Moscow veteran CSKA Valery Masalitin commented on Kurban Berdyev’s resignation from the Sochi head coaching position. According to Masalitin, the club had already determined the system Berdyev would implement, so criticism of the team’s performance did not make much sense. He suggested that Berdyev left Sochi because another club made an offer.
“Start with this: inviting Berdyev is not about hiring a rookie coach. It is about finding someone with experience and a clear system. When Berdyev is invited, people know what to expect in terms of football. I read in an interview that some people are unhappy with Berdyev’s football. But did anyone not know what style he would bring? Before inviting, conversations should cover the coach’s football philosophy and the needs in certain positions. In Berdyev, you hire both the coach and his system. It is possible that some supporters or managers simply do not align with that system.” Masalitin noted, highlighting the importance of alignment between the coach and the club.
He added that the quality of play and the chosen system are not indicators of a coach leaving. It seems that external factors influenced the decision, and Berdyev may be moved to another club soon. A release of this kind could become clear within the week, with offers reportedly not being refused. Such a development is consistent with Masalitin’s assessment, and he described Berdyev’s potential next steps as an imminent reassignment according to reports from socialbites.ca.
Berdyev took the helm at Sochi with a 2.5 year contract signed in November 2022. In practice, the tenure lasted just 106 days. During Berdyev’s time, Sochi played five matches, recording three losses and two wins. Following his resignation, Dmitry Khokhlov was appointed as the new head coach for the southern club. Sochi currently sits ninth in the Russian Premier League after 22 rounds, with 31 points.
Dmitry Bulykin, a former striker for the Russian national team, argued that Berdyev was not given enough time to implement his plan and build the team as intended. The situation reflects a broader pattern where clubs pursue a defined system and quickly adjust when results or fit appear misaligned.