What ever happened to Anzhi Makhachkala?

Ok, so they remain in the Russian Premier League but most football fans will remember the club for their remarkable spending spree between 2011 and 2014.

Backed by the seemingly inexhaustible riches of billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov, the club began their mission to become one of the top clubs in European football.

That was going to be no easy task with Anzhi having a rather humble background and were only founded back in 1991, just one year before the Premier League's inception.

As a result, it would take some serious money to not only secure the appropriate signings but to encourage them to ditch larger European clubs for residence in the Caucasus.

Anzhi's 2011-2014 spending spree

And when you look back at the players they managed to sign, they were pretty successful in their task, even if that didn't translate to performances on the pitch.

In the end, Kerimov became disillusioned by the club's lack of success, cut the club's budgets in half, sparked a mass exodus of players and the side was eventually relegated.

Now that's quite the narrative. So, in recognition of that crazy three-year spell in southern Russia, take a look back on the sixteen players they managed to sign:

Roberto Carlos (Free)

Straight off the bat with an absolute legend, albeit a faded one at the grand age of 37. He would go onto make 25 appearances in Russia, scored four goals and was even gifted a £1.2m Bugatti Veyron by Kerymov when he turned 38.

Mbark Boussoufa (£6.8 million)

A huge statement from Anzhi, Boussoufa joined the club on the back of winning the Belgian Golden Shoe and Belgian Footballer of the Year award. The 34-year-old eventually left after 87 appearances and 13 goals.

Diego Tardelli (£4.25 million)

It certainly takes some nerve to ditch playing with Ronaldinho for southern Russia but that was the decision of Tardelli and he quickly started to regret it. He failed to score in 14 appearances and would become one of many Brazilian footballers to seek their fortune in China.

Jucilei (£8.5 million)

Another player joining Roberto Carlos from Corinthians, the Brazilian was the first big signing of the project and stayed with Anzhi all the way up to their relegation in 2014.

Samuel Eto'o (£22.5 million)

Now this was the headline grabber. Anzhi paid a hearty transfer fee for the fading striker and, remarkably, made him the highest paid footballer in the history of the game. The Cameroonian became club captain, accumulated 73 appearances and scored 36 goals.

Balazs Dzsudzsak (£11.9 million)

A major name in Hungary and signed from none other than PSV Eindhoven, this proved to be a misguided purchase form Anzhi and the player appeared just eight times before leaving.

Yuri Zhirkov (£12.75 million)

A familiar name for Chelsea supporters, Zhirkov was the first Russian that Anzhi invested in during this manic spell of spending. The club arguably got their money's worth with two seasons out of the winger, yet he only provided three goals.

Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez (£4.85 million)

Anzhi enjoyed the football of Boussoufa so much that they signed his compatriot one year later, bringing in Carcela-Gonzalez who would play one full season at the club.

Christopher Samba (£11.9 million)

Samba became a very familiar face for Premier League fans after so many years with Blackburn Rovers and was even linked with Arsenal at one point. He enjoyed a decent spell in Russia with four goals in 39 outings before departing for Queens Park Rangers in 2013.

Vladimir Gabulov (£3.4 million)

Not much to report here, Anzhi wanted a decent goalkeeper and in Gabulov, they bagged themselves a solid number one for two seasons after an initial loan.

Lassana Diarra (£4.25 million)

That's right, Diarra was one of the players to jump on the Anzhi bandwagon having played for Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain throughout his career. The Frenchman didn't stick around, though, and waved goodbye to Russia after 28 appearances.

Oleg Shatov (£2.55 million)

One of the most successful signings of the spending spree despite being one of the least recognisable names, Shatov made a half-century of outings in the playmaker position.

Lacina Traore (£15.3 million)

Remember this guy, Everton fans? The gigantic Ivorian striker made just one appearances for Everton during a loan spell but plied his trade at Anzhi between 2012 and 2014. The striker was decently prolifically at the club and found the net on 19 occasions.

Aleksandr Kokorin (£16.15 million)

A very underrated coup from Anzhi and a player who remains one of the most lethal forwards in the Russian game, but there was a problem. He left before ever pulling on the club jersey.

Willian (£29.75 million)

Perhaps the most eye-catching transfer of the lot, Anzhi bagged themselves a huge name in Willian who would eventually go onto sign for Chelsea. The 30-year-old didn't hang around in Russia, though, leaving after just half a season at the club.

Igor Denisov (£12.75 million)

The final signing of the spending spree, Denisov experienced a similarly wasteful period at the club as his compatriot Kokorin. Anzhi fans only got to see him for three games before he turned his back on the side.

Eto'o, Roberto Carlos, Diarra and Willian, Anzhi signed some big names during that three year spell.

Ultimately, it proved a doomed experiment for the Russian club and supporters will always remember the club for its blindly ambitious plan to take over European football.

Which signing do you think was Anzhi's best? Have your say in the comments section below.