Former Russia national team star and Zenit St. Petersburg alumnus Andrei Arshavin appeared on the program After Football with Georgy Cherdantsev on Match TV. In the broadcast, he clearly named Valery Karpin as the preferred choice for Spartak Moscow’s head coach, signaling that Karpin should take the helm ahead of Stanislav Cherchesov, who previously led the national team. The conversation framed a potential leadership shift at Spartak around these two prominent figures, with Arshavin underscoring his confidence in their qualifications.
Cherchesov joined the discussion as a guest in the studio, contributing to a lively exchange about the club’s coaching possibilities. The atmosphere reflected a wider debate among analysts and fans about who is best suited to guide Spartak through a demanding period in Russian football.
Arshavin’s assessment was unambiguous. He stated that he fully agrees with placing both men in contention, adding that if pressed to choose, Stanislav Salamovich would only be a step behind Valery Georgievich in his estimation. The remark captured a candid preference for Karpin, while also signaling respect for Cherchesov’s experience and track record in similar roles.
As discussions continued, Karpin and Cherchesov emerged as the two most frequently named candidates for Spartak Moscow’s head coach position. The debate highlighted how the club’s leadership landscape could shift in response to the upcoming match schedule and the team’s performance in recent weeks.
Earlier in April, Spartak made a decisive move, dismissing Guillermo Abascal from his duties as head coach on April 14. Under his leadership, the club had struggled to secure positive results following the league’s restart, managing only a single victory across five league matches. In the wake of this decision, Vladimir Sliskovic stepped in as acting head coach to steady the ship and organize the squad for the next challenges.
On April 21, Spartak delivered a commanding away performance against Rostov, triumphing 5-1 in the Russian Premier League. The goals came from Daniil Khlusevich, Jesus Medina who scored twice, Christopher Martins, and Theo Bongonda. The result not only boosted Spartak’s confidence but also had a meaningful impact on the club’s standing in the table.
With that victory, Spartak accumulated 38 points and closed the gap to Lokomotiv, moving into fourth place in the standings. The momentum set the stage for a highly anticipated clash against CSKA Moscow, a postponed fixture that would offer a critical test of the club’s direction and the effectiveness of the new coaching discussions underway. The team’s trajectory in the league remained a central talking point for fans and analysts alike as the season progressed.
Looking back at the decision to part ways with Abascal, many pundits weighed the timing and the implications for Spartak’s strategic plan. The transition period underscored the pressure on the club’s management to align coaching aspirations with long-term ambitions, while ensuring stability on the field and continuity in performance. The discussions around Karpin and Cherchesov reflected a broader conversation about how experience, leadership style, and tactical philosophy intersect to determine the right fit for a club of Spartak’s stature.