Kuban names Alexander Grigoryan head coach for the current season
Kuban, a First Division club, has appointed Alexander Grigoryan as the new head coach. The official announcement confirms that the 56-year-old specialist from Krasnodar will guide the team through the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign. Grigoryan is set to begin work with the squad on May 17, aligning his plans with the club’s immediate aims and broader strategic vision for the coming seasons.
Assisting Grigoryan in the dugout will be a trio of coaches: Evgeny Varlamov, Khasan Mamtov, and Yuri Shishkin. Each brings a distinct facet of experience to the technical staff, contributing to a coordinated approach as Kuban navigates a demanding run of fixtures. The responsibility on the coaching staff is clear as the team pursues stability and a route to earning valuable points in a tightly contested league schedule.
Grigoryan’s arrival follows the departure of former head coach Andrey Sosnitsky, whose tenure ended after a 0-1 home defeat to Dynamo Makhachkala. The transition aims to inject fresh tactical ideas and renewed momentum at a crucial phase of the season. The decision underscores the club’s resolve to optimize every remaining match in pursuit of their season goals.
There is speculation in sports coverage around Kuban that if Grigoryan can sustain top-division potential through the campaign, the club may consider extending his contract for another year. This sentiment reflects Kuban’s interest in continuity should the squad solidify its position in the division and demonstrate steady progress under new leadership.
With three rounds left to play, Kuban sits 15th in the First League standings with 33 points. The remaining schedule pits them against Rodina Moscow, Yenisei Krasnoyarsk, and Ufa, teams that are also jockeying for favorable positions or survival. Each fixture holds significance as Kuban works to optimize goal difference, defend home results, and maximize away performance in a bid for a more secure standing as the season winds down.
The broader landscape for teams aiming for promotion or continued participation in higher tiers is shaped by licensing rules set by the Russian Football Union. As the season advances, the RFU requires that four First Division clubs may qualify for promotion playoffs and must secure the appropriate licensing to move up to the Russian Premier League. This licensing process adds an administrative layer to on-field efforts, ensuring that clubs meet criteria beyond league position alone. The interplay between performance, licensing, and financial or infrastructural readiness remains a central theme for Kuban and its competitors as they move toward season-end conclusions and the planning of next steps for 2023/24. Credit: RFU announcements and periodic sports briefings.