end of an era
Spartak’s recent Russian Cup triumph followed by a tense 2:1 final against Dynamo crowded the headlines, but the moment that solidified the end of an era came when Daniil Fomin sent the ball into the stands from the penalty spot during the pause. The clash kept fans breathless until the final whistle, and the drama lingered long after the referee’s whistle faded.
Even as the match unfolded, insider Ivan Karpov hinted that Leonid Fedun, the longtime owner who has steered the club through two decades of ups and downs, would step back from day-to-day management. Later, this potential shift was echoed by sports outlets, though no official confirmation had appeared at that stage.
Reports suggested Fedun would retain a minority stake while partners Vagit Alekperov and Alexander Matytsin would sell their holdings to Lukoil, the oil giant in which Fedun serves as a vice president. If realized, Lukoil would assume the controlling role in steering Spartak’s future. In the wake of the Cup final, Fedun acknowledged that the circle of decision making around the club had effectively closed for him and that the fate of head coach Paolo Vanoli would be decided by others.
“What is the state of the game and the entire season? The results were tense and refereeing was imperfect at crucial moments. Does anyone care about the penalty call? The outcome remains a victory worth celebrating, even with controversial calls,” the owner observed. Will Vanoli stay on? That question does not rest with me. I joined Spartak after lifting the trophy in 2003, closing a personal loop of involvement,” he added.
uncertain future
Speculation about Fedun’s departure had circulated since April, with periodic denials from the businessman or the club’s communications team. Yet the financial crisis intensified pressures on Spartak, raising questions about the ownership structure and strategic direction. The owner publicly referenced mounting financial strain, and многие sources confirmed that the second, historically strong Spartak reserve team based in Olympus FNL faced dissolution following this season, reflected by a seventh-place finish in the current campaign.
There were also rumors that portions of the club academy in Sokolniki could be sold for housing development, leaving the institution with limited capacity to train young players. The leadership changes, the future of Paolo Vanoli, and the fate of several legionnaires remained open questions. What transfers might occur, and who would stay to carry Spartak forward into another era? By Russian standards, Spartak is unlikely to loosen its core too quickly. The club has built a solid sporting foundation and aims to stay competitive on the domestic stage.
On the international scene, Russian football faced a period of limited representation, a reality that underscored the need for thoughtful decisions off the field. With such a series of developments, Zarema Salikhova, a close partner of Fedun, was expected to shift her position as the club’s leadership evolved. The last year had already seen Spartak consolidate control over significant and operational decisions, signaling a pivotal moment in its governance.
“We don’t know who’s coming”
Commentators admitted that this moment was difficult to assess. The question now is who will enter the division as a new leader and what the long-term direction will be. Some suggested that Fedun might remain involved, while Lukoil could take the reins at the top. Time would tell how the transition would unfold. Memories of earlier eras—such as the period when Smorodskaya led Lokomotiv—were cited to illustrate how a skeptical start could still end in triumph, as the team went on to win championships and cups.
If Fedun retained a voice within the club, he would likely appoint a trusted lieutenant to oversee day-to-day operations. Yet the broader issue remained clear: Spartak faced undeniable structural challenges. If everything appeared settled, the second team might not have faced closure. Legendary figures such as Alexander Mostovoy weighed in, noting that the future could swing either way depending on who took charge and what ambitions drove the squad.
“The team is at a crossroads. Fedun led for nearly 20 years and secured one trophy after another. If future seasons bring more championships, people will say the club has improved. If they fall short, the critique will grow louder,” Mostovoy reflected. The uncertainty extended to the coaching chair, the composition of the squad, and the next wave of reinforcements. The sentiment persisted: nobody can predict the exact direction, but the shared relief at winning the trophy lingered—along with a reminder that a single triumph does not instantly erase a long history of near misses.
The sense of transition was clear. Spartak’s supporters, players, and executives faced a period of realignment as leadership slowly shifted and the club prepared for a new chapter. In this moment, the emphasis shifted from a solitary victory to the larger question of how the club would sustain its legacy in a changing landscape of Russian football, competition at home, and a broader recalibration of ownership and strategy.