MOSCOW, April 10 Russian specialist Alexander Kerzhakov admitted that left the Cypriot football club «Karmiotissa» due to the interference of the owner of the team Dmitry Punin in his work.
On April 1, Kerzhakov left the team he had been leading since February 8. After his appointment, Karmiotissa won two victories and drew once in seven matches.
“What happened in the first half of the last game is already more than an unprofessional environment. In the 12th minute of the match against Olympiakos from Nicosia (0:2, the first goal was conceded in the 11th minute — approx.) to me the sports director came up: “We need to make such and such replacements.” I answered: “Let’s each do their own thing, please.” The sports director repeated: “No, you have to do this, Punin called, said that this player needs to be transferred there, and this one — to replace, «Kerzhakov is quoted by sports.ru.
«During the break, Punin and his assistant went into the locker room in front of me and made substitutions. I go in, and the guys are already changing clothes: «We were told that today we are no longer playing.» In my understanding of the structure of football and the coaching profession, this is unacceptable. I could not even imagine that this is possible in the championship, where four teams play in European competition, and quite well,» the coach added.
“Kerzhakov also said that Karmiotissa did not pay him for the work. «The next day after the match, I came to the office to sign papers and pay off. The sports director said:» Please sign, and I'll go to the bank, withdraw money, transfer it in the evening. «I signed. Five hours passed, I called:» Well When are we meeting?» — «A little later, give me a few more minutes.» Another two hours passed, I write: «Any problems? What's going on?» The sports director replies: «Coach, good luck, it was a pleasure to work with you.» — «Sorry, but what about the money?» — «What money? You signed a paper that you have no complaints against us,» the specialist said.
Kerzhakov's previous place of work was Nizhny Novgorod, which he coached from June 2021 to June 2022. Before that, he led the youth team Russia (under 17 years old) and Tomsk «Tom». As a football player, Kerzhakov represented the Russian «Zenith» and «Dynamo», the Spanish «Seville» and the Swiss «Zurich». The forward shares with Artem Dzyuba the first place in the list of the best scorers of the Russian national team ( 30 goals each).