Oleg Kononov has been named the head coach of Torpedo in Moscow, taking charge after a string of changes that drew attention across Russian football circles. The news was confirmed through the club’s official Telegram channel, with the club outlining the start of a new coaching phase under Kononov’s leadership. The 57-year-old specialist signed a contract that spans two and a half years, signaling a long-term plan for stabilizing the squad and pursuing steady progress in the First League, the country’s second tier. He succeeds Artem Gorlov, who was relieved of his duties in mid-January after a stint that left the club seeking a new direction.
Torpedo currently sits in eighth place in the standings, having collected 27 points after 20 rounds. The team is in a tight race, with a ten-point gap separating the leader, Dynamo, from Makhachkala, underscoring a competitive league environment where every match matters for promotion hopes and top-table positioning.
Kononov’s appointment marks a return to the Russian football scene after a recent period away from the top flight. In January 2023, he parted ways with Arsenal Tula, a club where he had been involved since the summer of 2022. His career prior to that included a brief apprenticeship at Saturn Ramenskoye in 2023, where he assumed the head coaching role in April but left the club by August. This sequence reflects Kononov’s readiness to adapt and take on new challenges across different teams and levels of competition.
Earlier chapters of Kononov’s coaching journey include a tenure with Spartak Moscow from autumn 2018 through autumn 2019. His time at the club remains a touchstone for many fans and observers, with polls at the time sometimes framing his period in charge as controversial. Nevertheless, Kononov’s experience at Spartak contributed to a broader understanding of Russia’s top-tier culture, player development pathways, and the pressures that accompany big clubs. He also spent several seasons with Krasnodar, from 2013 to 2016, where his leadership coincided with a notable achievement in 2015 when Krasnodar secured third place in the Russian Championship, highlighting his ability to guide a team to competitive finishes against established powerhouses.
In the broader conversation about the sport, discussions around spending and resource allocation have periodically surfaced in relation to clubs like Spartak, with public commentary urging prudent financial management and clear strategic aims. Kononov’s career arc, which includes stints at several prominent clubs, reflects the adaptable and often evolving nature of professional football coaching in Russia. His new role at Torpedo is viewed by many as an opportunity to apply experience from both the higher echelons of Russian football and the challenges of mid-table squads, aiming for steady improvement and a stronger presence in the league as the season progresses.
As the season advances, supporters and analysts will be watching closely how Kononov shapes Torpedo’s approach—whether by tightening defensive structure, refining attacking transitions, or rotating squad depth to sustain performance through a demanding schedule. The team’s trajectory in the First League will hinge on collective effort, tactical clarity, and the ability to translate training groundwork into consistent results on match days. The club’s leadership has signaled a commitment to a clear, task-oriented plan that aligns with Kononov’s documented philosophy of working methodically to elevate performance across the squad.[Source: official communications via Club Telegram channel]