Krasnodar names Murad Musaev as head coach and outlines a contract through 2023/24
Krasnodar has announced the appointment of Murad Musaev as the head coach of the club. The agreement is set to run through the end of the 2023/24 season, marking a renewed leadership period for the team.
Musaev, a Krasnodar native, has a long association with the club, having worked within the academy and various youth teams since 2005. He previously led Krasnodar’s first team in 2020 and has remained closely tied to the club’s system. After departing Krasnodar in 2021, Musaev expressed an openness to continuing within the organization in a different capacity. In parallel, he has been in charge of Azerbaijan’s Sabah from 2021 to 2024, adding international experience to his coaching résumé.
On March 13, Krasnodar confirmed the resignation of Vladimir Ivich from the head coaching role. The team had faced a defeat the previous day in the Russian Cup, losing 0 to 2 against First League side Khimki.
The Serbian coach who previously led the team took charge in January 2023. Under his guidance, Krasnodar finished sixth in the Russian Championship in the most recent season and reached the National Cup final, where they were edged out by CSKA in a penalty shootout.
In the current campaign, Krasnodar sits second in the Russian Premier League with a tally of 39 points, just one point behind the leaders. In the forthcoming round, the club will play Lokomotiv, a team that occupies the fifth position with 32 points, in a crucial showdown for league positioning.
Earlier in 2024, Krasnodar faced questions about the slow start to the season, with discussions focusing on the factors contributing to the early results and the steps being taken to restore momentum. The club’s leadership underlined a commitment to stability and development within the squad while ensuring competitive performance across domestic competitions. Insights from club insiders and observers emphasize the importance of tactical consistency, player development, and strategic recruitment in shaping the season’s trajectory. The broader context of Russian football, including the transitional nature of several squads and the competitive landscape, adds complexity to the evaluation of Krasnodar’s early-year form, though supporters remain hopeful about improvements as the season progresses.