language
Naftan
Novopolotsk
Year of Founding
1963
Head Coach
Kriushenko Igor
211442, Novopolotsk, Mezhdurechie, Mirnaya street, 3а
+375-21-4-50-02-52
fc.naftan-novopolotsk@yandex.by
fcnaftan.com

Team

Foundation year: 1963

Stadium: Atlant (4500)

Colours: yellow-blue

Director/ Head of the Board: 

Titles: two time Belarus cup winner (2008/2009, 2011/2012)

Honours: best result in the top division — 4th place (2009)

Biggest victory in the championship: 7:0 («Dinamo-Brest», 2014)

Heaviest defeat in the championship: 0:8 (BATE Borisov, 2000)

The most games in the championship:  Valeri Stripeikis — 196

Top scorer in the championship: Valeri Stripeikis — 76

Top scorer in one season: Valeri Stripeikis — 18 (1998, 2004)

Most efficient player in the championship: Valeri Stripeikis — 98 (76+22)

Most efficient player in one season: Valeri Stripeikis — 23 (18+5, 2004)

All club names: «Neftianik» (1963-1974); «Novopolotsk» (1979-1980); «Dvina» (1981-1988); «Kommunalnik» (1989); «Dvina» (1990-1991); «Naftan» (1992-1994); «Naftan-Devon» (1995-2000); «Naftan» (since 2001)

The club from Novopolotsk has never been considered as the favourite although it spent 21 seasons in the top division. The team usualy ended the season in the middle of the table - there was a lack of big trophies in the collection of FC «Naftan». The situation changed with the assignement of head coach Igor Kovalevich. A well-known defender in the past managed to unite football players around him and motivate them to achieve high goals. While it was extremely difficult to compete with «Dinamo-Minsk», BATE Borisov and «Shakhter» Soligorsk in the championship, it was much more possible in the domestic cup. In 2009 and 2012, Naftan won the trophy and received the right to play in the UEFA Europa League. The club failed to advance further than the second round, but all matches turned out to be bright. The Belgian «Gent» went further only due to the away goals rule (2:1, 0:1), and the serbian club «Crvena Zvezda» also had a lot of difficulties (3:4, 3:3). The best result in the Belarusian Premier league came in 2009: «Naftan» finished the season in 4th place only one win short of the bronze medals. Later, the tradition of Kovalevich was continued by Valeri Stripeikis, perhaps the iconic footballer for «Naftan». Things in the coaching career went great at first: in 2014, the team surprised everyone with a quick start and ended up in the top five. After that, Naftan fell into a crisis and, following the results of the 2017 season, got relegated from the top division.