Anzor Kavazashvili, the former goalkeeper of Moscow Spartak and a member of the USSR national team, recently shared his thoughts on the future of Alexander Kokorin, the Cypriot club Aris striker. He spoke candidly about Kokorin’s prospects and his potential return to Russia, offering his perspective in an interview with Euro-Football.Ru. Kavazashvili did not shy away from addressing the realities of modern football and the physical demands that come with age and high-level competition.
The pundit pointed out that Kokorin faces a challenging climatic and league-specific environment in Cyprus that may not allow him to replicate the peak form he showed in his younger years. Yet he stressed a fundamental belief: Kokorin possesses a technique refined over years of training and a knack for finding the back of the net. According to Kavazashvili, those core abilities will endure beyond the wear of time, and with the right setting, Kokorin can still make a meaningful impact on the field.
Kavazashvili expressed a desire to see Kokorin use Cyprus as a springboard toward a triumphant return to Russian football. He drew a parallel with Artem Dzyuba, another Russian striker who took a detour abroad, only to realize that finishing stages of a career are often most fulfilling when showcased at home. The veteran commentator cited Dzyuba as evidence that talent can endure and still resonate with domestic fans when given the chance to prove itself in a familiar league.
Aris appointed Kokorin on September 5, marking a new chapter in the player’s varied career path. In the previous season, Fiorentina had loaned the 32-year-old striker to the Cypriot club for a year. During that spell, Kokorin appeared in twenty-seven league fixtures and found the net eleven times, contributing to Aris’s respectable championship challenge. His goals helped the team claim a league title, and his performances were recognized with an individual award, underscoring his continued value on the field even as he moved between leagues. This period demonstrated Kokorin’s resilience and his ability to adapt to different styles of play in Europe.
Looking back at Kokorin’s club history, the striker departed Spartak Moscow in 2021 to join Fiorentina in Italy. His journey after leaving Russia has included stints with various clubs, highlighting a career marked by both promise and adaptability. In Russia, Kokorin became known for his time with top clubs such as Zenit Saint Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow, Sochi, and Anzhi Makhachkala, where he demonstrated scoring prowess and a capacity to influence games. The arc of his career reflects a player who has experienced the high peaks of domestic success and the broader challenges of international football, sustaining relevance through ongoing competition and personal evolution.
In a lighter moment connected to Kokorin’s public image, a former Spartak president offered a tongue-in-cheek remark about the player’s potential. The joke, while casual, underscored the enduring fascination surrounding Kokorin within Russian football circles and among fans who remember his earlier impact. It also highlighted how legends and former clubs continue to weigh in on the narratives surrounding players who have left their original teams, shaping perceptions about what the future might hold for them.
Overall, Kavazashvili’s remarks emphasize that Kokorin’s skill set remains a valuable asset, even if the immediate conditions of a league or country differ from those in which he previously thrived. The message is clear: with the right environment and continued dedication, Kokorin could still reclaim a prominent role in Russian football, inspiring younger players and reaffirming his reputation as a technically gifted forward. Though age and circumstances impose certain limits, the core talent that defined his early career persists, offering a pathway back to the domestic stage for a player who has left a lasting imprint on Russian football and its supporters. The discussion, reported by Euro-Football.Ru, invites fans to watch Kokorin’s next moves with interest, as he navigates the next chapter of a career that has already proven both dynamic and enduring.