In the Russian-zone play-offs they finished second in the first round and top in the second after defeating Terek Grozny 2–0 in the deciding match, earning promotion to the Soviet First League.

[citation needed] In 1991 the club finished fourth in what was the final season of Soviet football following the USSR's disintegration.

In 2003, they adopted their current name and reached the Russian Cup final for the first time, losing 1–0 to Spartak Moscow.

[citation needed] Rostov won the 2013–14 Russian Cup, defeating FC Krasnodar on penalties 6–5, and earned qualification to the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.

However Rostov were excluded from the competition at the end of May 2014, due to breached financial rules, being replaced by Spartak Moscow.

[4] On 18 December 2014, the official website of FC Rostov announced the appointment of Kurban Berdyev as head coach.

[8] On 9 June 2017, Rostov announced Leonid Kuchuk as their new manager on a one-year contract with the option of an additional year.

In the first match of the 2023-2024 RPL season with Fakel Voronezh, Rostov scored his thousandth goal in the history of the Russian championships, becoming the sixth team to have such an achievement.

[16] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.