The list of candidates for Zenit coaches is not final
On Monday, the leadership of the St. Petersburg club reduced the shortlist of applicants for the vacant post of head coach after the resignation of Roberto Mancini from five to three. But who has been eliminated? And is the list of potential successors of the Italian limited to the originally announced surnames?
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Zenit itself, we recall, on the eve of the meeting of the board of directors in the office of Gazprom, named Sergey Semak, Maurizio Sarri, Paulo Fonseca, Marcelo Gallardo and Jorge Sampaoli as candidates. The club even held a fan vote on social networks to find out which head coach the people prefer. According to the results of the poll, “his” Semak was expected to win (63.8 percent of the vote). Next came Italy's Sarri (19.8), Portugal's Fonseca (6.4), Argentina's Sampaoli (6.1) and Gallardo (3.9). And after the board of directors, which was attended by Semak and was sharply criticized by Alexei Miller, the president of Zenit, Sergey Fursenko, received information about the elimination of two participants from the "race". True, without the indication of surnames.
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Until the final decision is made, it's time to open a guessing game: who was crossed out and who is still being considered. But how do you compare specialists so different in age, experience, number of titles and transfer requests? The Zenit shortlist again caused an outside observer to feel the absence of a coherent 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 she was easily abandoned in order to re-rake the rubble after the next resignation. In such circumstances, participants in the struggle for the chair of the head coach of Zenit were usually measured by pomposity or popularity, and not by the number of professional merit within the framework of criteria clearly formulated by management.
And yet the situation at Zenith 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. At the board of directors, a general line was drawn: first, decide on the principles of development for the next few years - and already choose a coach for them.
The basic rule of the new Zenith is to spend less and earn more. From this point of view, Semak is an ideal candidate. Obviously, the salary of the still head coach of Ufa will be at least five times less than that which Sarri or Fonseca will agree to. Conditions like “waiting for those who score, and therefore expensive attackers,” Semak, answering questions from Gazprom bosses, clearly did not put forward. And Sergei Bogdanovich has a second powerful trump card. In the summer, not only Artem Dzyuba and Oleg Shatov, but also a dozen other players (Robert Mack, Ibragim Tsallagov, Ernani, and so on) will return from rent to Zenit. Semak knows all of them very well from his work in the coaching staffs of Luciano Spalletti and Andre Villas-Boas. And, therefore, it will be easier for him to put together a combat-ready team from the available resources.
SEMAK, EXPANSION AND LAWYER
Therefore, those who do not believe in the 42-year-old Russian coach just on the basis that Zenit is not an experimental training ground are wrong. The situation has changed radically. As part of the new development concept, spending under 100 million euros and distributing 17 people on loan for the sake of fifth place and the third consecutive flight past the Champions League became more of an experiment (and a bold one at that). It turns out that Semak can be congratulated in advance on his appointment? Still no.
The experience of cooperation with Vlstimil Petrzhela should be recognized as successful: from that moment up to the present, the club invites specialists from abroad to work (exceptions are Anatoly Davydov and Sergey Semak, who worked with the prefix "acting" 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 lately foreign coaches do not stay at Zenit for a long time. Vlastimil Petrzhela and Dick Advocaat worked for more than three years, Luciano Spalletti - almost four years, André Villas-Boas lasted for two years, and Mircea Lucescu and (most likely) Roberto Mancini "shelf life" was only a season. During our work, in this case, we take the interval 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 to fail to win a single title with blue-white-blue.
* - at the end of the 2009 season, Davydov was approved as the head coach; after the 30th round, he left his post.
Vlastimil Petrzhela (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 Advocaat (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); Cup of Russia (2009/10); Russian Super Cup (2011)
André 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 (today)
Statistics in all tournaments: 43 matches +21 =13 -9; balls 68-34; 58.9% points
Titles: -
Photos used: FC Zenit; "Sport Day after Day" (Igor Ozersky)
Dmitry ZELENOV
"Zenith" was the most principled and consistent supporter of the policy of foreign coaches. In St. Petersburg, in fact, they set this trend by inviting a Czech in November 2002 Vlastimila Petrzhela.
Over the next 15 years, Zenit was led by a Dutchman Advocate, Portuguese villas boas, Romanian Lucescu, Italians Spalletti And Mancini. The approach did not change even in short periods Anatolia Davydov in 2009 and the same Semak in 2014 They were not going to work with them for a long time. The first one held the seat while making arrangements with Spalletti, the second acted until the official signing Villas Boasha. “Zenith” and the status of a foreign coach – it seemed to be inseparable concepts.
And why was it necessary to abandon a foreign course if it somehow (in combination with other measures) gave a result? At Petrzhele"Zenith" climbed to second place, Advocate brought victory in the championship, the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup, Spalletti turned St. Petersburg into the hegemon of Russian football, with him the team showed the most powerful football in the country.
It seemed that one more step had to be taken to reach the long-awaited level of the top teams in the Champions League.
But it so happened that with each following after Spalletti coach "Zenith" from this goal moved away. villas boas still managed to win the championship and get out of the Champions League group, Lucescu already finished third, well Mancini- fifth.
The system has crashed. And it is obvious that in several areas, because the level and status of a specialist did not allow Zenith to be pulled back to the top. This was not possible for any super fashionable at that time villas boasu, nor the most experienced Lucescu, nor modern Mancini.
Purpose Semak says that in St. Petersburg they chose the second option. And it seems that the turn is confident and long-term.
Semak came to Zenit as an independent and mature coach, they signed with him, if not a space, but a full-fledged contract (according to our data, a million euros a year plus bonuses). In the end, Semak won the competition. You can relate to the "casting of coaches" that Zenit arranged (the names of the candidates were called almost in the reality show mode), but it is obvious that the leadership did not have a single opinion at first. AND Semak, who, during the negotiations, told how he sees the future of the team, eventually convinced everyone.
It is clear that the status and coaching achievements do not allow Semaku come to Zenith on your own terms. His contract has no armor, failure to complete the task (and it is always the same for Zenit - first place), perhaps, will raise the question of resignation. But term (2+1) Semaku allows you to look to the future with confidence. There are many interesting things ahead - both for him and for the club.
). The "SE" observer tells how the situation can 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: "The development strategy of the club." Zenit's management prepared it, but the document was ultimately decided to be finalized.
It is clear that the strategy also contained a sports component - perhaps, it was also said that special attention should be paid to home-grown football players, given a) the remaining limit, albeit in the future for the next two years; b) the UEFA rules for such players in the application for European competitions; c) the problem with the lack of locals in the "Zenith", which is sometimes felt in the mood of the public.
Sergey SEMAK. Photo by Vyacheslav Evdokimov/FC Zenit
After qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, PAULO FONSECA came to the press conference dressed as Zorro. What else will surprise Shakhtar's coach? Photo 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.
Had one of the most disastrous seasons in recent 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 blue-white-blue remained sixth.
A year ago, the club's management from the banks of the Neva spent millions on transfers and an invitation to the eminent Italian as head coach. The bet didn't work. Mister could not prove himself in the Russian club and went to pull the national team of his country out of the swamp.
Tired of spending that does not live up to expectations, Zenit decided to invite a Russian specialist to the post of mentor of the team. The club was headed by Sergei. Except for emergency measures in the form of a three-month coming to the post in 2009, who then worked with a double, then
Zenit will have a Russian coach as a full-fledged mentor for the first time since 2002.
The agreement with 42-year-old Semak is designed for two years with the possibility of extension for another one. The young specialist noted that it was an honor and pleasure for him to work with the eminent club.
“Of course, it was a great honor for me to even be among the candidates for this position, and to receive an invitation is a very honorable and pleasant thing.
At the same time, I understand how difficult and difficult it will be, there is a lot of work ahead, you need to immediately take up your duties and slowly put the issues that are now in order, ”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 Bashkiria reached the Europa League for the first time in its history, finishing sixth in the RFPL season that ended. The team got a ticket to the European tournament after the owner of the Russian Cup "Tosno" could not pass the licensing in.
“Today I am very happy. I would like to thank Ufa, which gave me a chance to get a concrete experience.
Well, my family and I are happy to return to the city, which managed to become our home, ”said Semak.
Semak's career is developing almost perfectly.
As a player, he made his debut 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 real red and blue legend of the club. Having scored the famous hat-trick against PSG in the Champions League match, the football player received an invitation to the Parisian team, where he could not prove himself to the fullest, as a rule, remaining on the bench. Then there were two seasons in FC Moscow, and three in each and 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 Premier League with three different clubs.
Semak's performances for the Russian national team deserve special attention.
It was Sergey who was the captain of the team that won the bronze medals of the 2008 European Championship.
At that tournament, Semak performed the most difficult goal pass through himself, after which he scored the only goal against the Greek national team, and the meeting ended with the team's victory with a score of 1: 0.
On account of the athlete and one of the most important goals in the history of "Zenith". In 2012, in the first match of the 1/8 finals of the Champions League against the Portuguese side Befniki, he put his team ahead with a heel strike. True, in the sum of two meetings, the blue-white-blue still lost (3:2, 0:2).
After completing his playing career, Semak worked in the coaching staff of Zenit in 2013-2016. Once he was even the acting head coach of the St. Petersburg team, under his leadership Zenit played two matches - in the national championship they lost to CSKA (0: 1), and then in the second leg of the 1/8 finals of the Champions League, they defeated the German Borussia away from 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 of working with the Russian national team, of which he was a member of the headquarters in 2014-2016. First, the specialist was an assistant, and then - Leonid Slutsky.
"Zenith" will be the first serious challenge of a specialist. The last two blue-white-blue coaches - Mancini and the Romanians did not stay in office for more than a year. It remains only to wait and see how the first Russian specialist in many years will do in the “execution” position.
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