Valery Gazzayev has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Russian national team.
The Russian Football Union today appointed the 47-year-old Gazzayev as Oleg Romantsev’s successor.
Romantsev resigned after Russia’s poor showing at the World Cup finals during which they suffered defeats to Japan and Belgium and failed to make it beyond the group stage.
During his playing career Gazzayev collected eight caps for the Soviet Union and scored four goals. His coaching career began at Dynamo Moscow, before moving to Vladikavkaz where he enjoyed huge success. In 1995, Vladikavkaz were crowned league champions, ending Spartak Moscow’s domination in the league since the break up of the former Soviet Union.
Gazzayev then coached the national Under-21 side last year before joining CSKA Moscow and leading them to victory in the Russian Cup. He will continue at CSKA until the beginning of December, after which he will take over as coach of the national side.
‘I’m really happy with this honour,’ Gazzayev said, as it was revealed by the RFU that Gazzayev was the unanimous choice of the executive board.
