Former deputy head coach of the Russian national team, Sergei Balakhnin, believes coach Leonid Slutsky could still find a path back into football. His remarks were shared with Euro-Football.Ru and echoed across sports discussion circles in North America and beyond.
Balakhnin emphasized that current activities surrounding Slutsky are controversial, stating that the landscape at the moment leaves little room for a straight commentary. He described his outlook as balanced, noting that he sees both positive and negative aspects in the present situation and that time will clarify Slutsky’s future in the game.
Balakhnin asserted that Slutsky remains closely tied to football, insisting that the sport is a central part of his life and that a return is not only possible but likely, provided Slutsky is given the opportunity to reengage with the sport on his own terms. He added that Slutsky has not vanished from the public eye; instead, the doorway to a comeback could reopen as circumstances evolve. The statement carried a message of patience and readiness to welcome him back to the football world, when the moment feels right.
In November 2022, Slutsky stepped down from his role as Rubin Kazan’s head coach. Earlier that year, on May 21, 2022, Rubin Kazan lost 1-2 to FC Ufa in the season’s final match of the Russian Premier League. The defeat left Rubin Kazan in 15th place, triggering relegation to the National Football League, the competition previously known as the First Division, where the team had not played since 2002. The season shift marked a turning point in Slutsky’s coaching trajectory and the club’s competitive status, highlighting the volatility that often accompanies professional football leadership changes.
Since those events, Slutsky has appeared as a guest on various programs, engaging in discussions about football, leadership, and the broader landscape of Russian and international sport. His appearances have kept him in the public eye and provided a platform to articulate his views on the game, training, and team dynamics, while fans and pundits alike watch for signs of a potential return to coaching roles.
Former football administrator Andrey Chervichenko has weighed in on Slutsky’s employment situation, suggesting that the coach may be facing challenges in securing new positions. These assessments reflect ongoing scrutiny of Slutsky’s career, as well as the high expectations that accompany coaches who have previously led top clubs. In the current climate, the conversation remains open about whether Slutsky will reemerge as a head coach or take on different responsibilities within the sport, such as consultancy, youth development, or media work, should the right opportunity arise.