In the opening round of the Chinese championship, Shanghai Shenhua secured a 2-0 victory over Meizhou Hakka. The match showcased the strategic acumen of head coach Leonid Slutsky, the Russian manager who has been guiding Shenhua since December 2023. The win added an early highlight to Shenhua’s campaign as they look to build momentum under his leadership, with a decisive performance that set the tone for their season. One of the standout performers was Andre Luiz, the Brazilian forward who struck twice to seal the result and demonstrate the team’s attacking potential in front of the home crowd.
Looking ahead to the second round, Shanghai Shenhua is scheduled to face Qingdao Hainiu on March 8. The fixture is set to kick off at 15:00 Moscow time, and fans will be eager to see how Shenhua translates their initial win into continued form as the league progresses. The scheduling details reflect the cross-time-zone nature of the competition and the global interest surrounding Shenhua’s campaign in China’s top flight.
Leonid Slutsky’s tenure at Shenhua began in December 2023, marking a new chapter after a long stint in European football. Prior to moving to China, Slutsky’s most recent position was with Rubin Kazan, a club with a storied history in Russian football. During the 2021/22 season, Rubin Kazan faced a challenging campaign, finishing near the bottom of the Russian Premier League and ultimately facing relegation to the First League. This background provides context for Slutsky’s experience in rebuilding teams and striving for improvement in demanding environments.
Slutsky is widely recognized for his previous successes with CSKA Moscow, where he guided the club to multiple domestic triumphs. Under his leadership, CSKA Moscow captured the Russian Premier League title on three occasions and also claimed the domestic Cup and the Super Cup on two occasions, underscoring his capability to lead teams to silverware and sustain high performance across seasons.
On the international stage, Slutsky led the Russian national team from 2015 to 2016. During his tenure, the national squad competed in major tournaments, including the European Championship in 2016, where the team finished fourth in its group. After that tournament, Slutsky stepped away from the role, having left a mark on Russia’s footballing landscape with his distinct tactical approach and professional demeanor on the sideline.
In the broader narrative surrounding Slutsky’s career, Artem Dzyuba’s reaction to Slutsky’s early successes in China added a human element to the story. The enthusiasm and optimism around Slutsky’s first victory in the Chinese league contributed to the growing belief that his experience could translate into tangible results for Shenhua as the season unfolds. The coach’s journey—from Russia to China and into a high-stakes domestic league—highlights the global nature of football coaching today and the diverse paths coaches take to influence teams far from their homeland.