20 Surprising Facts That May Change Your Mind About Evil Dictators

15. Leonid Brezhnev Was A Huge Spartak Moscow Fan And Regularly Attended Matches

Soviet leaders seemingly needed to find a way in which they could take their minds off the brutal manner in which they ruled the USSR - and for Leonid Brezhnev, that was through football. Brezhnev was a huge Spartak Moscow fan and would regularly attend their matches, even wearing the club's official merchandise in order to show his support. Although early in his reign the club remained a force in the Russian league, by 1976 they were relegated. Yet Brezhnev did get to see his beloved club win the league title once again before he died, as Spartak stormed the competition in 1979.