Gracia speaking Russian or how Rubin presented its new emblem, uniform and players

09:00, 26.07.2016

On 24 July, Rubin Kazan officially presented a new emblem of the club, uniform for the next season and new players of the team. There was organised a real festival for fans with contests and prizes. Realnoe Vremya tells about the presentation of the team for the new season.

Reality is cooler than expectations

This fan festival was one of the most long-awaited events of Rubin fans in July. The fans were waiting for a new emblem most. They were fed up with the old one. It was compared to even a 'chicken in borsch'. The fans required to return the original emblem of 1996. A new uniform of the team was also expected. Going forward, I will tell the return to the ruby colours to the kit was the best decision. Last year's red outfit was so-so.

The fans and spectators who visited the fan festival also acquainted with the new players of the team who have joined the club this summer. The scale was really winning. Passers-by could think Rubin was celebrating a victory in the Russian Cup at least, or even in the Russian Championships. Loud music, golden confetti, beautiful speeches – it all favoured a good mood.

9 new players, only 2 of them are Russian

By 24 July, nine players, two of them are Russian, officially have joined Rubin. The Kazan club had informed that Alexander Song would sign a contract with Rubin in the short run. At present the Cameroonian player cannot do it because of his contract with Barcelona. So, who are these new players?

Moritz Bauer, Sergio Sánchez and Carlos Zambrano are the new people in defence. The Swiss player was given the number 23 T-shirt. Bauer has left the Swiss Championships for the first time and will try playing in very ambitious Rubin. Sánchez and Zambrano have already played abroad. The Spaniard even re-joined with the new-old coach of the club Javier Gracia in Rubin. They had worked together in Málaga. Sánchez chose the 77 number, while Zambrano is going to wear the number 25. It should be noted Bauer came to Rubin for €4m, Zambrano – for €3,5m, while Sánchez's transfer was gratis.

Four players have been added to the midfield during this transfer window. Samuel García was the pioneer. He decided to change Villareal to the Kazan club. Rubin paid €5m for him and two times more for halfback Maxime Lestienne. On Sunday, it was known about the transfer of the captain of Lokomotiv's second team Georgy Makhatdze, but there were not any details when I was writing the article. Barcelona's midfield Alexandre Song's free transfer was a real bomb. However, the Kazan club has to wait until 1 August to officially announce his transfer.

Rifat Zhemaletdinov and Rubén Rochina are the new players in attack. If the Spaniard's transfer for €10m was not a sensation, the transfer of the young forward of Lokomotive challenged Lokomative's fans beliefe in the sanity of the management of the club. They must have done their best selling one of the most prospective young players just for €150k. Earlier director general of Rubin Ilgiz Fakhriev informed that several Russian players would join the team.

Dj Ozza and contests dragged the presentation on

The spectators were allowed to get in at 5 p.m. It turned out, the organisers gave them 2 hours before the official part. The guests of the festival were entertained by football billiard, table football, a drummer show, breakdance and football freestyle. Dj Ozza accompanied the amusement of the fans, though not all people liked him.

However, the fans' expectations of a soon start of the presentation dissipated every minute. The dessert was at the end. Presenters together with Ozza amused the people, organised contests and gave presents. The main characters of the event – football players and coaching staff of Rubin – appeared on the stage two hours later.

'We have great expectations in this season. Now the club is being under transformation: the new president, new head coach. And, undoubtedly, we need to love and support the football club of our republic. We want to see Rubin in Europe and be happy for its achievements, so we will ask God for it,' President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov addressed the players and fans via a video link.

Then the president of Rubin delivered his speech: 'I would like to welcome our renewed Rubin in the new season. You witnessed our worries during this short presentation video about our glorious victories that our club presented to the fans. I want it and believe these new pages will be filled with such victories.'

But the new head coach of Rubin Javier Gracia's speech in Russian was the most surprising thing: 'Friends, thank you for being with us!'.

Then he continued his speech in his mother tongue: 'It is a great honour to be the coach of Rubin. Moreover, it is a big pride. We, the coaching staff, promise you to do our best to make our fans be proud of us'.

Later Gracia told that new players might join the club. 'I think the question of transfer has not been closed. It is necessary to follow the market. I think all players who have joined the team believe in the project that is being built here. They came to a good club. The new players will develop their skills and help in the development of the club.'

Return to ruby

As it was mentioned above, a new emblem and uniform were presented in the fan festival. The new logo doesn't look like a 'chicken in borsch'. A partial return to the 'original emblem' of 1996 is noticeable. There is our favourite shield, an inscription Rubin above the logo and the Tatarstan flag's colours. In addition, the direction of the wings and tale were borrowed from the historical emblem of the team.

The main kit of the uniform is classic ruby. It seems to be the best news. A pattern in the form of Zilant dragon's scale with golden elements looks striking. By the way, the emblem here is golden and ruby.

The away uniform in the new season will be white in red and green stripes. The third kit will consist of a T-shirt in red and green stripes, white shorts and socks with two lines and colours of the club. It remembers the home kit of Brazilian Fluminense very much. It also should be noted that the interior side of the collar has a pattern with Zilant from the new logo and one of the favourite mottos of the club fans: 'We are Rubin, nothing can stop us!'

Now we can wait only for the start of the season. We want to hope very much these efforts won't be in vain, and Rubin will reach summits or, more precisely, will return to them. We can, to coin a phrase*!