Valery Karpin, the head coach of Rostov and the national team of Russia, shared a fresh photo on social media that drew attention across football circles. In the image, the 52-year-old tactician is pictured in a restaurant setting, accompanied by his two daughters, a moment he captioned to celebrate family time. The post carried the simple note that finally his daughters were together with their father, a sentiment that resonated with fans who follow his career beyond the touchline.
The season had already seen tough moments on the field. After a 0:2 loss to CSKA in the seventeenth round of the domestic championship, Karpin did not mince words, voicing strong criticism about the decision to stage the match in heavy snowfall. The contest featured weather conditions that forced snow to be cleared from the pitch in the middle of play, a scenario that sparked debate over scheduling and safety. Following the match, Karpin faced a two-match suspension, with one of those matches counted as a punishment for a prior disciplinary issue. The episode underscored how coaches weigh terrain, weather, and scheduling when preparing squads for high-stakes competition.
Looking back at recent history, the footballing landscape shifted dramatically in early 2022 when the International Federation of Football Associations and the Union of European Football Associations jointly suspended Russia from all competitions under their purview. This disruption affected the national team and club programs alike, prompting teams and players to adapt to a new rhythm on the international stage while domestic leagues navigated a period of transition and recalibration.
Turning to the subsequent year, Russia faced a mixed set of results on the international scene. In 2023, Karpin’s team had draws against Iran and Qatar, both finishing 1:1, and a 2:2 result with Kenya. They managed to secure victories against Iraq with a 2:0 scoreline and against Cameroon with a narrow 1:0 win. A strong performance also came in a match against Cuba, where the team delivered an 8:0 triumph that stood out for its offensive efficiency. These results reflected the ongoing effort to rebuild and refine tactical plans in a period of shifting international assignments and competitive formats.
In September, the Russian under-23 side engaged in two friendly matches with the Egyptian Olympic team, ending 1:1 and 1:2 in the two fixtures. Plans for a summer gathering did not materialize, as the usual training camp schedule faced changes and constraints that affected preparation for forthcoming fixtures and tournaments. Amid these developments, news about player movements continued to surface, including talk about Willian Rocha, a defender formerly with CSKA, with rumors linking him to the Turkish club Trabzonspor as a potential next step in his career. Such transfer chatter highlights the ongoing mobility of players as teams seek to reinforce squads across European leagues.