Markus Gisdol and Daniel Farke have given up their jobs at Russian first division clubs. Unlike Sandro Schwarz. The former Mainz coach does not think about farewell – for private and sporting reasons.
The effects of the war against Ukraine are becoming ever more immense for Russian football. After Uefa and Fifa jointly excluded all Russian teams from international competitions and the global players’ union FifPro announced that foreign players would be allowed to leave Russia free of charge in the summer despite existing contracts, it is coaches like Markus Gisdol and Daniel Farke who are already in create facts this week. The two German trainers have both vacated their posts as head coaches of the Russian first division clubs Lokomotiv Moscow (Gisdol) and FK Krasnodar (Farke).
“The current political development and the associated request from our children, wives, families and friends to come home and the loss of all sporting perspectives have now led to this well-considered decision,” explained Farke, who has only been a coach for a good six weeks worked in Krasnodar, southwest Russia. Gisdol had previously announced that he could not be on the training ground in Moscow, look after the players, demand professionalism from them and a few kilometers away orders would be given “that bring great suffering to an entire people.”
Black feels responsible – in two respects
Sandro Schwarz sees the situation differently. The 43-year-old is (or was:) the third of the German coaching trio in the Premier League – as head coach at Dynamo Moscow. “I think that in a situation like this, safety is the most important thing and that I’m not the kind of person who just looks at himself and says: I’ll get on the next plane and I’m out of here. It’s not about me. Me I feel responsible and will stay here at the club,” said the former Mainz coach when he was asked about a possible farewell in the style of Gisdols and Farkes at a press conference.
But what responsibility is Schwarz talking about exactly?
On the one hand there is the sporty component. Schwarz has incorporated the unsteady traditional club Dynamo Konstanz and has already formed it into a title aspirant in just his second season in Moscow. The prospect of leading the home club of goalkeeper icon Lev Yashin to its first Russian championship should be extremely appealing to Schwarz professionally.
On the other hand, there is the private component. After extending his contract until 2024, Schwarz brought his wife and their two children, four and seven years old, to Moscow last December. An unusual step for football legionnaires in Russia – but one that proves how comfortable the former Bundesliga coach feels in the metropolis.
Schwarz’ assistant coach also flees to Germany
“I’ve grown fond of Dynamo and its fans over the past 14 months, it’s fun to work with, we’re successful – and I’m convinced that we’re not at the end of our path. So why should I leave?” he asked rhetorically in the press round after the cup win against Nizhny Novgorod (3-0) on Tuesday. His assistant coach, former Bundesliga goalscorer Andriy Voronin, saw things differently.
“I can’t stay here (Moscow, editor’s note). I can’t live in a country that’s at war with my country,” Voronin told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The 42-year-old traveled with his wife, their children and his father on one of the last scheduled flights from Moscow to Amsterdam and is currently said to be in Düsseldorf, where he had his last career station in Germany in 2012/2013.
Schwarz showed “complete understanding” for Voronin’s decision. It is doubtful that Voronin can sympathize with Black’s decision.
