Russian Federation have appointed Stanislav Cherchesov as their new head coach on a two-year deal.
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The former global goalkeeper has vast coaching experience at club level – in Austria as well as at a string of Russian teams including Dynamo Moscow – but has yet to manage a national team.
After salvaging a late draw against England in their opening game of the tournament, Russian Federation failed to take a point from their next two games against Slovakia and Wales – finishing bottom of Group B.
Before being appointed today to the post of the Russian team’s head coach, Cherchesov managed Poland’s Legia Warsaw FC, which he led to the title of the country’s champions and the Cup of Poland in the 2015-2016 season. Being the hosts, they would not need to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
A former Soviet Union and Russian Federation goalkeeper, Cherchesov coached Legia Warsaw to the Polish league and cup double last season, but has not won a trophy in Russian Federation despite coaching there for most of the last decade.
“The main task voiced by [RFU President Vitaly] Mutko is to reach the semifinal stage of the 2018 World Cup, but Cherchesov voiced the aim of going into the final match”, Lebedev said. “We came to the decision that Cherchesov fits the criteria best of all”.
Cherchesov’s first game in charge will be a friendly against Turkey later this month.
Cherchesov said Thursday he wanted to make the team more open and accountable.
The 52-year-old has signed a two-year contract with his national side and is expected to build a team capable of challenging at the 2018 World Cup, which Russian Federation will host.
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“There is no point in making any loud statements at the moment”.
