Maximov joins renamed Rostov

Ukrainian midfield player Yuri Maximov has signed for newly renamed Russian side FC Rostov.

Timely replacement
The 34-year-old has joined from German 2. Bundesliga side SV Waldhof Mannheim as a replacement for Rostov's only major loss of the winter - midfield player Maxim Demenko, who signed for FC Spartak Moskva after the end of the 2002 season.

Ukrainian great
Maximov is one of the best Ukrainian players of the 1990s, having played for FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, FC Dynamo Kyiv, SV Werder Bremen and Waldhof in the course of a long and illustrous careeer. He has also won 27 caps for Ukraine, scoring five times.

New identity
The signing of Maximov is one of Rostov's first significant acts since officially changing their name from FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu. The midfield player was presented to supporters at a ceremony to commemorate the club's name change and new logo.

'Winning tradition'
"We are going to return Rostov to the best days of glory and we are hoping to rekindle the winning tradition of the town," said Maximov. "The new name just underlines the fact that the football club is a symbol of this city."