Former goalkeeper of Moscow Spartak, Artem Rebrov, shared his recollections in a column for sports.ru about the friction between striker Artem Dzyuba and coach Unai Emery during 2012. The veteran defender explains that Emery’s approach to Dzyuba was tough from the start. Dzyuba wore the number ten jersey at the time, a symbol of responsibility and influence within the team. Emery reportedly emphasized that players who wore that number carried a special burden and were expected to meet high standards. This dynamic clearly weighed on Dzyuba and shaped how the two men interacted on and off the training ground.
Rebrov notes that there wasn’t an outright clash between the two men, but there were definite moments of friction and misunderstandings. The players and coaches at Spartak should have sat down to air grievances and address the issues openly, but such discussions never took place. The unresolved tension culminated in a moment that many still remember as a turning point, with implications that reached beyond the locker room and into the public sphere. Rebrov recounts that he stood nearby when Dzyuba spoke about the coach, and he does not believe there was a hidden plan behind the remarks. Rather, he describes the incident as a painful emotional surge that spilled out in a spontaneous way. The consequence was a public scandal sparked by the word chosen by Dzyuba to refer to his coach.
Emery’s tenure at Spartak was brief, lasting less than half a year. His final match in charge of the red-and-white came against Dinamo Moscow, a game remembered for its lopsided score. After that match, Dzyuba referred to Emery as the coach, signaling a personal and professional rupture that echoed through subsequent seasons.
Following his departure from Spartak, Emery continued his managerial career across Europe. He took the reins at Sevilla, then moved on to Paris Saint-Germain, later London’s Arsenal and Villarreal. Since 2022, he has been at the helm of Aston Villa. During this period, he secured European glory by winning the Europa League multiple times with Sevilla and Villarreal, and he led PSG to domestic triumphs in France and captured national cup prizes on two occasions. His peers recognized him as one of Europe’s top coaches in the 2013–14 season, a nod to his impact across major leagues and competitions.
Previous reports by RB Sport also touched on Spartak’s situation, noting that a captain from the team could be on the verge of moving to a challenger. The broader narrative around Emery and Dzyuba remains a focal point for fans and analysts, illustrating how a single tense moment can reflect a club’s culture, leadership decisions, and the intense pressure that accompanies top-flight football.