg13]

WRONG That a sport hasn't United people in divisive regions. Belfast giants in ice hockey. Helped unite a city behind them and mostly keep the peace in the city since their inception in 2000. Their colours specifically chosen not to aggravate any side. Strict rules on certian flags etc No sport will be 100% successful but the giants have done a great job

[@HITCSevens]

Wouldn't want to dismiss the impact of the Belfast Giants, James, but I think the Good Friday Agreement might have been the biggest player in that one.

[@jameswg13]

@@HITCSevens I'm not dismissing the actions of The GFA either that was a major player of course however you have to admit that the giants have also had a significant impact in keeping that peace as well and least helping the treaty stay in place. Because that's the thing about treaties it's very rare they hold I just don't agree saying that a sport team hasn't United a region or city that was in turmoil

[@MisterInsectNasty]

Rise and fall of parma

[@sugamgautam4318]

Please do a video about collapse of Rangers and their rise

[@homersimpson6585]

Anji in 2020 according to fm 2015

[@adamfinnegan735]

Do a video on Dnipro if you havent already

[@flak509]

Reminds me of another Russian club, Urlana Elista from Kalmykia

[@AllAboutDarence]

What about the rise and fall of Bolton Wanderers?

[@brandonhey7797]

Financial problems, mate.

[@jaddarawche2846]

The rise and fall of deporivo la corunea /7best CR7 and Leo Messi match performances

[@jgv2699]

Tifo Football already did a vídeo about the downfall of La Coruña.

[@jaddarawche2846]

@@jgv2699 thank you mate but are their videos as good as these videos ?

[@bzab_z]

@@jaddarawche2846 Yes they are

[@AhmedMahmoud-sq7xg]

The guy said...fuck it I'm out lool

[@swoyri]

Анжи вперёд!!!!!!

[@aidanbenbow6682]

This is what happens when people do things according to their own desires instead of trusting the Lord.....

[@yankiefrenz1367]

7 players who didn't deserve high wages!!!

[@josecipriano3048]

All of them. The market is absolutely inflated.

[@sst6601]

is that Benzema on the left at 6:01?

[@westhamboy95]

I much preferred my own pronunciation of anzi makalaka

[@milesscarn398]

Would love one of these in Malaga fc

[@pawanbhattarai6414]

Every Russian goalkeeper since Lev Yashin . #3rdtime

[@cummerchant542]

That’s way too many gks

[@raidspadel]

The most essential thing for Billionaire when choosing a club GEOGRAPHY

[@rorymckie952]

What happened to Eintracht Braunschweig?

[@salvadoracosta4510]

You can see the research and effort Alfie puts into these videos. This is probably the most educational football channel on KZbin

[@stephen123470]

What happened to Panathinaikos would be great to see.

[@milescrozier3335]

Best team from each English county

[@georgemacpherson1992]

Miles Crozier that would be interesting. When it comes to Yorkshire that will be very easy because that honour will go to Leeds United.

[@brandonhey7797]

@@georgemacpherson1992 That's West Yorkshire.