The list of candidates for Zenit coaches is not final
Monday's guide St. Petersburg club has reduced the shortlist of candidates for the vacant post of head coach after the resignation of Roberto Mancini from five to three. But who was eliminated? And is the list of potential successors of the Italian limited to the initially announced surnames?
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Zenit itself, we recall, on the eve of the meeting of the board of directors at the Gazprom office, named Sergei Semak, Maurizio Sarri, Paulo Fonseca, Marcelo Gagliardo and Jorge Sampaoli as candidates. The club even held a fan vote on social networks to find out which head coach people prefer. According to the results of the survey, “our own” Semak, as expected, won (63.8 percent of the votes). Next were the Italian Sarri (19.8), the Portuguese Fonseca (6.4), the Argentines Sampaoli (6.1) and Gallardo (3.9). And after the board of directors, at which Semak was present and Zenit President Sergei Fursenko was sharply criticized by Alexey Miller, information was received about the elimination of two participants from the “race”. True, without indicating last names.
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Until the final decision has been made, it’s time to start a guessing game: who was crossed out and who is still being considered. But how to compare specialists so different in age, experience, number of titles and transfer requests? The Zenit shortlist again gave an outside observer the feeling of the absence of a clear medium-term strategy. In recent years, every off-season it has been formed in a hurry, under the chosen coach, and not vice versa, as it should be. And each time it was easily abandoned in order to clear away the rubble again after the next resignation. In such conditions, participants in the struggle for the position of head coach of Zenit were usually measured by pomp or popularity, and not by the number of professional merits within the framework of criteria clearly formulated by management.
And yet the situation at Zenit is changing. Conversations with people who are in close cooperation with the club convince us that they do not intend to step on the old rake in St. Petersburg. A general line was drawn at the board of directors: first, decide on the principles of development for the next few years - and then choose a coach based on them.
The main rule of the new Zenit is to spend less and earn more. From this point of view, Semak is an ideal candidate. It is obvious that the salary of the head coach of Ufa will be at least five times less than what Sarri or Fonseca will agree to. Conditions like “I’m waiting for goalscorers, which means dear strikers“Semak, answering questions from Gazprom bosses, clearly did not put forward any proposals. And Sergei Bogdanovich has a second powerful trump card. In the summer, not only Artem Dzyuba and Oleg Shatov will return to Zenit from loan, but also a dozen more players (Robert Mack, Ibragim Tsallagov, Ernani, and so on). Semak knows all of them very well from working on the coaching staffs of Luciano Spalletti and Andre Villas-Boas. This means that it will be easier for him to put together a combat-ready team from the available resources.
SEMAC, EXPANSION AND LAWYER
Therefore, those who do not believe in the 42-year-old Russian coach only on the basis that Zenit is not an experimental testing ground are wrong. The situation has changed radically. As part of the new development concept, it was more of an experiment (and a daring one at that) to spend nearly 100 million euros and distribute 17 people on loan for the sake of fifth place and a third consecutive miss from the Champions League. It turns out that Semak can be congratulated in advance on his appointment? Still no.
The experience of cooperation with Vlstimil Petrzhela should be considered successful: from that moment until the present time, the club invites specialists from abroad to work (exceptions are Anatoly Davydov and Sergey Semak, who worked with the prefix “acting” for several matches in 2009 and 2014, respectively *). It is curious that if at first each new foreign specialist worked almost as much and even longer than his predecessor, then recently foreign coaches do not stay at Zenit for long. Vlastimil Petrzela and Dick Advocaat worked for more than three years, Luciano Spalletti - almost four years, Andre Villas-Boas lasted for two years, and Mircea Lucescu and (most likely) Roberto Mancini had a “shelf life” of only a season. During our work, in this case, we take the period from the first to the last official match at the head of Zenit.
If Mancini leaves Zenit at the end of the 2017/18 season, he will become the first foreign coach in history who failed to win a single title with the blue-white-blues.
* - at the end of the 2009 season, Davydov was approved as head coach; after the 30th round he left his post.
Vlastimil Petrzela (Czech Republic): 3 years, a month and 18 days
Statistics in all tournaments: 145 matches +73 =41 -31; balls 245-151; 59.7% points
Titles: Premier League Cup (2003)
Dick Advocate (Holland): 3 years, a month and 3 days
Statistics in all tournaments: 139 matches +68 =42 -29; balls 234-143; 58.9% points
Titles: champion of Russia (2007); Russian Super Cup (2008); UEFA Cup (2007/08); UEFA Super Cup (2008)
Luciano Spalletti (Italy): 3 years, 11 months and 24 days
Statistics in all tournaments: 184 matches +105 =47 -32; balls 325-176; 65.5% of points (including two technical defeats in the Czech Republic)
Titles: champion of Russia (2010, 2011/12); Russian Cup (2009/10); Russian Super Cup (2011)
Andre Villas-Boas (Portugal): 2 years, a month and 27 days
Statistics in all tournaments: 101 matches +62 =20 -19; balls 195-88; 67.9% points
Titles: champion of Russia (2014/15); Russian Cup (2015/16); Russian Super Cup (2015)
Mircea Lucescu (Romania): 9 months and 28 days
Statistics in all tournaments: 41 matches +26 =7 -8; balls 76-34; 71.9% points
Titles: Russian Super Cup (2017)
Roberto Mancini (Italy): 9 months and 17 days (as of today)
Statistics in all tournaments: 43 matches +21 =13 -9; balls 68-34; 58.9% points
Titles: -
Photos used: FC Zenit; “Sport Day by Day” (Igor Ozersky)
Dmitry ZELENOV
"Zenith" was the most principled and consistent supporter of the course towards foreign coaches. St. Petersburg actually set this trend by inviting a Czech in November 2002 Vlastimila Petrzelou.
Over the next 15 years, Zenit was led by the Dutchman Advocate, Portuguese Villas-Boas, Romanian Lucescu, Italians Spalletti And Mancini. The approach did not change even in short periods Anatolia Davydova in 2009 and the same Semaka in 2014. They were not going to cooperate with them for long. The first one held his place while we negotiated with Spalletti, the second acted until the official signing Villas-Boas. “Zenit” and a high-status foreign coach seemed to be inextricable concepts.
And why would they abandon the foreign course if it one way or another (in combination with other measures) produced results? At Petrzhele Zenit moved up to second place Advocate brought victories in the championship, UEFA Cup and European Super Cup, Spalletti turned Peter into a hegemon Russian football, the team under him showed the most powerful football in the country.
It seemed that we needed to take another step to reach the long-awaited level of the leading teams in the Champions League.
But it so happened that with each subsequent Spalletti coach Zenit moved away from this goal. Villas-Boas still managed to win the championship and qualify from the Champions League group, Lucescu already finished third, well Mancini- fifth.
The system has failed. And obviously in several directions, because the level and status of the specialist did not allow Zenit to be pulled back to the top. Neither the super-fashionable one at that time could do this. Villas-Boaso, not the most experienced Lucescu, nor modern Mancini.
Purpose Semaka suggests that in St. Petersburg they chose the second option. And it seems that the turnaround is confident and long-term.
Semak came to Zenit as an independent and mature coach, they signed him, if not a cosmic one, but a full-fledged contract (according to our data, a million euros per year plus bonuses). In the end, Semak won the competition. You can feel whatever way you like about the “casting of coaches” that Zenit arranged (the names of the candidates were announced almost in reality show mode), but it is obvious that at first the management did not have a common opinion. AND Semak, who during the negotiations told how he sees the future of the team, eventually convinced everyone.
It is clear that status and coaching achievements do not allow Semak come to Zenit on your own terms. His contract has no reservations, failure to complete the task (and Zenit always has one - first place) may raise the question of resignation. But the term (2+1) Semak allows you to look into the future with confidence. There are a lot of interesting things ahead - both for him and for the club.
). The SE columnist tells how the situation may develop.
Sergey EGOROV
The meeting of the board of directors of the St. Petersburg club did not officially have the task of choosing a new head coach. According to my information, the main item on the agenda was: “Strategy for the development of the club.” Zenit management prepared it, but in the end it was decided to finalize the document.
It is clear that the strategy also contained a sports component - perhaps it was also about the fact that special attention needs to be paid to home-grown football players, taking into account a) the remaining limit, albeit in the future for the next two years; b) UEFA rules for such players in the application for European competitions; c) the problem with the lack of locals at Zenit, which is sometimes felt in the mood of the public.
Sergey SEMAK. Photo Vyacheslav EVDOKIMOV/FC Zenit
After reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, PAULO FONSECA attended a press conference dressed as Zorro. What else will surprise the Shakhtar coach? Photo by REUTERS
FONSECA
A very strange story has developed with. According to my information, the Dutchman was indeed a candidate, but even before the meeting of the board of directors the topic was removed from the agenda.
Spent one of the most disastrous seasons in modern history. For the first time in ten years, the team was left without medals in the Russian football championship, where it finished only in fifth place. It was worse only in 2005, when the blue-white-blues remained sixth.
A year ago, the management of the club from the banks of the Neva spent millions on transfers and inviting a famous Italian to the post of head coach. The bet didn't work. Mister was unable to prove himself in Russian club and went to pull his country’s national team out of the swamp.
Tired of spending that did not live up to expectations, Zenit decided to invite a Russian specialist to the post of team coach. The club was headed by Sergei. Apart from emergency measures in the form of a three-month arrival at the post in 2009, then working with a double, then
at Zenit as a full-fledged mentor Russian coach will be the first time since 2002.
The agreement with 42-year-old Semak is for two years with the possibility of extension for another one. The young specialist noted that working with the famous club is an honor and pleasure for him.
“Of course, it was a great honor for me to even be among the candidates for this position, and to receive an invitation is very honorable and pleasant.
At the same time, I understand how difficult and difficult it will be, there is a lot of work ahead, I need to immediately begin my duties and slowly put in order the issues that exist now,” Semak said.
The specialist spent the previous year and a half at Ufa, which became the first club where he worked as a head coach. Under his leadership, the team from the capital of Bashkortostan entered the Europa League for the first time in its history, finishing sixth in the completed RFPL season. The team got a ticket to the European tournament after the Russian Cup winner Tosno failed to pass licensing in.
“Today I am very happy. I would like to thank Ufa, which gave me the chance to gain concrete experience.
Well, my family and I are happy to return to the city that has become our home,” Semak said.
Semak’s career is going almost perfectly.
He made his debut as a player very early and became one of the few athletes who managed to score a goal in the elite division of Russian football under 18 years old.
After a season at Asmaral, Semak spent 11 years at CSKA, becoming a true red-blue legend of the club. Having scored the famous hat-trick against PSG in a Champions League match, the footballer received an invitation to the Parisian team, where he was unable to fully express himself, usually remaining in the reserves. Then there were two seasons at FC Moscow, and three at Zenit.
With teams from St. Petersburg and Kazan, as well as with the Moscow army team, Semak became the champion of Russia.
Currently, he is the only one who managed to win the RFPL with three different clubs.
Semak’s performances for the Russian national team deserve special attention.
It was Sergei who was the captain of the team that won bronze medals European Championship - 2008.
At that tournament, Semak performed a very difficult goal pass through himself, after which he scored the only goal against the Greek national team, and the meeting ended in victory for the team with a score of 1:0.
The athlete also scored one of the most important goals in the history of Zenit. In 2012, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League against Portuguese side Befniki, he gave his team the lead with a backheel kick. True, the blue-white-blue still lost on the sum of the two meetings (3:2, 0:2).
After finishing his playing career, Semak worked in coaching staff"Zenith" in 2013-2016. Once he was even the acting head coach of the St. Petersburg team; under his leadership, Zenit played two matches - they lost to CSKA in the national championship (0: 1), and then in return match In the 1/8 finals of the Champions League, they defeated the German Borussia Dortmund (2:1), which was not enough to reach the quarterfinals (the St. Petersburg team lost the first match with a score of 2:4).
Semak also has experience working with the Russian national team, on whose headquarters he was a member in 2014-2016. At first, the specialist was an assistant, and then Leonid Slutsky.
“Zenit” will be the specialist’s first serious call. The last two coaches of the blue-white-sky blues, Mancini and the Romanians, did not stay in office for more than a year. All that remains is to wait and watch how things go in the “execution” position for the first Russian specialist in many years.
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