The Dynamo Moscow defender Dmitry Skopintsev spoke about the positives surrounding the club during Slavisa Jokanovic’s tenure as head coach. He highlighted memorable moments in Cup ties where the team defeated Lokomotiv, Spartak, CSKA, and Zenit, noting that such a run of success against major rivals stood out in the club’s recent history. Skopintsev recalled the question many fans asked about when the team had beaten four giants under a single coach, emphasizing those episodes as concrete proof of how the squad performed at its best during that period, according to Championship.com.
Following Jokanovic’s departure, a rift surfaced when goalkeeper Igor Leshchuk criticized the former coach. Leshchuk described Dynamo’s football under the Serbian manager as dull and faceless and mentioned that the manager did not bid farewell to the players in person after resigning. The comments reflected a divided view within the squad about the end of the era and the style of play that had defined the team in that phase, as reported by Championship.com.
On 19 May, Dynamo Moscow announced the early termination of Jokanovic’s contract. The decision came after a 0-3 defeat to Akhmat Grozny in the 27th round of the Russian Premier League, which sealed the coach’s exit from the main team. Jokanovic had taken charge partway through the previous season and had signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional season, a detail that framed the transition as part of a larger restructuring within the club, as noted in coverage by Championship.com.
Former Dynamo board member Dmitry Gafin weighed in on the dismissal, pointing out that Jokanovic did not say goodbye to the players after his departure. The remark underscored the abrupt nature of the parting and the sense of unfinished business among the squad during that period, as observed by Championship.com.