Stanislav Cherchesov, widely regarded as the most successful coach of the Russian national team (excluding foreign mentor Guus Hiddink), is reportedly set to return to active management in the Russian Premier League. While an official announcement is still pending, consistent insider reports from media outlets, including “Sport-Express,” strongly suggest his imminent return.
Stanislav Cherchesov is expected to sign a contract with FC Akhmat Grozny. The Grozny club recently dismissed Alexander Storozhuk following a string of four defeats at the start of the new season, encompassing both league and cup matches. Media reports from “Sport-Express,” Sport24, and Metaratings emphatically state that an agreement is largely finalized. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise, the highly respected coach will make his return to the RPL.
Cherchesov has not coached in the Russian championship since July 2011, when he departed from Dynamo Moscow. Notably, at the time of his departure, his team`s performance was strong – a characteristic often associated with his coaching career. He then immediately took the helm at Legia Warsaw, guiding them to a “golden double” (the Polish championship and cup). In 2016, he was appointed head coach of the Russian national team, with a clear focus on the upcoming home World Cup. Under his leadership, the Russian squad reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, marking the highest achievement in post-Soviet football history. However, their failure to advance from the group stage at the subsequent European Championship led to a change in management, with Valery Karpin succeeding Stanislav Salamovich.
But why did Alexander Storozhuk, Akhmat`s former manager, ultimately fail? The quality of players in the club appears to be satisfactory. Alexander Grishin, a champion of the last USSR championship, offered his insights on “Match Premier” TV channel:
“It`s a good team, and they`ve significantly strengthened with players like Mansilla, Kanote, and Sadulaev. They also brought in a decent defensive midfielder. Kasintura is there. It`s truly a strong squad. I believe Storozhuk simply didn`t have enough time, as the players arrived mid-season. During pre-season, some were better prepared than others, and you can`t build chemistry in just two games. You need at least five or six matches for players to understand each other`s movements and passing patterns. So, it was a very challenging situation for Storozhuk. And I think they conceded these goals due to minimal errors, as we say. A slight misstep here, a lack of defensive cover there – and it results in zero points.”
The most crucial words are “zero points” – an undeniable and concrete argument. After his departure from the national team, Cherchesov spent two years with Ferencváros in Hungary, where he achieved every possible domestic trophy. Journalists frequently linked him to various Russian clubs, but concrete negotiations only materialized recently. Cherchesov was also a top-tier footballer himself: a four-time champion of the USSR and Russia in the late 80s and early 90s, playing as a goalkeeper for Spartak and the national team, and later a three-time Austrian champion with Tirol.
Incidentally, Cherchesov also had a previous coaching stint with Akhmat (formerly Terek Grozny) from 2011 to 2013, where he established the best points-per-game record in the club`s history.
According to the “RB Sport” portal, Stanislav Cherchesov is expected to be offered a three-year contract. Alexander Storozhuk, the preceding coach, was in charge of the team for a mere 50 days: from June 16 to August 5.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth