1997 Russian Third League
# 1997 Russian Third League

The Russian Third League 1997 was the 4th and, so far, final time competition on the fourth level of Russian football was professional. In 1998 Russian Third League was disbanded and the Amateur Football League moved back to fourth level of the Russian football pyramid. All the 1997 Russian Third League teams that were not promoted to the Second Division moved to the Amateur Football League (unless otherwise noted below). There were 5 zones with 88 teams starting the competition (6 were excluded before the end of the season).

## Zone 1

### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| - | - |
| FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody | Aleksandr Babayan |
| FC Mozdok | Yuri Gazzaev |
| FC Torpedo Georgiyevsk | Yuri Kotov |
| FC Anzhi-d Makhachkala | |
| FC Nart Nartkala | Vladimir Kurashinov |
| FC Iriston Vladikavkaz | Ruslan Merdenov |
| FC Nart Cherkessk | Nurbiy Lakhov |
| FC Dynamo-d Stavropol | |
| FC Alania-d Vladikavkaz | |
| PFC Spartak-d Nalchik | |
| FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala | Kosim Akchurin |
| FC Olimp Kislovodsk | Aleksandr Grosberg |
| FC Beshtau Lermontov | Valentin Lobachyov |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody (A) | 48 | 33 | 11 | 4 | 112 | 40 | +72 | 110 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 2 | Mozdok (A) | 48 | 29 | 8 | 11 | 105 | 46 | +59 | 95 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 3 | Torpedo Georgiyevsk (A) | 48 | 28 | 9 | 11 | 85 | 36 | +49 | 93 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 4 | Anzhi-d Makhachkala | 48 | 29 | 5 | 14 | 114 | 58 | +56 | 92 | |
| 5 | Nart Nartkala (A) | 48 | 27 | 6 | 15 | 109 | 74 | +35 | 87 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 6 | Iriston Vladikavkaz (A) | 48 | 25 | 9 | 14 | 98 | 63 | +35 | 84 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 7 | Nart Cherkessk (A) | 48 | 21 | 7 | 20 | 83 | 80 | +3 | 70 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 8 | Dynamo-d Stavropol | 48 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 69 | 76 | −7 | 59 | |
| 9 | Alania-d Vladikavkaz (A) | 48 | 12 | 7 | 29 | 66 | 119 | −53 | 43 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 10 | Spartak-d Nalchik | 48 | 11 | 10 | 27 | 65 | 99 | −34 | 43 | |
| 11 | Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala (A) | 48 | 12 | 6 | 30 | 67 | 131 | −64 | 42 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 12 | Olimp Kislovodsk | 48 | 11 | 7 | 30 | 54 | 116 | −62 | 40 | |
| 13 | Beshtau Lermontov (A) | 48 | 7 | 5 | 36 | 50 | 139 | −89 | 26 | Promotion to Second Division |

Notes.

* FC Alania-d Vladikavkaz were excluded from the league after playing 35 games and gaining 43 points. Opponents were awarded a 3–0 win in the remaining games.
* FC Iriston Vladikavkaz and FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala were awarded 1 home win each.
* FC Torpedo Georgiyevsk played their first professional season.
* FC Anzhi-2 Kaspiysk renamed to FC Anzhi-d and moved to Makhachkala. They did not participate in national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Dynamo-d Stavropol, PFC Spartak-d Nalchik and FC Olimp Kislovodsk did not participate in national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Alania-d Vladikavkaz last played professionally in 1995 as FC Spartak-Alania-d Vladikavkaz.

### Top goalscorers

**35 goals**

* Budun Budunov (FC Anzhi-d Makhachkala)

**30 goals**

* Kyamran Nurakhmedov (FC Dynamo-Imamat Makhachkala)

**28 goals**

* Alisher Gippot (FC Torpedo Georgiyevsk)

**26 goals**

* Aslan Maremukov (FC Nart Nartkala)

**25 goals**

* Nikolai Tkachenko (FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody)

**24 goals**

* Eduard Khachaturyan (FC Mozdok)

**22 goals**

* Mikhail Pavlov (FC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody)
* Aleksandr Zaalishvili (FC Nart Nartkala)

**21 goals**

* Gadzhi Bamatov (FC Anzhi-d Makhachkala)
* Iosif Khuazhev (FC Mozdok)

## Zone 2

### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| - | - |
| FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani | Nikolai Smirnov |
| FC Rassvet Troitskoye | Sergei Lushchin |
| FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don | |
| FC Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny | Sergei Antonkin |
| FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani | Oleg Ivanov |
| FC Shakhtyor Shakhty | Yuri Shikunov |
| FC Volgodonsk | Nikolai Zlobin |
| FC Metallurg Krasny Sulin | Viktor Shchirov |
| FC Rotor-d Volgograd | |
| FC Salyut Saratov | Vladimir Khoroltsev |
| FC Kuban-d Krasnodar | Igor Kaleshin |
| FC Rotor-2 Mikhaylovka | Sergei Andreyev |
| FC Lokomotiv Yelets | Yuri Raznov |
| FC Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi | Anatoli Lyz |
| FC Energiya-d Kamyshin | Oleg Sizov |
| FC Fakel-d Voronezh | Yuri Litvinov |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani (A) | 30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 63 | 30 | +33 | 64 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 2 | Rassvet Troitskoye | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 30 | +26 | 58 | |
| 3 | Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don (A) | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 52 | 18 | +34 | 57 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 4 | Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 62 | 36 | +26 | 56 | |
| 5 | Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 53 | |
| 6 | Shakhtyor Shakhty (A) | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 48 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 7 | Volgodonsk | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 33 | +7 | 44 | |
| 8 | Metallurg Krasny Sulin | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 43 | |
| 9 | Rotor-d Volgograd (A) | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 44 | 43 | +1 | 42 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 10 | Salyut Saratov (A) | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 40 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 11 | Kuban-d Krasnodar | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 28 | 40 | −12 | 38 | |
| 12 | Rotor-2 Mikhaylovka | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 36 | |
| 13 | Lokomotiv Yelets | 28 | 11 | 1 | 16 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 34 | |
| 14 | Zhemchuzhina-d Sochi (A) | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 33 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 15 | Energiya-d Kamyshin | 28 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 13 | 79 | −66 | 9 | |
| 16 | Fakel-d Voronezh | 28 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 15 | 78 | −63 | 7 | |

Notes.

* FC Lokomotiv Yelets were excluded from the league after playing 15 games and gaining 34 points. Opponents were awarded a 3–0 win in the remaining games.
* FC Energiya-d Kamyshin were excluded from the league after playing 15 games and gaining 9 points. Opponents were awarded a 3–0 win in the remaining games.
* FC Fakel-d Voronezh was excluded from the league after playing 17 games and gaining 7 points. Opponents were awarded a 3–0 win in the remaining games.
* FC Rassvet Troitskoye promoted from the Amateur Football League. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny, FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani, FC Volgodonsk and FC Kuban-d Krasnodar did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Dynamo Mikhailovka renamed to FC Rotor-2.
* FC Energiya-d Kamyshin last played professionally in 1992 as FC Tekstilshchik-d Kamyshin. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Fakel-d Voronezh played their first professional season. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.

### Top goalscorers

**16 goals**

* Murat Gomleshko (FC Niva Slavyansk-na-Kubani)
* Viktor Ledovskikh (FC Spartak-Bratskiy Yuzhny)
* Denis Popov (FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani)

**15 goals**

* Gennadi Remezov (FC Rassvet Troitskoye)

**11 goals**

* Aleksandr Bocharnikov (FC Kuban Slavyansk-na-Kubani)
* Sergei Glazunov (FC Salyut Saratov)
* Valeri Prokulatov (FC Volgodonsk)

**10 goals**

* Sergei Afanasyev (FC Metallurg Krasny Sulin)
* Roman Oreshchuk (FC Rostselmash-d Rostov-on-Don)
* Sergei Pogarchenko (FC Shakhtyor Shakhty)

## Zone 3

### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| - | - |
| FC Dynamo-d Moscow | Aleksei Petrushin |
| FC Khimki | Vladimir Shtapov |
| FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow | Sergei Petrenko |
| FC Kosmos Dolgoprudny | Aleksandr Logunov |
| FC Roda Moscow | Vladimir Opochinskiy |
| FC Spartak-d Moscow | Sergey Rodionov |
| FC Titan Reutov | Aleksei Belenkov |
| PFC CSKA-d Moscow | Sergei Berezin |
| FC Sportakademklub Moscow | Aleksandr Yefremov |
| FC Kolomna | Viktor Korneyev |
| FC Spartak Lukhovitsy | Sergei Bondar |
| FC Monolit Moscow | Yuri Vereykin |
| FC Torgmash Lyubertsy | Anatoli Leshchenkov |
| FC Krasnogvardeyets Moscow | Aleksandr Rakov |
| FC Asmaral Moscow | Vladimir Mikhaylov |
| FC Torpedo-Luzhniki-d Moscow | |
| FC Lokomotiv-d Moscow | Nikolai Khudiyev |
| FC Fabus Bronnitsy | Vladimir Sautin |
| FC MEPhI Moscow | Rinat Bilyaletdinov |
| FC Dynamo-2 Moscow | Aleksandr Maksimenkov |
| FC Chertanovo Moscow | Viktor Borovikov |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Dynamo-d Moscow (A) | 40 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 84 | 24 | +60 | 97 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 2 | Khimki (A) | 40 | 26 | 6 | 8 | 80 | 38 | +42 | 84 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 3 | Torpedo-ZIL Moscow (A) | 40 | 23 | 8 | 9 | 77 | 29 | +48 | 77 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 4 | Kosmos Dolgoprudny (A) | 40 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 63 | 41 | +22 | 71 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 5 | Roda Moscow | 40 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 83 | 49 | +34 | 70 | |
| 6 | Spartak-d Moscow (A) | 40 | 21 | 3 | 16 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 66 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 7 | Titan Reutov (A) | 40 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 64 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 8 | CSKA-d Moscow (A) | 40 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 66 | 53 | +13 | 63 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 9 | Sportakademklub Moscow (A) | 40 | 17 | 8 | 15 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 59 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 10 | Kolomna (A) | 40 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 49 | 40 | +9 | 57 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 11 | Spartak Lukhovitsy (A) | 40 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 56 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 12 | Monolit Moscow (A) | 40 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 57 | 70 | −13 | 53 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 13 | Torgmash Lyubertsy (A) | 40 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 61 | −19 | 48 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 14 | Krasnogvardeyets Moscow | 40 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 43 | 61 | −18 | 47 | |
| 15 | Asmaral Moscow (A) | 40 | 14 | 3 | 23 | 50 | 77 | −27 | 45 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 16 | Torpedo-Luzhniki-d Moscow (A) | 40 | 13 | 6 | 21 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 45 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 17 | Lokomotiv-d Moscow (A) | 40 | 12 | 7 | 21 | 52 | 73 | −21 | 43 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 18 | Fabus Bronnitsy (A) | 40 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 52 | 57 | −5 | 43 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 19 | MEPhI Moscow | 40 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 42 | |
| 20 | Dynamo-2 Moscow | 40 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 50 | 83 | −33 | 39 | |
| 21 | Chertanovo Moscow | 40 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 18 | 135 | −117 | 7 | |

Notes.

* FC Roda Moscow deducted 6 points.
* FC Khimki and FC Spartak Lukhovitsy promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow played their first professional season.
* FC Roda Moscow and FC Chertanovo Moscow did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Mashinostroitel Sergiyev Posad moved to Moscow and renamed to FC Sportakademklub.
* FC Avangard-Kortek Kolomna renamed to FC Kolomna.
* FC MEPhI Moscow promoted from the Amateur Football League, where it played in 1996 as FSh MEPhI. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Dynamo-2 Moscow did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998 (FC Dynamo-d Moscow was renamed to FC Dynamo-2 in 1998).

### Top goalscorers

**21 goals**

* Sergei Kulichenko (PFC CSKA-d Moscow)

**20 goals**

* Viktor Voronkov (FC Roda Moscow)

**19 goals**

* Sergei Lutovinov (FC Spartak-d Moscow)

**17 goals**

* Sabir Khamzin (FC Sportakademklub Moscow)
* Sergei Kravchuk (FC Khimki)
* Sergei Lavrentyev (FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow)

**16 goals**

* Sergei Artyomov (FC Dynamo-d Moscow)
* Gleb Panfyorov (FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow)
* Aleksei Snigiryov (FC Lokomotiv-d Moscow/FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow)

**15 goals**

* Guy-Martin Ngaha Tchamoah (FC Roda Moscow)
* Aleksandr Rogachyov (FC Kolomna)
* Vadim Shatalin (FC Khimki)

## Zone 4

### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| - | - |
| FC Metallurg Vyksa | Mikhail Beketov |
| FC Energetik Uren | Viktor Pavlyukov |
| FC Torpedo Vladimir | Yevgeni Skomorokhov |
| FC Torpedo-Viktoriya Nizhny Novgorod | Aleksandr Platonychev |
| FC Spartak Bryansk | Viktor Ozhoga |
| FC Stroitel Morshansk | Vyacheslav Vlasov |
| FC Luch Tula | Yuri Cheryevskiy |
| FC Lokomotiv Kaluga | Aleksandr Sakharov |
| FC Energiya Velikiye Luki | Vladimir Gogin |
| FC Volochanin Vyshny Volochyok | Viktor Demidov |
| FC Zenit-d Saint Petersburg | |
| FC Mashinostroitel Pskov | Sergei Markelov |
| FC Dynamo Bryansk | Viktor Zimin |
| FC Neftyanik Yaroslavl | Valentin Volkov |
| FC Spartak Kostroma | Valeri Volchanovskiy |
| FC Lokomotiv-d Saint Petersburg | |
| FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod | |
| FC Khimik Dzerzhinsk | Andrei Sergeyev |
| FC Industriya Borovsk | Yuri Karamyan |
| FC Spartak Rybnoye | |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Metallurg Vyksa | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 54 | 20 | +34 | 79 | |
| 2 | Energetik Uren (A) | 36 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 70 | 35 | +35 | 76 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 3 | Torpedo Vladimir (A) | 36 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 60 | 27 | +33 | 73 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 4 | Torpedo-Viktoriya Nizhny Novgorod (A) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 62 | 18 | +44 | 70 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 5 | Spartak Bryansk (A) | 36 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 54 | 38 | +16 | 61 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 6 | Stroitel Morshansk (A) | 36 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 53 | 42 | +11 | 59 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 7 | Luch Tula (A) | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 58 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 8 | Lokomotiv Kaluga (A) | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 54 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 9 | Energiya Velikiye Luki (A) | 36 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 53 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 10 | Volochanin Vyshny Volochyok (A) | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 50 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 11 | Zenit-d St. Petersburg (A) | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 49 | 32 | +17 | 49 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 12 | Mashinostroitel Pskov | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 28 | 40 | −12 | 46 | |
| 13 | Dynamo Bryansk (A) | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 46 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 14 | Neftyanik Yaroslavl (A) | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 46 | −5 | 44 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 15 | Spartak Kostroma (A) | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 30 | 48 | −18 | 38 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 16 | Lokomotiv-d St. Petersburg | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 57 | −29 | 31 | |
| 17 | Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 24 | 61 | −37 | 24 | |
| 18 | Khimik Dzerzhinsk (A) | 36 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 18 | 64 | −46 | 20 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 19 | Industriya Borovsk | 36 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 73 | −52 | 20 | |

Notes.

* FC Spartak Rybnoye were excluded from the league after playing 18 games and gaining 14 points. All their results were discarded. That was their first professional season. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Industriya Borovsk were excluded from the league after playing 19 games and gaining 20 points. Opponents were awarded 3-0 wins in the remaining games. They did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.
* FC Khimik Dzerzhinsk awarded one home loss.
* FC Torpedo-Viktoriya Nizhny Novgorod played their first professional season.
* FC Lokomotiv Kaluga promoted from the Amateur Football League, where they played in 1996 as FC Smena-PRMZ Kaluga.
* FC Energiya Velikiye Luki promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Lokomotiv-d Saint Petersburg and FC Lokomotiv-d Nizhny Novgorod did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.

### Top goalscorers

**18 goals**

* Nikolai Sidorov (FC Lokomotiv Kaluga)

**17 goals**

* Valeri Korneyev (FC Spartak Bryansk)

**14 goals**

* Andrei Alenichev (FC Energiya Velikiye Luki)
* Dmitri Golubev (FC Metallurg Vyksa)

**13 goals**

* Yevgeni Losev (FC Lokomotiv Kaluga)
* Dmitri Pozhidayev (FC Energetik Uren)

**12 goals**

* Anatoli Lychagov (FC Energetik Uren)
* Nail Safayev (FC Torpedo Vladimir)
* Valeri Vasilyev (FC Stroitel Morshansk)

**11 goals**

* Aleksandr Gultyayev (FC Mashinostroitel Pskov)
* Vladislav Khakhalev (FC Torpedo Vladimir)

## Zone 5

### Overview

| Team | Head coach |
| - | - |
| FC Zenit Penza | Aleksandr Komissarov |
| FC Dynamo Perm | Viktor Arkhapchev |
| FC Zenit Chelyabinsk | Oleg Kudelin |
| FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk | Aleksandr Kukushkin |
| FC Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo | Yevgeni Sarychev (until July) Ishtvan Sekech (from July) |
| FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil | Anatoli Garenskikh |
| FC Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk | Igor Shinkarenko |
| FC Energiya Ulyanovsk | Mikhail Fursenko |
| FC Gazovik Orenburg | Valeri Bogdanov |
| FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky | Vasili Petrovich |
| FC Iskra Engels | Anatoli Surovtsev |
| FC Progress Zelenodolsk | Aleksandr Klobukov |
| FC Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola | Igor Pochuyenkov] |
| FC Neftyanik Bugulma | German Bobek |
| FC Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany | Yuri Osin |
| FC Gornyak Kachkanar | Viktor Stavrov |
| FC Volga Balakovo | Aleksandr Krokhin |
| FC KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny | |

### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Zenit Penza (A) | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 62 | 27 | +35 | 71 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 2 | Dynamo Perm (A) | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 55 | 32 | +23 | 66 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 3 | Zenit Chelyabinsk (A) | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 55 | 27 | +28 | 66 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 4 | Metiznik Magnitogorsk | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 61 | |
| 5 | Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo (A) | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 32 | +27 | 59 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 6 | Uralets Nizhny Tagil (A) | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 27 | +14 | 59 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 7 | Biokhimik-Mordovia Saransk (A) | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 47 | 28 | +19 | 59 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 8 | Energiya Ulyanovsk (A) | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 57 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 9 | Gazovik Orenburg (A) | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 48 | 33 | +15 | 57 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 10 | Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky (A) | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 53 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 11 | Iskra Engels (A) | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 51 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 12 | Progress Zelenodolsk (A) | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 46 | 56 | −10 | 42 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 13 | Druzhba Yoshkar-Ola (A) | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 42 | 50 | −8 | 37 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 14 | Neftyanik Bugulma | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 54 | −19 | 33 | |
| 15 | Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 33 | 62 | −29 | 28 | |
| 16 | Gornyak Kachkanar | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 65 | −32 | 23 | |
| 17 | Volga Balakovo (A) | 34 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 32 | 73 | −41 | 20 | Promotion to Second Division |
| 18 | KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny | 34 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 24 | 87 | −63 | 8 | |

Notes.

* FC Zenit Chelyabinsk and FC Energiya Ulyanovsk promoted from the Amateur Football League.
* FC Metiznik Magnitogorsk, FC Elektron Vyatskiye Polyany, and FC KAMAZ-Chally-d Naberezhnye Chelny did not participate in the national-level competitions in 1998.

### Top goalscorers

**23 goals**

* Vyacheslav Ulitin (FC Zenit Penza)

**21 goals**

* Vyacheslav Khovanskiy (FC Trubnik Kamensk-Uralsky)

**19 goals**

* Andrei Eskov (FC Iskra Engels)

**17 goals**

* Pavel Yumatov (FC Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo)

**16 goals**

* Aleksandr Fedoseyev (FC Zenit Penza)

**15 goals**

* Sergei Sviridkin (FC Gazovik Orenburg)

**14 goals**

* Aleksandr Fyodorov (FC Progress Zelenodolsk)
* Aleksandr Nikulin (FC Neftyanik Pokhvistnevo)
* Yuri Petrov (FC Dynamo Perm)

**13 goals**

* Igor Shiropatin (FC Uralets Nizhny Tagil)
