Vladislav Radimov, a former player for Zenit and the Russian national team, weighs in on the current Spartak Moscow coaching situation. He suggests that Guillermo Abascal could depart the club during the winter pause, a view he voiced after speaking with contacts in Spain and following coverage in Spanish media.
Radimov stated that Abascal is likely to leave now, noting that his Spanish acquaintances told him the coach has applied for Sevilla’s head coaching position. According to the former player, Sevilla is evaluating three candidates, with Abascal among them. If Sevilla extends an offer, Radimov believes Abascal would move on. In Radimov’s view, strongly favorable to Spartak, another candidate he favors is Alexey Karpin, who he regards as an ideal figure for the club.
Abascal took charge of Spartak ahead of the 2022/23 season and has since extended his contract, accepting a salary increase as the season progressed. Under his leadership, Spartak finished third in the Russian Premier League in the prior campaign, signaling a competitive resurgence for the club.
Spartak is currently mid-season, having played 18 rounds in the Russian Premier League and sitting fifth in the standings with 30 points. The winter break sees Krasnodar leading the table with 38 points, followed by a 1-0 victory over CSKA in the 18th round that tightened the race at the top. Zenit remains in second place, two points behind Krasnodar, while Dinamo sits third with 32 points. The current form highlights the tight margins at the top of the table as clubs prepare for the second half of the season.
Earlier, Abascal publicly addressed the situation, indicating a confidence that he is a suitable coach for Spartak, and suggesting a continued commitment to the club while monitoring opportunities that may arise abroad in the near term.