Moscow Spartak defender and captain Georgy Jikia expressed his disappointment over the departure of the team’s former head coach Paolo Vanoli from the capital club. The remarks were reported by Sport Express.
Speaking about the moment they said goodbye at a Moscow banquet celebrating the Cup victory, Jikia noted that his disappointment stemmed from a sense that Vanoli would not stay. He recalled how the coach’s responses about the future were scarce, and he observed that Vanoli later traveled back to Moscow without meeting many people from the club. Jikia emphasized that he did not contact anyone and did not even stop by the team in the weeks that followed. These comments reflect the uneasy atmosphere surrounding the transition at Spartak during that period.
Vanoli had been at Spartak since December 2021. In the most recent Russian Premier League season, Spartak finished in tenth place, while also lifting the Russian Cup. That trophy added to the club’s historical success, marking the fourth time Spartak claimed the Cup in the club’s history after wins in 1994, 1998, 2003, and 2022. The red-and-white club has a storied tradition of cup triumphs spanning several decades, a point that fans and observers often reference when discussing the club’s legacy and expectations.
Following Vanoli’s departure, Guillermo Abascal was appointed as the new head coach, signaling a shift in leadership and a strategic reorientation for the team. Spartak’s supporters and insiders have paid close attention to how this change would influence the squad’s dynamics, preparation, and performance in upcoming competitions. The transition period, marked by debates among fans and pundits, underscored the club’s ongoing pursuit of stability and competitive success within Russian football.
Among Spartak’s supporters, former world-class tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov has expressed his views on the coaching transition, noting support for Abascal as the team’s new coach and emphasizing the importance of unity within the club as it moves forward. This sentiment reflects the broader fan culture surrounding Spartak, where figures from various sports weigh in on leadership decisions and the club’s direction.
In sum, the club’s recent coaching change, the Cup win in the most recent season, and the reactions from players and fans together form a narrative about Spartak’s enduring drive to compete at a high level while navigating leadership shifts.