Former Ural football player Alexander Belozerov recalled in an interview how he remembered Grigory Ivanov, the president of the Yekaterinburg club, during his time with the team. The memories shed light on the strong personality that led the club through a turbulent era.
He described Ivanov as a very distinctive figure, a throwback to a rougher, 1990s style of leadership. He could push players to their limits, and sometimes the pressure could feel overwhelming. Yet, after those intense moments on the sideline, Ivanov would turn around with a surprising warmth, asking about a teammate’s wellbeing and suggesting they share a tea together. Belozerov noted that the president expected peak effort from everyone and kept a tight rein over the matchday routine, moving players to various positions and responsibilities when needed.
The recollections continued with a candid note on the post-match atmosphere. Ivanov could be merciless toward the squad, with very few exceptions. The only notable exception was Spartak Gogniev, with whom he had a long-running, often heated conflict. Belozerov emphasized that such clashes were unusual for most Russian players of the time, a sign of the intense, sometimes volatile dynamic that characterized the club’s leadership. At first, the players felt offended, but they gradually adapted to this uncompromising environment and learned how to channel the tension into performance on the field.
Looking back at the first half of the Russian Premier League season, Ural stood in 12th place in the standings with 19 points. The league paused for the winter break, and plans for the restart in March were under discussion. The 19th round was approaching, with Ural set to play an away match against Akhmat Grozny, a fixture that carried both risk and opportunity as teams aimed to climb the table and restore momentum after the break.
Further details from the period note additional coaching perspectives. A former journalist reported that Semak, then associated with Zenit, had reservations about the performance of a Brazilian star on the team. This nuance highlighted the broader tension between expectations and results within the club’s evolving setup, reflecting the high-stakes environment of top-tier Russian football and how leadership decisions intersected with on-field performances. [Source: Sports24]