Anzhi Makhachkala, the Russian club which once boasted the likes of Roberto Carlos and Samuel Eto'o after emerging from obscurity to become one of the richest teams in the world, is set to fold.
Anzhi have not been granted a licence for the Russian third tier after failing to meet the requirements and are heading for extinction.
It is the latest episode in the bizarre story of the club, which reached the top-flight in Russia for the first time in 2011 after significant investment from billionaire oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
The money pumped into Anzhi by Kerimov led to a spate of high-profile signings, with Brazilian legend Carlos among the first to make the switch to the Russian side in 2011.
The likes of Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov also joined before Guus Hiddink became manager later that year.
Lassana Diarra and Willian were among the players brought to the club by Hiddink as they narrowly missed out on qualification for the Champions League.
Anzhi reached the last-16 of the Europa League in the 2012-13 season before losing to Newcastle United.
The problems began soon after as Kerimov decided to reduce the budget amid financial fair play concerns and the club started to sell its key players, including Eto'o and Willian, who joined Chelsea, before he left in 2016.
Anzhi have since slipped down the divisions in Russia after being forced to field youth players because of a transfer ban imposed due to financial issues.
'The lack of a club license means the club automatically loses its professional status,' Anzhi said in a statement
'The entire team of Anzhi made every possible effort to pass the licensing procedure and hoped for a positive outcome until the very end.
'We believe this is not the end. We believe that one day Anzhi will return. One day this star will light up again and will shine even brighter!'
