FC Tambov (Russian: ФК Тамбов, full name often PFK Tambov) was a short-lived but notable Russian professional football club based in Tambov, a city in western Russia.
Founded in 2013, the club rose meteorically from the lower divisions to the Russian Premier League (RPL) before collapsing due to severe financial problems and dissolving in 2021.
Tambov spent two seasons in the RPL:2019–20: Survived relegation in a difficult debut campaign.
2020–21: A disastrous season marked by extreme financial distress.
During the winter break, funding dried up (linked to regional budget issues and unfulfilled promises from local authorities). Most players left as free agents, leaving only a handful (reportedly just 3 from the first half of the season). The squad was filled with youth players.
They endured a long winless streak (19 matches, including 11 straight losses), finished 16th (last place) with just 13 points (3 wins, 4 draws, 23 losses; 19 goals scored, 65 conceded), and were relegated. In the Russian Cup, they reached the Round of 16 before losing to Lokomotiv Moscow.
On 19 May 2021, shortly after the season ended, general director Olga Konovalova announced that all player and staff contracts had been terminated.
The club entered bankruptcy proceedings and was officially dissolved/liquidated. This made Tambov one of the rare modern examples of a club disappearing while still holding a top-division spot (though already relegated on the field).
The collapse was widely attributed to over-reliance on unstable regional public funding, lack of a compliant stadium, and opportunistic management tied to local politics rather than sustainable structures.
The original FC Tambov no longer exists. Football in Tambov continued through a revival of the historic FC Spartak Tambov (with roots dating back decades, previously dissolved in 2014 due to bankruptcy).
In July 2022, the Governor of Tambov Oblast reestablished Spartak Tambov.
It started in the Russian Second League (third tier) and has since competed in Russian Second League, Division B, Group 3 (fourth tier in the overall pyramid as of recent seasons).
As of the 2025–26 season, Spartak Tambov plays in that division, with a squad managed by Mikhail Pilipko. They use the Spartak Stadium in Tambov and maintain an active presence with fixtures in the league and Russia Cup.