Dmitry Balashov is set to assume the role of director at Lokomotiv Moscow’s academy, a development confirmed by Legalbet. Balashov’s trajectory within Russian football has been marked by leadership roles across several prominent clubs, bringing a wealth of experience to Lokomotiv’s youth system. Previously, he served as a team manager at Lokomotiv, where he helped shape training regimens and player development pathways. His managerial career also included a similar post at Dynamo Moscow, underlining his reputation for organization, talent cultivation, and strategic oversight. In addition to these responsibilities, Balashov held executive positions as general manager at Khimki and Arsenal Tula, further broadening his perspective on club operations, scouting networks, and youth-to-senior transition processes. These experiences collectively position him to drive the academy’s growth and ensure a steady pipeline of homegrown talent for Lokomotiv’s first team.
Lokomotiv’s youth sides have already demonstrated strength, with the junior squad clinching the Youth Championship title in the previous season. That success underscores the club’s commitment to developing young players and integrating them into top-tier competition, a philosophy Balashov is now expected to reinforce from the academy level upward.
On Friday, December 1, Lokomotiv announced the resignation of Alexei Shchigolev from the academy director post. The transition comes at a moment when the club remains focused on strengthening its developmental framework and aligning youth development with the club’s broader competitive ambitions in domestic leagues.
In the Russian Premier League (RPL), Lokomotiv stood with 25 points after the 16th round, sharing sixth place alongside CSKA Moscow and Rubin Kazan. The upcoming fixture on December 3 pitted the club against Zenit, a match that carries significance for clubs in the upper half of the table as the season progresses toward the final stretch.
Meanwhile, Krasnodar, after 16 rounds, accumulated 32 points and moved from first to second place in the standings following a 3-1 defeat to Ural. Zenit extended its lead with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sochi, keeping them firmly at the summit. Dynamo Moscow remained in the top tier of the table as well, having defeated CSKA in a tight 3-2 contest, highlighting the competitive depth of the league and the ongoing race for European qualification spots.
A former Russian player, previously associated with Spartak Moscow, has also been linked with a foreign club, signaling ongoing international interest in Russian talent and coaching staff as the league continues to evolve and attract attention from clubs abroad. This broader context emphasizes why leadership changes at academies like Lokomotiv’s academy are watched closely by fans, analysts, and the broader football community.