Marcel Licka, the head coach of Dinamo Moscow, has been named the best manager in the Russian Premier League for the season. The announcement came during the annual RPL Heroes ceremony, recognizing his leadership and the club’s achievement of finishing in third place by season’s end.
The Czech tactician received the Licka Award from Italian manager Massimo Carrera, who steered Spartak Moscow to the league title in 2017. Carrera’s gesture underlined the respect Licka earned from peers and rivals alike for guiding Dinamo to a podium finish amid a competitive campaign.
In the 30th round clash, Krasnodar edged past Dynamo with a 1-0 victory. The two teams ended the season level on 56 points, but Krasnodar held an advantage in direct head-to-head results, having won two matches against Dynamo during the campaign. As a result, Krasnodar finished second while Dynamo Moscow claimed bronze in the standings. A draw in the capital club’s final match would have been enough to clinch the same outcome, highlighting the tense late-season race.
Meanwhile, Zenit Saint Petersburg clinched the Russian championship for the sixth consecutive time by beating Rostov 2-1 in the final round. Sergei Semak’s squad finished one point clear of their closest rivals, sealing an era of domestic dominance and reinforcing the league’s current competitive balance among top clubs.
The season also featured recognition for the league’s standout goalkeeper, whose name has become a familiar part of this year’s RPL narrative. The awards ceremony celebrated individual brilliance alongside team success, illustrating the depth of talent across Russian football. [Cited: RPL]