What happened to the overpowered Russian Premier League team everyone had on FIFA 13 Ultimate Team
If you were lucky enough to play FIFA 13 Ultimate Team, when the game mode was less 'grindy' and more rewarding, then you'll have probably owned an overpowered card from the Russian Premier League.
Back in September 2012, when the game was officially released, Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala were considered one of the wealthiest in the world.
Owned by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, who poured millions into the Dagestan club, they made Samuel Eto'o the world's highest-paid player in 2011 before bringing in several other high-profile signings.
At the time, a number of household names were plying their trade in Russia, including Hulk, who completed a £34 million move to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2012.
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Emmanuel Emenike, a striker who burst onto the scene thanks, in part, to YouTuber KSI, was also a regular for Spartak Moscow alongside former Celtic and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady.
So, what happened to some of those big-money signings in real life?
In the past, we have touched on the eight players who featured on KSI's iconic FIFA 12 Ultimate Team series, including Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, another former Russian Premier League forward who was overpowered on the game.
Let's reminisce about some of the more memorable players from that era.
Danny
Back in August 2008, FIFA fan-favourite Danny made history when he became the most expensive player in Russian Premier League history.
The Portuguese playmaker, who was previously linked with a number of top European clubs, joined Zenit Saint Petersburg from Dynamo Moscow in a deal worth a reported £23.9 million.
He would go on to make over 200 appearances during a nine-year spell at the Petrovsky Stadium before joining Czech club Slavia Prague in 2017.
After struggling with injuries towards the end of his career, the highly-rated technician would eventually bow out at boyhood club Marítimo in 2018. He ended up making 38 appearances for Portugal.
Samuel Eto’o
Anzhi Makhachkala made a serious statement when they reached an agreement with Inter Milan to sign former Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o.
As well as offering him a three-year deal, the club would make him the world's highest-paid player on a reported £350,000 per week.
He would score 25 goals in 53 games for Anzhi before joining Premier League side Chelsea in the 2013 summer transfer window.
Eto'o would go on to play for Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and Qatar SC before retiring in 2019.
Hulk
In another move that would dominate headlines, Brazil international Hulk completed a £34 million move to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the summer of 2012.
After reuniting with former Porto teammate Bruno Alves, he would go on to score 77 goals for the Russian Premier League side before joining Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.
He is said to have received a wage packet of £320,000 per week following his £45 million move, and made over 100 appearances for the CSL club.
After four years in China, he returned to Brazil to play for Atlético Mineiro, where he still plays today.
Chris Samba
In an effort to progress his career, Samba left then-Premier League strugglers Blackburn to complete a move to Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012.
He joined for a reported £12.3 million and agreed on a salary worth £100,000 per week.
Samba would only spend a single season in Russia before returning to England to play for Queens Park Rangers, although Anzhi agreed to bring Samba back to Russia after only half a season.
A handful of appearances later, he would opt to join fellow Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow. Spells at Panathinaikos and Aston Villa followed before his retirement in 2018.
He returned to Blackburn in 2021 as a member of the academy's coaching staff.
Aiden McGeady
Known by many for his skill move 'The McGeady Spin', the winger became the most expensive player ever to be sold from Scotland when he joined Spartak Moscow for a reported £9.5 million in 2010.
He would go on to score 11 goals in 72 appearances for the Russian Premier League side before joining Everton in the 2014 January transfer window for an undisclosed fee.
He retired in 2024 following a brief spell at Scottish Championship outfit Ayr United.
Welliton
Perhaps one of the most popular cards in FIFA Ultimate Team history, the pacey Welliton became a well-known figure in the community during his spell at Russian club Spartak Moscow.
He scored 61 goals in 132 games during a seven-year spell in Russia's capital and won the Russian Premier League's Golden Boot award in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The Brazilian forward would go on to play for Turkish side Mersin İdmanyurdu, as well as Kayserispor, Sharjah, Al Wasl, Goias and Novorizontino.
He decided to hang up his boots in 2022 after a turbulent 17-year professional career.
Igor Akinfeev
It's common knowledge that Akinfeev has spent his entire career at CSKA Moscow.
The goalkeeper has made more than 700 first-team appearances for the club, and has lifted six Russian Premier League titles and seven Russian Cups, as well as the UEFA Cup in 2005.
He is currently a record holder for the most games played in the Russian top-level league at 558.
Seydou Doumbia
On 5 January 2010, Russian club CSKA Moscow completed the transfer of Doumbia for a reported fee of around €15 million.
He enjoyed a prolific spell in Russia's capital, scoring 61 goals in 95 games, and would eventually earn himself a move to Serie A giants AS Roma in 2015 for €14.4 million.
Doumbia soon returned to CSKA Moscow on a season-long loan deal following an unsuccessful spell with Roma, and a rather forgettable loan spell at Newcastle United followed. He made just three appearances for the Magpies.
Loan spells at Basel and Sporting CP followed before a move to La Liga side Girona. After a short spell at Maltese Premier League club Hamrun Spartans, he would retire in 2021.
Emmanuel Emenike
Emenike, another popular pick on Ultimate Team, left Fenerbahce to join Spartak Moscow for around €10 million in 2011.
He would show glimpses of brilliance and scored the fastest goal in Russian Premier League history after just 10 seconds during a game against Alania Vladikavkaz.
The Nigerian international would return to Fenerbahce in 2013, but struggled in parts and was loaned out to Al Ain and West Ham. He was eventually sold to Olympiacos.
The striker retired in 2019 after a short stint at Belgian club Westerlo.
Let us know your favourite card in the comments.
Jack Kenmare