In the beginning of the 1990s, Lokomotiv was considered the "weakest link" amongst the top Moscow clubs. It lacked both results on the pitch and fans' support in the stands. However, head coach Yuri Semin and president Valeri Filatov were able to lead the club's progress, thus installing Lokomotiv as the "fifth wheel of the Moscow cart." Historically, Lokomotiv was not considered to be a big club in the same vein as Spartak, CSKA, Dynamo and Torpedo. With the former Soviet republics and their clubs gone, however, Lokomotiv took the opportunity to shine.