The following is a list of clubs (teams of masters) who have played in the Soviet top-tier from its formation in 1936 until its discontinuation in 1992. It includes Gruppa A, Pervaya Gruppa, Class A, and Soviet Higher League.

Over that span, 65 teams have played in the Soviet top tier. While the tier was dominated by Russian teams of masters, particularly out of Moscow, there many clubs from some dozen other union republics.

Table A 'spell' refers to a number of consecutive seasons within the league, uninterrupted by relegation. A 'total seasons absent' counts the number of seasons between spells; in parentheses is the number of seasons missed before the team's first appearance.

TeamLocationRepublicTotalseasonsTotalspellsLongestspellLastpromotionLastrelegationTotalseasonsabsentSeasonsHighestfinishAdmiralteyets Leningrad Russian Federation 3 2 2 1960 1961 32 (19) 1958 1960–1961 Ararat Yerevan Armenia 33 3 27 1966 1963 11 (10)1949–1950 1960–1963 1966–1991 Burevestnik Moscow Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Chernomorets Odessa Ukraine 22 3 14 1988 1986 4 (28)1965–1970 1974–1986 1988–1991 CSKA Moscow Russian Federation 48 4 32 1990 1987 61936–1951 1954–1984 1987 1990–1991 Daugava Riga Latvia 7 2 4 1960 1962 37 (10) 1949–1952 1960–1962 Dinamo Kiev Ukraine 54 1 54 1936 (s) Never relegated 0 1936–1991 Dinamo Kirovabad Azerbaijan 1 1 1 1968 1968 24 (29)1968 Dinamo Leningrad Russian Federation 17 2 15 1962 1963 371936–1953 1962–1963 Dinamo Minsk Belarus 39 7 14 1979 1976 (a) 9 (6)1945–1950 1952 1954–1955 1957 1960–1973 1976 (s-a) 1979–1991 Dinamo Moscow Russian Federation 54 1 54 1936 (s) Never relegated 0 1936–1991 Dinamo Odessa Ukraine 2 1 2 1938 1939 49 (3) 1938–1939 Dinamo Rostov-na-Donu Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Dinamo Tbilisi Georgia 51 1 51 1936 (a) 1989 2 (1) 1936 (a)–1989 Dnepr Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine 19 2 11 1981 1978 2 (33)1972–1978 1981–1991 Elektrik Leningrad Russian Federation 5 1 5 1936 1939 49 1936–1939 Fakel Voronezh Russian Federation 2 1 1 1985 1985 30 (22) 1961 1985 Guria Lanchkhuti, Guria Georgia 1 1 1 1987 1987 4 (49) 1987 Kairat Alma-Ata Kazakhstan 24 5 6 1984 1988 9 (21) 1960–1964 1966–1969 1971–1974 1977–1982 1984–1988 Kalev Tallinn Estonia 2 1 2 1960 1961 31 (21)1960–1961 Karpaty Lvov Ukraine 9 2 8 1980 1980 13 (32) 1971–1977 1980 Krylia Sovetov Moscow Russian Federation 6 2 5 1940 1948 45 (3) 1938 1940–1948 Krylia SovetovKuibyshevRussian Federation 26 5 10 1979 1979 21 (7)1946–1955 1957–1960 1962–1969 1976–1977 1979 Kuban Krasnodar Russian Federation 3 1 3 1980 1982 9 (42)1980–1982 Lokomotiv Kharkov Ukraine 4 2 2 1953 1954 40 (10) 1949–1950 1953–1954 Lokomotiv Kiev Ukraine 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Lokomotiv Moscow Russian Federation 38 8 12 1991 1989 161936–1945 1948–1950 1952–1963 1965–1969 1972 1975–1980 1988–1989 1991 Lokomotiv Tbilisi Georgia 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Metallist Kharkov Ukraine 14 2 10 1982 1963 19 (21) 1960–1963 1982–1991 Metallurg Moscow Russian Federation 4 1 4 1937 1940 48 (2) 1937–1940 Metallurg Zaporozhye Ukraine 1 1 1 1991 Never relegated 0 (53) 1991 MVOKalininRussian Federation111 1952 195240 (13)1952Neftchi Baku Azerbaijan 27 3 13 1977 1988 17 (10)1949–1950 1960–1972 1977–1988 Nistru Chișinău Moldova 11 3 9 1983 1983 26 (17)1956–1964 1974 1983 ODO Sverdlovsk Russian Federation 1 1 1 1956 1956 36 (17) 1956 Pakhtakor Tashkent Uzbekistan 22 5 7 1991 1984 11 (21) 1960–1963 1965–1971 1973–1975 1978–1984 1991 Pamir Dushanbe Tajikistan 3 1 3 1989 Never relegated 0 (51) 1989–1991 Pischevik Moscow Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Rotor Volgograd Russian Federation 11 2 9 1989 1990 40 (3) 1938–1950 1989–1990 Selmash Kharkov Ukraine 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3) 1938 Shakhter Donetsk Ukraine 44 4 20 1973 1971 7 (3)1938–1940 1949–1952 1955–1971 1973–1991 Shinnik Yaroslavl Russian Federation 1 1 1 1964 1964 28 (25) 1964 SKA Odessa Ukraine 2 1 2 1965 1966 26 (26)1965–1966 SKA Rostov-na-Donu Russian Federation 21 4 15 1984 1985 13 (20)1959–1973 1975 1979–1981 1984–1985 Spartak Kharkov Ukraine 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Spartak Leningrad Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Spartak Moscow Russian Federation 53 2 39 1978 1976 (a) 11936–1976 (a) 1978–1991 Spartak Tbilisi Georgia 2 1 2 1950 1951 41 (11) 1950–1951 Spartak Vladikavkaz Russian Federation 2 1 1 1991 1970 21 (31) 1970 1991 Stalinets Moscow Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3) 1938 Tavriya Simferopol Ukraine 1 1 1 1981 1981 10 (43)1981 Temp Baku Azerbaijan 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Torpedo Gorkiy Russian Federation 2 1 1 1954 1954 40 (12)1951 1954 Torpedo Moscow Russian Federation 51 1 51 1938 Never relegated 0 (3)1938–1991 Torpedo Kutaisi Georgia 13 3 9 1985 1986 17 (24)1962–1970 1982–1983 1985–1986 Trudovye Rezervy Leningrad Russian Federation 3 1 3 1954 1956 36 (15)1954–1956 Uralmash Sverdlovsk Russian Federation 1 1 1 1969 1969 23 (30)1969 VMS Moscow Russian Federation 1 1 1 1951 1951 41 (12) 1951 Volga Gorkiy Russian Federation 1 1 1 1964 1964 28 (25) 1964 VVS Moscow Russian Federation 6 1 6 1947 1952 40 (8) 1947–1952 Zaria Voroshilovgrad Ukraine 14 1 14 1967 1979 12 (28)1967–1979 Zenit Leningrad Russian Federation 49 1 49 1938 1989 2 (3)1938–1989 Zenit Leningrad Russian Federation 1 1 1 1938 1938 50 (3)1938 Zhalgiris Vilnius Lithuania 11 3 7 1983 1989 29 (14)1953 1960–1962 1983–1989

The league participants and their season's rankings The table does not include the unfinished 1941 season and the canceled 1992 season.

Seasons36 (s)36 (a)373839404546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576 (s)76 (a)777879808182838485868788899091Number of teams78926141312121314(30)1819151411131212121212222222201717191920201716161616161616161618181818181818161616161316 Dinamo (Kiev)64881112410713885646675967871065 Spartak (Moscow)1068566788476114101415 545 Dinamo (Moscow)575411758545106644514411151614101086 CSKA (Moscow)4894w/d 6596447594612510131377146856151218 15 Torpedo (Moscow) 9911455410121094575710612567913441281611586659454 Dinamo (Tbilisi) 46446489879875677459844416785131411w/d Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) 6810711131216 891169 Ararat (Yerevan) w/d1614 981818 1381615124551411147814514111314891277 Dinamo (Minsk) 91112121517 14 12 12 11191994114613911815 916 610954105129128 Zenit (Leningrad) 1411106961356775789104815131161191619119141371171413510101015746414616 Zaria (Voroshilovgrad) 16131154714916129917 Shakhter (Donetsk) 111212 w/d181113 778812171281151210614101016 612510567149131267814812 SKA (Rostov/Donu) 44994471012128141216 16 15916 1418 Lokomotiv (Moscow)54685612 71115 961051045551317 1517171018 15 111586151218 715 16 Chernomorets (Odessa) 1014 1414188815 12109771171110841515 13694 Zhalgiris (Vilnius) w/d 11 202022 597854w/d Metallurg (Moscow) 5613 Neftchi (Baku) 1419 2118108121159711816 13131413101613151613915 Karpaty (Lvov) 1014141164415 17 Krylia Sovetov (Kuibyshev) 107111074871111 11101116 1715101318111819 61116 18 Rotor (Volgograd) 124778981318 1013 VVS (Moscow) 139841011 Trudovye Rezervy (Leningrad) 41012 Dinamo (Leningrad)677710555106989510 1616 Elektrik (Leningrad)7581313 MVO (Kalinin) 6w/d Pakhtakor (Tashkent) 1410620 1091517161315 12815 119161861017 14 Nistru (Chișinău) w/d 6911102216121317 16 18 Metallist (Kharkov) 1361419 1211121012111171115 Kairat (Alma-Ata) 1817201415 12141517 813915 81213121218 8971216 Krylia Sovetov (Moscow) 25 9871114 Lokomotiv (Kharkov) w/d1216 912 Spartak (Tbilisi) 914 Pamir (Dushanbe) 131010 Admiralteyets (Leningrad) 12 1014 ODO (Sverdlovsk) 11 Daugava (Riga) 17121112 122121 Torpedo (Kutaisi) 151213161513191416 1317 1116 Spartak (Vladikavkaz) 17 11 VMS (Moscow) 13 Metallurg (Zaporozhye) 13 Torpedo (Gorkiy) w/d 15 13 Kuban (Krasnodar) 151317 Volga (Gorkiy) 14 Selmash (Kharkov) 15 Fakel (Voronezh) 15 17 Stalinets (Moscow) 16 Shinnik (Yaroslavl) 16 Guria (Lanchkhuti) 16 w/d Lokomotiv (Kiev) 17 SKA (Odessa) 1719 Tavriya (Simferopol) 17 Dinamo (Rostov/Donu) 18 Temp (Baku) 19 Kalev (Tallin) w/d 1922 Spartak (Leningrad) 20 Dinamo (Kirovabad) 20 Uralmash (Sverdlovsk) w/d 20 Spartak (Kharkov) 21 Zenit Leningrad 22 Pischevik (Moscow) 23 Lokomotiv (Tbilisi) 24 w/d Burevestnik (Moscow) 26

For the 1948 season originally, there were supposed to take part 30 teams, but in less than 2 weeks into the season, it was scratched, and the competition was completely reorganized. For that reason, certain teams are marked with "w/d" (withdrawn).

Dynamo Moscow and Dynamo Kyiv were the only teams who participated in every season of Soviet top-tier competitions. Torpedo Moscow missed only the first 3 pre-war seasons and has not been relegated since. In 1991, two debutants (Metallurg Z. and Pamir) entered the competition, which was their only appearance for the competition after which it collapsed, thus, those 2 never technically been relegated.

In 1940, Locomotive Tbilisi were withdrawn from competitions due to their poor performance, and all their results were scratched.

In 1952, CDSA Moscow was banned from competitions due to the Soviet Union national football team's poor performance at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

In 1953, due to the death of Joseph Stalin, all military-related teams were banned (withdrawn) from the competition. They were reinstated for the next season.

In 1990, the Soviet Higher League did not account for 3 of its teams when teams from Georgia and later Lithuania withdrew from the competitions due to the political crisis, which eventually led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

All clubs per republic and city Republic City Clubs MoscowSpartak, Dinamo, CSKA, Torpedo, Lokomotiv, Metallurg, VVS, MVO, VMS, Krylia Sovetov, Stalinets, Pischevik, BurevestnikLeningradZenit, Trudovye Rezervy, Dinamo, Elektrik, Admiralteyets, Zenit (older), SpartakRostov-na-DonuSKA, DinamoKuibyshevKrylia SovetovVolgogradRotorSverdlovskODO, UralmashVladikavkazSpartakKrasnodarKubanGorkiyTorpedo, VolgaVoronezhFakelYaroslavlShinnik KievDinamo, LokomotivDnepropetrovskDneprVoroshilovgradZariaDonetskShakhterOdessaChernomorets, SKA, DinamoLvovKarpatyKharkovMetallist, Lokomotiv, Selmash, SpartakZaporozhyeMetallurgSimferopolTavriya TbilisiDinamo, Spartak, LokomotivKutaisiTorpedoLanchkhutiGuria BakuNeftchi, TempKirovabadDinamo YerevanArarat MinskDinamo VilniusZhalgiris Alma-AtaKairat TashkentPakhtakor ChișinăuNistru RigaDaugava DushanbePamir TallinKalev

The republics that were never represented at the top level were the Turkmen SSR, the Kyrgyz SSR, and the Karelo-Finnish SSR.

Notes

References

External links Московские клубы в истории Высшей лиги чемпионатов СССР по футболу. Сколько колёс в московской телеге?. dzen.ru. 4 November 2020 [Moscow's clubs in the history of the USSR Football Championship Higher League. How many wheels in the Moscow cargo cart?] (Russian) Украинские клубы в чемпионате СССР по футболу. Советский суперклуб и ещё 2 чемпиона, сенсационные «Карпаты», кубковый «Шахтёр». dzen.ru. 16 November 2020 [Ukrainian clubs in the USSR Football Championship. The Soviet Superclub and 2 more champions, sensational Karpaty, and Cup-oriented Shakhtar] (Russian)