In 1990, when perestroika policies allowed the creation of private enterprises in the Soviet Union, the club was purchased by an Iraqi businessman Hussam Al-Khalidi who renamed the club to Asmaral (after the initials of his three children – daughters Asil and Mariam and son Alan). It was the first privately owned club in Russia. Al-Khalidi hired an acclaimed coach Konstantin Beskov and a former Spartak Moscow star Yuri Gavrilov.[1] After the 1991 season, the club was promoted to the second-tier Soviet First League.