BATE is an acronym ofBorisovAutomobile andTractorElectronics.[4] The team was founded in 1973 and managed to winBelarusian Soviet Socialist Republic league three times (1974, 1976 and 1979) before being disbanded in 1984. The club was re-established by Anatoli Kapski in 1996. Since then, BATE have won theBelarusian Premier League 15 times and competed inUEFA competitions.[5]
In 2001, BATE reached the first round of theUEFA Cup, their first appearance in the competition beyond the qualifying rounds. 2008 saw BATE becoming the first Belarusian team to qualify for thegroup stages of theUEFA Champions League.[6] As of 2015, BATE have played five times in the Champions League group stage, as well as twice in UEFA Europa League group stage, also reaching the knockout phase of the latter competition in2010–11 and2012–13.
BATE won their tenth consecutive league title in2015, with four matches to spare.[8] In the 2017 season, BATE drew an average home league attendance of 5,633, the second-highest in the league.[9]
BATE Borisov is one of the most popular football teams in Belarus. BATE fans have developed a rivalry with the fans ofDinamo Minsk and a friendship with fans of Polish clubPiast Gliwice since 2011.[10]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.