St Petersburg Zenit board member Andrei Arshavin believes Krasnodar can stabilize the situation without Vladimir Ivic stepping down as head coach, according to RBC.
The resignation caught many by surprise. Krasnodar sits just one point behind the league leaders, so a single point difference is not insurmountable. With a few positive results, the club could regain its momentum and move back toward the top. Arshavin suggested that Sergei Nikolaevich could be prepared to persevere if the title could still be brought home at season’s end, a sentiment he shared while addressing supporters and stakeholders following the news.
On March 13, the club announced the departure of Vladimir Ivic from his role as head coach. The announcement followed a 0-2 defeat to Khimki in a Russian Cup match played the previous day, a setback that typically accelerates managerial debates among fans and officials alike.
Vladimir Ivic, a Serbian tactician, had led Krasnodar since January 2023. Under his direction, the team finished sixth in last season’s Russian Premier League and made it to the National Cup final, where they were edged out by CSKA in a penalty shootout. Those performances established Krasnodar as a competitive side in the domestic scene and set expectations high for this campaign.
As the current season progresses, Krasnodar remains a strong contender in the Russian Premier League. They sit in second place with 39 points, tight on the heels of the league leaders who hold one more point. In the upcoming round, Krasnodar is slated to meet Lokomotiv, a team positioned fifth with 32 points, a clash that could prove pivotal for both squads as the season unfolds.
Earlier in the year, opinions within the football community were divided on Ivic’s appointment. Davydov, a former Spartak player, voiced opposition to Ivic’s selection as coach, reflecting the broader debates that often accompany coaching changes at this level of competition. The situation in Krasnodar demonstrates how a single season can pivot on critical results, leadership decisions, and the ability of a team to stay cohesive under pressure.