Korney Shperling, once the president and head coach of Baltika Kaliningrad, has died at 76. Winged by a long career in football leadership, his passing marks a quiet moment of reflection for fans and the wider Russian game. The club and its supporters remembered him with a message of respect, noting that his name is etched in the annals of Kaliningrad football. The tribute concluded with a simple line of sympathy for his family and friends, wishing him eternal memory.
Shperling led Baltika from 1992 to 1993 and later served as club president from 1994 to 1996. During those years, he helped steer the club through a turbulent era marked by the rapid changes in Russian football as the sport reorganized after the Soviet dissolution. His role, though spanning a relatively brief period, is viewed by many as formative in keeping Baltika connected to competitive play and to the city’s football culture.
In a separate announcement, footballer and coach Alexei Lesin died at 30. The causes of death were not disclosed, and the farewell is scheduled for November 12 at the city ritual ceremony in Cheboksary. Lesin’s passing adds to a notable list of former players who left the game early, prompting discussions about the pressures and risks athletes face even after retirement.
Throughout his career, Lesin wore the jerseys of Krylya, Khimik-August, Cheboksary, LAVA, and Bomik, contributing to teams across Russia with consistent play and coaching experience that influenced teammates and younger players.
According to Sergei Lesin, Alexei’s father, his son died on November 6 while preparing for or during travel to a national competition in Sochi. The elder Lesin described his son as moving toward an All-Russian event when tragedy struck along the coastline. An investigation into the death is ongoing, underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are handling the case and the community’s ongoing interest in the circumstances surrounding it.
Earlier, Olympic figure skating champion Oleg Protopopov was reported deceased, marking another moment of mourning in the wider sporting world. These losses reflect the continuous flow of memories and legacies that shape the history of sport in Russia and beyond. (Source attribution: multiple news agencies)