MOSCOW, January 25 (R-Sport) – Struggling Russian football champion CSKA Moscow has split with its sporting director Anton Yevmenov, an influential figure in the team’s misfiring transfer policy.
CSKA is fifth in the Russian Premier League at the winter break, six points off the lead and in danger of failing to qualify for European competition next season. The team finished last in its Champions League group.
“CSKA and I split on good terms, by mutual consent. It was my decision,” Yevmenov told R-Sport on Saturday. “Now I want to do some studying, improve my qualifications.”
Among CSKA’s problems is the fact that the team’s three biggest signings of the summer – midfielder Georgy Milanov, winger Steven Zuber and striker Vitinho – have not scored a single goal between them this season.
Yevmenov was reportedly a key figure in bringing Vitinho to CSKA from Brazilian club Botafogo in a move said to be worth 10 million euros ($13.7 million). When he signed in September, Vitinho said he was the spiritual successor of Vagner Love, the Brazilian striker who propelled CSKA to three league titles and a UEFA Cup.
But Vitinho has played just six league games for CSKA, whose coach Leonid Slutsky has said the Brazilian, 20, is “not fitting into the side at all” and is “finding it hard to stick to our training regime.”
