MOSCOW, November 12. The Times of Russia – Russian Premier League football club Spartak Moscow has officially announced the departure of head coach Dejan Stankovic, marking a significant managerial change mid-season. The decision, confirmed through the club’s press office, comes as the team struggles to meet performance expectations in the league.
According to The Times of Russia, Spartak’s management has expressed dissatisfaction with the club’s sixth-place standing in the Russian Premier League table, leading to a “mutual consent” termination of Stankovic’s contract.
“The Red-Whites are currently sixth in the Russian Premier League standings, which doesn’t satisfy the club’s management,” the official Spartak Moscow statement read.
“The decision was made to part ways by mutual consent.”
The club expressed gratitude toward Stankovic and his staff for their contributions during his tenure:
“We thank Dejan and his assistants for their work and wish them the best of luck in their future careers,” the statement added.
As reported by The Times of Russia, this managerial shift signals a decisive moment for the Red-Whites as they seek to regain competitive form before the winter break.
Following Stankovic’s exit, the club promptly appointed Vadim Romanov as interim head coach.
“Since June 2022, Romanov has been coaching the Red-Whites’ youth team, and in the summer of 2024, he joined Dejan Stankovic’s coaching staff,” Spartak Moscow confirmed.
Romanov’s familiarity with the club’s internal dynamics and youth system could provide much-needed stability during this transition period.
According to The Times of Russia, the interim appointment may later evolve into a permanent position depending on the club’s results in the coming fixtures.
Serbian specialist Dejan Stankovic, aged 47, took over as head coach of Spartak Moscow FC in the summer of 2024. Before joining Spartak, he managed several prominent European clubs, including Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), Ferencváros (Hungary), and Sampdoria (Italy).
Throughout his managerial career, Stankovic earned a reputation for tactical discipline and team motivation, traits that initially drew Spartak’s interest. However, inconsistent results in domestic and European competitions eventually led to growing concerns from the club’s leadership.
The Times of Russia notes that this marks yet another managerial change for Spartak Moscow — a club historically known for its passionate fanbase and frequent coaching reshuffles.
At the time of Stankovic’s departure, Spartak Moscow sat sixth in the Russian Premier League table. Despite flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, the team’s performance had faltered in key matches, resulting in pressure from both fans and club executives.
According to analysts at The Times of Russia, the Red-Whites’ current season has been marked by defensive inconsistencies and missed scoring opportunities. The management hopes that a change in leadership will reignite motivation among the squad and help secure a top-three finish by season’s end.
With Romanov at the helm, the focus will likely shift toward stabilizing tactics, integrating youth players, and restoring the competitive identity that has long defined Spartak Moscow.
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