Artem Dzyuba, Georgy Dzhikiya, Vladimir Ivic and other people were the main faces of the Russian Premier League just yesterday, and today they are sitting without clubs. How long will this continue — in the material Sport. Introducing the league's unemployed team.
Goalkeepers: Anton Shunin (37 years old), Guilherme (38)
We have two candidates for the goalkeeper position, since it is very difficult to choose from two legends. Moscow «Lokomotiv» and «Dynamo» simultaneously refused the services of older goalkeepers who gave their clubs most of their careers. The only difference is that Shunin, unlike Guilherme, held the title of number one until the very end. Perhaps it was precisely the stability in this position that Dynamo lacked for gold, because Igor Leshchuk’s mistakes were even more obvious against the backdrop of Anton’s mature and wise, albeit flawed, play. In the off-season, the “blue and white” returned Andrei Lunev from abroad, it is obvious that the bet in the new season will be placed on him, so Shunin was not offered a new contract.
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Guilherme had long since given up his place in goal, occasionally contenting himself with substitute appearances and matches in the Russian Cup. We must give credit to the Russified Brazilian — he understood everything and did not spoil the atmosphere in the locker room, perfectly fulfilling the role of «uncle». Ilya Lantratov proved with his play that he is Guilherme's replacement, and in the summer former Spartak player Anton Mitryushkin was signed to pair with him. Unfortunately, there was no more room for Guilherme, so he, like Shunin, left his native club. The main thing that unites the two experienced goalkeepers is the desire to continue their careers.
Defenders: Georgy Dzhikiya (30), Andrey Semenov (35), Maciej Rybus (34), Kirill Nababkin (37)
The team of free agents has even bigger names on the defensive line. Just look at the former captain of Spartak Dzhikia, whose non-renewal by the bosses from Tushino was one of the main transfer stories of the past season. I still remember the harsh statements of the player’s agent Vadim Shpinev to the new managers of the “red-whites”, but it is unlikely that toxic departure is the main reason that such an eminent center def is sitting idle. In agent circles they talked about negotiations between Dzhikia and RPL recruits Khimki near Moscow and Dynamo Makhachkala, but apparently Georgy will not be there. Most likely, the defender, who is in the prime of his life, will go to conquer neighboring countries.
Everything is more complicated with Semenov, who gave ten years of his career to the Grozny club. Age highlights his shortcomings, despite which he can still play at the highest level. The position of central defender is the most scarce in the country, especially since Semenov played for the national team. There are not many rumors about Andrey’s future yet; they are talking about options in the First League. It is possible that in the near future his experience will be useful to the teams of the second eight of the RPL.
During his year at Rubin, Maciej Rybus took part in only eight matches, and it was not Rashid Rakhimov's toughness that was to blame, but the injuries of the aging defender. The injury that sidelined the Pole for most of the season put an end to the Kazan part of his career. Now the injury is behind us, but it is worth admitting that Rybus is no longer such a dynamic and inventive attacking winger. Perhaps because of this, we will not see Maciej in Russian football anymore. Although a legionnaire who speaks excellent Russian and knows the RPL inside and out could become a relatively valuable lot on the transfer market.
15 years, nine titles and more than 300 games — these are the results of Nababkin’s performance at CSKA. A real legend of the army club, a taciturn but devoted and diligent defender, as well as a public favorite and owner of a bunch of ironic nicknames — all this is Kirill Anatolyevich. Most likely, the player’s bright and eventful career is coming to an end, and the logical continuation of his football life will be to get a place in the CSKA structure.
Midfielders: Anton Miranchuk (28), Victor Moses (33) , Denis Cheryshev (33), Dmitry Poloz (33)
Miranchuk's departure from Lokomotiv is somewhat similar to the Dzhikia case — the same provocative statements by the agent, the same long bargaining, the same sad outcome. After many months of negotiations, Anton left his native club, with which he won all the significant titles within Russia and played in the Champions League. Miranchuk is now the most desirable item on the transfer market, but it seems that Anton himself does not see himself in another RPL club. It turns out like with Jikia — searching for options in the same rich Turkey and not so far abroad. It’s a pity if we don’t see Miranchuk’s talents in his native championship this season.
In three years at Spartak, Moses, it seems, never became his own. Rare bright outbursts were offset by frequent injuries, so the non-renewal of the contract with the older midfielder was a logical move by Tomas Amaral, who announced his desire to acquire younger players (Willian Jose, apparently, is a special exception). Considering the large requests for personal conditions, it is unlikely that the Nigerian will be of interest to RPL clubs. But why doesn’t Victor return to options in Russia if he doesn’t stick together in Europe?
But for Cheryshev in Europe, everything has stuck together for a long time, and quite well. Almost the entire career of the Real Madrid graduate was spent in clubs in Spain; he is the winner of the Champions League and Europa League. The period of playing in the Italian “Venice” slightly blurred the impressions of Denis’s play, but he is still a great master and professional, whose qualities may be in demand in Russia. The player himself did not deny a possible move to the RPL this summer, although there are no offers yet.
The career of the former Russian national team midfielder Poloz did not work out after his transfer to Torpedo. Dmitry did not manage to fit into the team, which was desperately fighting to return to the RPL and trying to penetrate the ideas of Oleg Kononov. The result of Poloz’s performances for the “black and whites” is sad — a goal and two assists in 20 matches and a subsequent break in the agreement. Maybe one of the RPL clubs will be able to revive the career of a previously productive midfielder?
Forwards: Mohamed Konate (26), Artem Dzyuba ( 35)
Over several years in Russia, Konate has established himself as a very productive forward, capable of solving more ambitious tasks than the abstract fight for the top five or eight in the RPL. For several seasons now, Mohamed’s high productivity has allowed rumors to arise about the striker’s transfer to the country’s top clubs, but nothing has ever come to fruition. Now a powerful African, who speaks excellent Russian, is in search of a new club with good ambitions and financial capabilities. The media reported about the option with the German Werder and a number of Turkish clubs. If Konate finds a suitable team and develops a scoring instinct, then we will not see him in the RPL soon.
Dzyuba needs no introduction, his credentials speak for him — the best scorer in the history of the Russian championships and one of the most productive forwards of the national team, a four-time winner of the RPL and one of the main heroes of the home world championship, as well as the country's most media football player. Yes, the last season at Lokomotiv showed that Artem is not getting any younger, he is becoming less productive and mobile, but his scoring instinct, thirst for fight and desire to prove his worth have not gone away from him. Much has been written about the forward’s desire to work with his friend Leonid Slutsky in the Chinese Championship, however, in order to go there, you need to wait another six months. At 35 years old this is an unaffordable luxury, Artem needs to find a club right now to continue his already busy career.
Head coach: Vladimir Ivich< br>
There are many available specialists on the market, but Ivich’s figure stands apart. The Serb's hasty dismissal from Krasnodar ruined the chances of Sergei Galitsky's club for the championship, which only emphasized the excellent work of the coach throughout the season. There were rumors about Ivic's arrival at Spartak, but they bet on Dejan Stankovic. It is clear that Ivic’s ambitions are to work in a top RPL club, but for now all the slots are occupied. But the season is long, anything can happen, and Vladimir has already proven himself ready for achievements in the conditions of the Russian Championship. So his return is quite a realistic scenario.