Former Lokomotiv vice president Yuri Belous believes it is premature to appoint Dmitry Kombarov as the head coach of Spartak Moscow. He stressed that Kombarov is not yet ready to lead the main squad and that any significant decisions should wait until there is a proven track record of success at a higher level, while noting that betting on the future is not the same as betting on the present.
Belous added that while Kombarov could excel with Spartak’s youth team and demonstrate his leadership there, the path to the first team requires time, consistency, and tangible results. The youth ranks can offer a stage to grow, test ideas, and gain confidence, but the main squad needs performance today.
Asked whether Kombarov could someday coach Spartak’s top team, Belous did not rule it out entirely but emphasized that it would depend on several factors. First, the shareholders would play a decisive role in any long-term appointment. Second, the top team should be judged by results in the present rather than as a projection for the future.
With respect to Kombarov, Belous noted that he remains a Spartak player by history and association, but the immediate priority is to secure positive results across other leagues and competitions. This approach would build the track record needed for any future consideration of taking charge of the main squad.
In January 2024, Kombarov was appointed head coach of the revived Spartak-2. Before that, he led Zvezda St. Petersburg, a team that had competed in the Second League. His appointment marked a new chapter for the organization as it sought to strengthen its development pipeline.
Kombarov comes from a long football lineage connected to Spartak and Dynamo. He came through the Spartak and Dynamo academies, showcasing his talents with the blue-and-white during 2005 to 2010, and then representing the red-and-whites from 2010 to 2019. During his time with Spartak, the club earned the Russian championship in the 2016/17 season, with Kombarov contributing as a key defender on that title-winning squad.
Previously, Abascal had commented on Kombarov’s future at Spartak, underscoring that the decision would hinge on performance, development, and alignment with the club’s broader strategic goals. The conversations around leadership continued as Spartak evaluated how best to translate the youth academy’s potential into sustained success for the first team.