2002 was the first season of the Russian Premier League. While the structure of the competition did not change, the top level clubs gained independence from the Professional Football League. Spartak's six-year dominance in the league was broken by Lokomotiv.

Teams

As in the previous season, 16 teams are playing in the 2002 season, with the name of the league changing from the 'Top Division' to the 'Premier League'. After the 2001 season, Fakel Voronezh and Chernomorets Novorossiysk were relegated to the 2002 Russian First Division. They were replaced by Uralan Elista and Shinnik Yaroslavl, the winners and runners up of the 2001 Russian First Division.

Venues

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

Standings

Championship play-off

Results

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Awards

On December 10 Russian Football Union named its list of 33 top players:

Medal squads