Russian Major League (1992–2010)

The Russian Major League (Russian: Высшая лига, Vysshaya Liga), also known as the Top Division at times, was the top tier of the Russian football league system from 1992 to 2010. It was established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the breakup of the Soviet Top League. It represented the highest level of professional football in Russia during this period.

The league typically consisted of 16 teams, although the number varied slightly over the years. At the end of each season, the bottom teams were relegated to the Russian First Division (Pervy Divizion), while the top teams from the First Division were promoted. The winner of the Russian Major League was crowned the Russian champion and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The runners-up also qualified for the Champions League, and other high-ranking teams qualified for the UEFA Cup (later the UEFA Europa League).

Key clubs that participated and often dominated the Russian Major League during its existence included Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Zenit St. Petersburg. Spartak Moscow was particularly dominant in the early years of the league.

In 2011, the Russian Major League was renamed the Russian Premier League (Russian: Российская футбольная премьер-лига, Rossiyskaya Futbol'naya Prem'yer-Liga), marking a rebranding and restructuring of the top flight of Russian football. The change brought about improvements in organization, marketing, and overall professionalism. While essentially a continuation of the same league, the renaming signified a new era for Russian football. The historical statistics and league records from the Russian Major League (1992-2010) are generally considered part of the overall history of the Russian Premier League.