CSKA General Director - on the club's summer transfer campaign.
DON'T PLAN TO SELL THE VITINA- On Twitter, CSKA lists all the summer acquisitions of the club and says: "It was legendary." Did you really succeed?
- I think the guys are just creative (smiles). Legendary - this is, of course, too much. I would refrain from any loud assessments for now. Time will show. Yes, we have done a great job. But, as they say, chickens are counted in the fall. We hope we have not lost with the newbies.
- There can be no two opinions about transfers to the exit?
- Yes, it's a success. Golovin's record transfer to Monaco. Vitinho also left for Flamengo for a very large sum, which is not typical for Brazilian clubs. True, the departure was unexpected for us, since we did not plan to sell it.
- How is it?
- Yes. The footballer's desire to return to his homeland played a decisive role here. He really wanted it. There were no hints that CSKA would leave Vitinho. But in this situation, we went to meet him and, in principle, received good financial compensation.
- Let's talk about newbies.
- We will draw conclusions later. But the acquisition of Abel Hernandez is already justifying itself. Of course, he is a very strong footballer who plays with great desire and dedication. I would like to believe that he will continue in the same spirit. Vlašić, in my opinion, is an interesting player.
In general, we continued our strategy of finding young, talented guys. The youngest team in the Premier League and how unusual it sounds for CSKA is not very experienced. Although, of course, the old-timers also remained - Igor Akinfeev, Alan Dzagoev, Mario Fernandez, Zhora Shchennikov, Kirill Nababkin, Vitya Vasin, who went through fire and water.
But there are many players who are just starting their way in big football. I am sure that Viktor Mikhailovich (Goncharenko) and our backbone will be able to achieve results with the newcomers. Perhaps not right away - there will be recessions, but we need to be patient. You need to understand that these are university graduates who are just beginning their career growth.
NISHIMURA - THE BUDGET OPTIONAL
- If Ufa had passed the Rangers in the Europa League, would CSKA have signed Oblyakov?
- Maybe yes. If “Ufa” had made it to the group stage, I think, I would have made every effort to keep the line-up. The negotiations turned out to be difficult and lengthy. In principle, understanding was reached quickly. But there were several conditions, including the team's performance in European competitions. I think the Bashkir club made a very worthy debut in Europe and brought a lot of points to the piggy bank of Russia. Well done, it wasn't enough to get past the Scots. Now we hope that Vanya will reach another level at CSKA. He is now one of the most talented young Russian players, at this age he has a serious baggage of matches in the Premier League.
- There is an opinion that Oblyakov will replace Dzagoev in the future.
- I would not say that. In my opinion, they play differently, not very similar footballers in terms of their qualities. We still believe in Alan. Now he is recovering, I hope that the treatment will bear fruit. Therefore, in this context, we did not consider the transfer of Oblyakov. Moreover, we also have Kostya Kuchaev, who also does not play yet. Ivan, as I said, is a talented, promising midfielder with a Russian passport, which is also important, since a lot of foreigners came to us.
- How did the variant with the Japanese Nishimura come about?
- This is a little unexpected transfer even for me. We looked at one football player, but in the end we paid attention to him. A very budget option. Maximum budget! I cannot voice the numbers. Interesting footballer with qualities. There is a risk of adaptation, but the player himself was eager to join us. We already had a successful experience with a Japanese player.
- Do you consider cooperation with Honda successful?
- Definitely. Honda has done us a lot of good. There can be no two opinions here. After the acquisition of Nishimura, there was immediately a serious interest in us from Japan. So maybe this transition will help us from a marketing point of view as well. How will Nismura do in terms of football? Let's see. We do not expect miracles - and not only from him, but also from other beginners. Young people need time. But, as it seems to me, we managed to close the necessary positions. We even acquired a little more players than those who left.
CSKA SPENDED ON NINE PLAYERS AS ONE
- Why was it not possible to agree on Shimanski? "Legia" asked too much, in your opinion, an amount?
- I would not like to talk in detail about the failed transactions. We had very little time. Here financial conditions came to the fore. We signed nine players, and in fact paid for them as one footballer. So we took into account our budget. It's not a secret for anyone, we always try to carefully spend our funds, observe financial fair play and some rationality in the transfer assessment of a beginner.
- If you believe the information that appeared in the press on CSKA transfers, then in the summer you spent about 10 million euros on newcomers. Is this true?
- Yes, about the same amount. But we must not forget that several players came to us for free. These are the rent of Vlašić, and Bekao, and Hernandez. Yes, the amount that appears in the media is roughly true. But, I hope, both in terms of the number of players and in terms of quality, we did not lose.
- Did you think about returning Dumbia and Wagner Love to CSKA this summer?
“Of course we all miss them. We want to believe that miracles are possible again and again. But here one must first of all be guided not by emotions, but by reason. First, no one gets younger. And secondly, since we have chosen the path of building a young team, then probably looking for answers in the past would not be entirely correct. Although, I will not hide, such thoughts visited us, but I have already named the reasons that stopped from this step.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH AKINFEEV LASTED THREE MINUTES
- How quickly did you manage to agree with Akinfeev on a new contract?
- It is very important that the contract with our captain was extended. It is difficult to overestimate Igor's contribution to the success of CSKA. And the negotiations took only three minutes.
- Wow.
- Yes. Probably the fastest negotiations (smiles). We all know about Timur and his team. So here we have - Igor and his team. And, of course, Viktor Mikhailovich, with his experience and desire to work with young people, I am sure, will be able to build a new, interesting team. But as I have noticed more than once - patience, patience, and again patience.
- Last question. Is it possible that in the Champions League CSKA will host Real Madrid not at VEB-Arena, but at Luzhniki?
- We are working on this issue. Unfortunately, there are a number of regulatory restrictions. In a group, one match cannot be played in one stadium, and two others - in another. This idea came to us a long time ago, even before the draw. Now it has become even more relevant. But I can't say anything concrete yet.
Vitaly Airapetov
Roman Yuryevich, financial fair play, invention of UEFA President Michel Platini - is it good for Russian football?
- The idea is undoubtedly progressive, but at the same time partly naive. Its main message - to make the clubs earn themselves, eliminating the financial gap that separates two dozen owners of "dimensionless" budgets from the rest - I personally like. But how to implement this in practice is a big question.
And what are the main problems?
- If everyone honestly fulfills the provisions of the charter, without trying to cheat somewhere, then - okay. Then Platini's idea is good for everyone, including Russia. But we know how imperfect this world is. A simple example. From 2013, the difference between the club's income and expenses must exceed 5 million euros. No questions asked - a great incentive to spend money more rationally and earn it more energetically! Now look: there are many clubs in our country that are supported by corporations, including state ones. If such a club concludes a sponsorship contract with one of its shareholders in the amount of 5 million euros, it will easily bypass this fair play. At the same time, it can be stated that these same 5 million of income were obtained, as it were, due to advertising activities.
What about CSKA?
- We have recently summed up the results of the financial 2011. There is a surplus (excess of income over expenses. - Ed.) Of almost half a million dollars. Unfortunately, this is less than we planned. To be honest, we expected a surplus of about 7 million. Such a result would have been possible if CSKA had reached the semifinals in the Europa League. Alas, Vilaj-Boas prevented Porto - a team that was practically invincible at that time.
Does currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the budgets of Russian clubs?
Best of the day
- Undoubtedly. If the euro-dollar pair creeps up, this creates a bias in the budgets towards expenditures, since most of the income from commercial activities in our country is in rubles, and expenses in terms of salaries and transfers of football players are traditionally tied to the euro or the dollar. You sign, for example, a foreigner. He demands: “I don't care what happens to the ruble exchange rate. I wish to receive my legal 50 thousand euros, not a cent less. " And we are forced to transfer rubles to him in European banknotes every month. As a result, the club earns, relatively speaking, ten rubles, and all eleven have to be spent.
Can not one or two, but several clubs work in Russia at the same time?
- I doubt. Over the past five or six years, our clubs have warmed up the market with loud transfers so that with each new "window" we are exposed to more and more unaffordable prices. As soon as the agent makes it clear that the club from the Premier League is showing interest in the player, on the other side they rub their hands with joy: again these "crazy Russians". Hooray, you can earn extra money! Cheating "for Russia" is another plus at least 50% of the real cost of a football player. But buying regardless of prices ... In our Premier League only two out of sixteen clubs can afford this. The rest in this race are not participants - either because of their own ideology, or because of lack of funds.
And CSKA?
- It was not by chance that I mentioned the club philosophy. We at CSKA consider it impossible to invite a player for 15–20 million euros just to win the Russian championship with his help - a tournament, the aggregate income from which is no more than 50–60 million dollars for all Premier League clubs. In this case, it will no longer be economics, but some kind of recklessness.
But in business, it happens, sometimes wildly lucky. Let's say Lionel Messi marries a Russian beauty and persuades the Barça president to give up his transfer to CSKA for 25 million euros. Will you take it?
- I see you are a joker ...
But still.
- For 25, of course, we'll take it. If only because tomorrow it can be sold for a hundred. Another question is, how can we, after such a "re-export" look a beauty in the eyes? ..
For this, people have come up with sunglasses. I see, Roman Yuryevich, that you are not complaining about your sense of humor ... But back to the serious one. What is CSKA making the main stake in the revenue side of its budget: earnings in the Champions League, the sale of footballers?
- Taking a player, promoting and selling him at a higher price is not our way. CSKA does not speculate in football players. We always put sports performance at the forefront. It happens, of course, as in his time with Zhirkov. After Yura was not "seen" in other clubs, CSKA got him for a symbolic 300 thousand dollars. And five years later, we sold it to Chelsea for 50 times the price. Someone will say: great business! Of course, but do not forget that during this time Zhirkov also brought CSKA tremendous benefits, in 2008 he was recognized as the best footballer in Russia, after which he received an invitation from Chelsea, a club that has not been invited twice. How could we not let him go? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Likewise - with Krasic who moved to Juventus.
As for the financial ideology of the club ... In recent years, our main income has come from a successful performance in the Champions League. Only one participation in group tournament brings to the treasury about 10 million euros. This is one of the main budget items.
"Inter" - Record box office
If the terms of the income part are ranked, then ...
- In second place are receipts from advertising and commercial activities. We try to make the most of the club's capabilities. Our partners represent various sectors of the economy - banking, automobile, hotel ... Further in terms of shaft volume - proceeds from the sale of tickets and season tickets. V Russian football this segment, alas, is poorly developed. Our clubs cannot, as in the leading championships, “make” a third of the budget only on tickets. In CSKA, this item gives somewhere around 7-8 million dollars a year, or 12-14% of the budget.
And how much was collected in 2011?
- About six million. Traditionally, the most attended match in the championship was the match against Spartak. They managed to sell 50,590 tickets for the April game at Luzhniki. Revenue exceeded RUB 23 million. We made quite good money on games against Zenit, Lokomotiv ... In the Champions League, the maximum income was ensured by the arrival of Inter Milan - almost 26 million rubles. This is our box office record of the year. We had very good training camp with the same Inter in the League quarterfinals and at the game with Manchester United in the fall of 2009. Hopefully, we will be able to overlap these results in the home game with Real Madrid, which would be a plus for the draw that was so unmerciful to CSKA (smiles).
By the way, “Barcelona” has a tidy sum of money only on membership fees of registered fans. Do you think such a tool will work in Russian football?
- Unlikely. Firstly, for Barcelona it is a historical tradition that is more than a hundred years old. Another argument is attendance, which is also very much not in our favor. If Camp Nou received less than forty thousand as part of the Examples, for Barça it is a box office failure. And for Russian teams, with the exception of Spartak and our club (if we play at Luzhniki), such an indicator is a fabulous success. Look, only Kuban has an average attendance at home matches of twenty thousand. Everyone else collected less last year. If our clubs for the most part cannot provide an audience of more than 10-12 thousand, what is the point of starting an IPO - the procedure for involving fans in the club's equity capital - or going out with their shares on the stock exchange.
In addition, in this case, the fans will have to be given the right to participate in the presidential elections, which is undesirable for our club bosses.
- And that too. I don't think that by pulling on an overseas caftan, our clubs will immediately turn into prosperous enterprises. Yes, European football has a history of exploiting a number of good ideas. But at the same time, there are a lot of nuances - historical and mental, which do not allow making it suitable for everyone. For example, the Bundesliga clubs, unlike Barcelona, do not have such an item of income.
Started as a legal advisor
It is known that you came to work at CSKA while still a student. Remember that match from childhood, after which you became a fan of the army team?
- I will not dissemble: I followed football, but I was more worried about basketball CSKA. The mid-nineties, as you know, were not the best period for Russian football.
What is your first business in this field?
- I remember the trial - it coincided with my arrival - in relation to one publication that published material under the headline "Football CSKA finances Chechen fighters." I can't vouch for absolute accuracy, but something like that. There was a rather noisy trial, and we got a refutation.
Have you ever defended Valery Gazzaev's reputation? He, too, had enough conflicts with the media at one time.
- Well, Valery Georgievich will stand up for himself so that it will not seem a little. I personally did not have to defend him. But in the spring of 2005, our UEFA Cup semi-final with Parma turned into such a scandal that I will probably never forget it.
Was the Italian club's complaint to UEFA claiming that their goalkeeper was wounded by pyrotechnics from the CSKA fan sector, was there any ground behind it?
- To be honest, the Italians then were very close to getting our disqualification. But their appeal had one weak link - it was based on falsified evidence. If it had not been possible to prove this, there would have been no victorious final in Lisbon in the history of CSKA. Fortunately, we have managed to bring the seniors to clean water. In two days, we collected all the necessary evidence.
In short, when they meet, the army team will definitely not give the people from Parma now?
- We'll serve it today. Over the past almost seven years, the entire leadership has changed there.
Fight the ruble against Zenit
You recently said that a transfer to Doumbia costs at least € 30 million. Is there a fixed compensation in his contract that can be paid by the other club to get the Ivorian striker?
- No, we are opposed to such options.
It seems that CSKA will not let the leading football player go to another Russian team anyway, even if the amount of the transfer will be noticeably higher than the offer of foreigners.
- We consider the principle “to sell anywhere, if only more expensive” is unacceptable. For a variety of reasons. Let's say that foreigners give ten million for our player, and someone in Russia - all 15. Well, we sold it to the guys from our native Premier League. And then what? As a result, we have strengthened our direct competitor, which bypasses CSKA in the championship, and we get a less preferred option for the draw in the Champions League. And then we won't get there at all. Financial losses in this case turn out to be much higher than the immediate benefit.
Does the club have a certain line, proposals below which are swept aside even in negotiations with foreign partners?
- It all depends on the particular player. We are ready to discuss any reasonable figure.
It looks like a purely financial rivalry is taking place in our football. Zenit is ready to fight for leadership in terms of income, the owner of Spartak intends to bring his club to full self-sufficiency ...
- And great - it will benefit the whole of Russian football.
You said this somewhat detachedly. Fighting Zenit on the field of commerce - isn't that exciting for CSKA?
- This is a utopia. The only club in such a big city as St. Petersburg, which has been living in a state of football boom for many years ... And CSKA in Moscow has four more competitors in the fight for the hearts and wallets of the fans. Or take Zenit shareholders. In terms of financial strength, Gazprom is able to outperform almost any European company. I think our starting positions are not very comparable.
Roman Yurievich Babaev is the general director of the professional football club CSKA (Moscow).
Dossier
Roman Babaev (photo below) was born on February 13, 1978 in Chelyabinsk, USSR. Russian citizen. Education - higher (Lomonosov Moscow State University).
Expert in the field of jurisprudence, professional sports, management. Single. Career in the structure of the CSKA club - legal adviser, head of the legal department, since March 2007 - general director of the club. Chevalier of the Order of the Badge of Honor (2006).
Path to CSKA
Today Roman Babaev, whose biography determined his career as a lawyer, is one of the best young managers of Russian football. And then, in 1999, a fourth-year student at Moscow State University had the opportunity to work in the eminent football club CSKA as a legal adviser. The end of the 90s - troubled times, which also affected the football economy of the team, financed by all kinds of clothing markets. It was a dead-end road with the absence of the slightest prospect for the development of the club's infrastructure. Roman Babaev decided not to have any more business with this office and quickly leave.
But 2001 came. New shareholders came to the team, led by Evgeny Giner, who strove to do everything possible and impossible to ensure the legal order in football. And in those days, a situation arose when a legislative vacuum arose (the absence of any norms defining the status of professional sports), and the staff of most organizations did not even have such a unit as a lawyer. With the arrival of Giner, it became clear that he and his team were an alliance of people with great ambitions, capable of taking the CSKA team to a qualitatively new level of development. And Roman Babaev stayed.
From the first day, he and the president of the club set about realizing this goal.
The main thing was to properly arrange in the club, as well as to select professional people for key positions in the team: commercial, executive and financial director, director of information policy of the club, head of the breeding department. Babaev himself headed the legal management for 6 years. And only in 2007, by the decision of the board of shareholders, he was appointed to the position of the general director of the club. Thanks to the professionalism of the leadership, an effective and efficient system was built without political and clan intrigues.
CSKA achievements (2001-2015)
In 2001, the CSKA team was joined by a new management of the club and new sponsors represented by AVO-Capital, the English company Blue Castle Enterprises Limited and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. This was the beginning of the revival of the legendary club, which later became the leader of Russian football.
From 2001 to 2015 the CSKA team won the Russian championship 5 times, won silver 5 times and 2 times bronze medals, 6 times became the owner of the Super Cup, 2 times the quarter-finalist of the Champions League. In 2005, the club won its first European Cup trophy - the UEFA Cup. Naturally, these victories are the result of joint efforts of the coaching staff and the president of the team. To a large extent, CSKA General Director Roman Babaev had a hand in the club's success.
Success secrets
The secret of success in any enterprise (especially in football), as you know, is the attitude to business.
All clubs that operate on state subsidies are often doomed. In these matters, the president of the team, Giner, and the general director, Babaev, turned out to be visionaries. This was clearly seen in the example of such clubs. Russian Premier League like Saturn and Anji. Existence on budget money is a road to nowhere, a waste of people's money. Russian (and all post-Soviet) football cannot be a pure business, since the decision of financial issues is not put before the team leaders. Only sports tasks are defined.
Therefore, these clubs are only assimilating budgetary funds. The attitude to private financing is different. This is the process of day-to-day control and accounting of funds. Therefore, Giner and Babaev have identified a strategy that has been in effect for more than 10 years: the bet should be placed on not promoted, young, little-known, but talented football players. According to Roman Babaev, inviting such players is always a risk. Here it is necessary to take into account the mentality of a football player, and his character, and marital status, and prospects, and ambitions.
Here is just a small list of young players who gained fame thanks to their performance in the CSKA team during the reign of Giner and Babayev:
- Andrey Solomatin - participants of the 2002 World Championship;
- Igor Akinfeev, Ivica Olic - participants of the 2004 European Championship;
- Milos Krasic - participant of the 2004 Olympics;
- Chidi Odia - participant of the African Cup of Nations (2006);
- Wagner Love - America's Cup participant (2007);
- Keisuke Honda - participants in the 2010 World Championship;
- Pontus Wernbloom, Tomas Necid - participants of the 2012 European Championship;
- Ahmed Moussa is a participant in the 2014 World Cup.
Sponsors under Babaev
The existence and success of the club is currently impossible without a sponsor.
Evgeny Giner and Roman Babaev understood this well. The first sponsor of the club was the Konti company.
Then there was Sibneft, which invested almost $ 55 million in the team. The club is currently sponsored by the Russian Networks company. The amount of the signed contract is $ 130 million (4 billion rubles).
About biography and nationality
It is difficult to imagine a successful football team, which does not have its own modern stadium. This was also clear to Roman Babaev.
In 2007, the construction of an elite football stadium that meets all UEFA requirements. The construction of a children's and youth sports school, a business center, a hotel and a museum of the CSKA club is planned in the designated area.
And who is this Roman Babaev? His nationality is not exactly known.
Some say that he is Armenian, others say that he is a Jew, like Giner. In fact, without taking nationality into account, let's say that Roman Babaev is the man who helped one average club in the Russian championship become the fortieth team in the UEFA rankings with an annual budget of $ 90 million.
What do we know about the CEO of CSKA? Very little. The young energetic manager of one of the most successful Russian clubs rarely gives lengthy interviews. However, this corresponds to the general image of the army: they are mostly laconic. Hoping to find out as much as possible about Roman Babaev, I went to the CSKA office. Alas, I had to wait a little: the office of the general director for some time became a place of pilgrimage for almost all the club's employees: the off-season, a lot of issues requiring immediate resolution. When at last Roman Yuryevich got free, he easily and honestly told everything about himself. It became clear how versatile and addicted he is.
So, meet: CSKA General Director Roman Babaev is a graduate of the law school of Moscow State University, a romantic and a big fan of extreme sports.
In an embrace with a phone
S: Roman Yuryevich, tell me honestly: will we be able to talk at all? Your phone, as I see it, is being cut off every minute.
Yes, I even sleep with the phone. This is my second wife, one might say. But I'm used to it and I can't say that it is very annoying. Another thing is that they often call because of all the nonsense. We have to separate the wheat from the chaff.
S: So I have wedged myself into this busy schedule. There is interest in learning more about you, to talk about the club's successes ...
Well, success is a relative concept: we didn't become champions of Russia last year. But the team looked really decent throughout the championship, fighting for first place until the last rounds. Unfortunately, we did not succeed in everything - there was a period of inadmissible mistakes, due to which Zenit failed to overtake. Nevertheless, I think that in the second round CSKA showed interesting game, bright and spectacular. This kind of football is to the liking of the fans. I know that even many fans of our direct competitors recognize CSKA as the number one team precisely from the point of view of entertainment. So last year there are pleasant memories. But we need to move on to titles.
S: Let's prioritize. What comes to mind first?
Of course, participation in the Champions League quarterfinals is the first time our club has reached this stage. Successful performance in the Europa League. And, again, the second round of the Russian Championship, during which we regularly saw a real team on the field - a team in every sense of this voluminous concept. It became clear that CSKA is not just a selection of high-class footballers. It is a single whole, it is a fist, it is a perfectly balanced machine that is capable of thinking, developing and rebuilding itself. CSKA showed both attacking football and rational, if necessary; CSKA now has a drawing of the game, which is especially pleasing given the large number of newcomers - usually, after all, it takes much more time to build up. And if you also remember that Leonid Slutsky worked with the team, in fact, the first season, we can firmly say: CSKA in 2010 showed a good result.
S: Who do you see as the main competitor in the championship race in the coming season?
You know, Russia is such a country that any predictions practically lose their meaning. This applies to all types of activity, and even more so to sports. See what sad news comes from Amkar and Saturn? Who could have thought about this in the fall? In general, it is difficult to predict. But I'll try. If we take the 2010 season as a basis - of course, Zenit, Spartak and, probably, Rubin. Although none of those who set themselves lofty goals cannot be written off - for example, Lokomotiv and Dynamo. But at the distance, Zenit and Rubin looked the most stable and competitive. Partly - "Spartak".
Do not go to job.ru
S: What rating, in your opinion, deserves Main coach?
I think that the entire CSKA coaching staff, headed by Leonid Slutsky, did a good job. At the time of the decision on the coach, it was clear, of course, that he would need some time to adapt: it is no secret that Leonid Viktorovich has quite serious experience, but he did not work in top teams. And in them, with all due respect, somewhat different mechanisms operate, the players behave a little differently, the management sets other tasks. All this was a wonder for Slutsky, and he honestly admitted this more than once. But time passed, and everything fell into place. I believe that the coach coped with his job with dignity.
S: After Valery Gazzayev left the team, CSKA did not immediately come out on its own wave. At the same time, Slutsky was invited to work in a difficult period of life for the army. How, why, for what reasons did the club decide on this particular candidacy?
Honestly, I don't even want to remember the period when Valery Georgievich left CSKA. It was just New Year's Eve. You will not wish the enemy what we experienced then. We were not ready for this turn of events - to find ourselves without a head coach. The options that were in the immediate reserve, unfortunately, for various reasons did not grow together, and we rushed at a gallop across Europe. Have tried everything you can. Unless they did not go to the job.ru site. In general, in fact, they chose from what was. And at that time there was communication with the Brazilian specialist Zico, who had a wonderful season with Fenerbahce: the Champions League quarterfinals, the Turkish champion title ... But in Russia, Zico, unfortunately, did not work out. Then the Spanish coach Juande Ramos was invited: we held negotiations very quickly and were able to attract a class specialist to work, as they say, without noise and dust. Ramos is a very strong coach and a very decent person, but in Russia not everyone is able to realize themselves and find themselves. That's not news.
S: A special country, why is there ...
Yes, Russia requires a special approach. The problem of the language barrier, of course, is present, a completely exclusive mentality, climatic conditions - all in aggregate. Demanding quick success from Ramos was unwise, and we were aware of this. Therefore, in the end, a strategic decision was made for the future. Yes, Leonid Slutsky is a young specialist with no experience of working in top teams, but his professional level is beyond doubt. With him, sacrificing, perhaps, a momentary result, CSKA will achieve success in the future - we thought about it in this way. Fortunately, everything went even according to a more optimistic scenario: almost immediately, a phenomenal, in my opinion, result was given - participation in the Champions League quarterfinals. I think the choice was justified. And I really hope that CSKA will have very serious successes with Leonid Slutsky.
S: It's curious: when two serious foreign coaches in a row did not take root at once, there was no desire to return Gazzaev? Or was it unrealistic?
There is nothing unreal in life. But when you do something, you need to clearly understand why you are doing it. Valery Georgievich is associated with golden pages in the history of the army club. No one will argue that he was and remains the strongest Russian coach - this is not even discussed. But it is very difficult to enter the same river twice. And even more so three times. Gazzaev has already left the team once. Then he returned, and returned enchanting, winning the UEFA Cup. For the third time, probably, it would be very difficult for all of us to repeat this path. Therefore, we practically did not consider this option.
State clubs are doomed
S: Last year, the experts unanimously put CSKA in the top five for selection. I can congratulate you ...
Thanks. I am often asked what the secret of CSKA is. The answer is simple: in relation to the case. Evgeny Giner has said more than once that the clubs oriented on state subsidies, unfortunately, are doomed. In this matter, the president of CSKA turned out to be a visionary, as can be seen from the example of the same “Amkar” and “Saturn”. Budget money is a road to nowhere. And the point is not that someone accuses someone of a waste of people's money. It's just that Russian football in its purest form is by no means a business, therefore, no one sets any financial tasks for the management of the so-called “state” clubs. They put on sports. But it is clear that six or seven teams can compete for the first three places in the Russian championship, and the rest simply follow the path of assimilating budget funds. The money has been allocated, it needs to be spent, but how is the tenth question. The attitude to private capital is completely different. This is yours, not someone else's. This is a daily control, a daily record. This is the whole secret of success: we try to be extremely attentive to any deal, and even to the transfer one - doubly and tripled. At one time we have defined a strategy that will soon be ten years old. Her name is a bet on young, untracked, talented players. Such as Carvalho, Wagner, Zhirkov, Krasic, Jo, Doumbia, Tosic. When we found them, perhaps a narrow circle of specialists knew them, but their names did not mean anything to the fans. We followed them with all our eyes, taking into account not only the sports component, but also the character, mentality, marital status and so on. And, of course, we also made mistakes. For example, Maazu is an excellent player, but we, unfortunately, did not take into account certain traits of his character, which did not allow the guy to fully reveal himself in Russia.
S: Could it be more detailed: how exactly does the process of finding a suitable player take place?
Yes, I already said, there is no secret here. Only work. I can add that both the president and the club's shareholders are personally involved in transfer issues, and on a daily basis. There is no such thing that a certain breeder, the conditional Vasya Petrov, who is looking for the right people from morning to evening, brings us a profile and everyone immediately says: "Okay, let's try to take it." There is a certain system of work that we try to do responsibly. The club has a database of players aged 14 and over. As a rule, CSKA does not consider the candidacies of players over 23-24 years old - with rare exceptions. All footballers are divided into categories A, B and C - according to giftedness, sports performance, and so on. Breeders regularly update this database, and if necessary, we, referring to the list, enter into negotiations. Of course, they are far from always simple and successful, because the market is small. For example, several clubs from Russia were interested in Dumbia at once. And they offered the guy much more favorable conditions.
S: Why did Dumbia end up in CSKA?
I had to look for additional arguments ... So, I will continue. When there is a need to acquire this or that player, as, for example, in a situation where we knew that Krasic would leave, we look at who we have on the list in the right position. In Krasic's case, one of the alternatives was Tosic. We weighed all the pros and cons, including the fact that Serbs adapt in Russia, perhaps better than other foreigners, and made a collegial decision. And then the technical work began - calls, trips, negotiations. At the same time, CSKA prefers to negotiate directly with the clubs, avoiding all these near-football comrades.
S: By name of agents?
Yes. Although the agent is the agent, of course. But, in my experience, most of them appear only at the moment when the player moves from team to team, which, of course, promises certain profits. And for the rest of the period, when a football player needs help, the agents disappear somewhere.
S: Are you planning to strengthen for the upcoming long season?
The team, according to objective professional assessments, is currently staffed quite well. If no one leaves CSKA, there is absolutely no need to acquire new players: the competition for a place in the squad is very high, not all people get sufficient playing practice and, of course, remain unhappy with this circumstance. Our footballers are very ambitious people, most of them play for the national teams of their countries, and not the last ones in the football world. So if we are going to acquire new players, it will most likely be young people. For the future.
S: You said that someone can leave the team. Who exactly?
This is just a necessary caveat. This circumstance must always be borne in mind. This is football, this is life. CSKA is not a club that tries to make a profit on a player at the first opportunity. Many footballers who come to CSKA, after a while, noticeably rise in value. If we talk about the latest acquisitions - almost ten times, like Sekou, for example, whom we saw, one might say, out of the blue. And if there are proposals from top clubs worthy of both the players themselves and the CSKA brand, we will definitely consider them. Of course, it’s impossible not to let people go to Juventus or Chelsea, but the priority is still to keep the team in the form in which it is now.
Few are not afraid of Giner
S: At the meetings of the RFPL from the army club, two people are invariably present - you and Yevgeny Giner. Why?
This is exactly the question of responsibility and indifference. It is very important to improve the work of the club in all directions, and the Premier League today is authorized to develop the commercial component, to promote the brand of Russian football. Therefore, the presence of two representatives of the club at the meetings is a matter of principle. As they say, one head is good, but two are better. Naturally, all serious decisions in CSKA are made at the level of the club president, who directly participates in all processes without exception. But since I also need to keep abreast of events and I am a member of a number of working groups of the Premier League, my presence at the RFPL meetings is justified and expedient.
S: How long have you known Yevgeny Giner?
Since 2001.
S: What has he become for you during this time? A friend, an older comrade? Or does it remain the direct boss?
First, of course, Evgeny Lennorovich is my leader and teacher. During these ten years I have learned a lot from him. And not only me: almost all people who come across him in life speak of this person extremely positively. I think it's not for nothing that he is annually nominated for the title of the best sports manager in Russia. Absolutely right.
S: What did you personally learn from Giner?
First of all, the fact that the word "impossible" is not in his lexicon. There are enough examples when I was sure that this or that project was unrealistic, but then I became convinced of the opposite: if I try very hard, everything will work out. As Evgeny Lennorovich says, a person who wants to do a job will find ten ways to achieve this, and those who do not want to find a thousand ways why this cannot be done. God grant everyone such a teacher. The successes of CSKA are in many ways the successes of the president of the club.
S: For you, then, now, too, nothing is impossible?
It’s just, you know, many times the impossible actually turned out to be possible. As an example, I can recall the trial when CSKA players were accused of doping. Everyone around in one voice repeated that no one would stand on ceremony with us, and the guys would receive at least a year of disqualification, although we knew that we were innocent. The club then literally stood on its ears, we did a lot of work, and as a result, justice prevailed. But you could send two or three letters to the appropriate authorities and limit yourself to that ... So here, at CSKA, we often go across the stream, trying to achieve a result. True, not always, everything depends on us, as, for example, it was in the fall on the football field, when we could not score a penalty in three matches. Just some kind of accident, a fantastic result with a minus sign ...
S: Apparently, Giner also infected you with his performance?
Yes, I've already learned to go without sleep when necessary. In the same transfer issues, sometimes every hour counts.
S: Are you probably afraid of your boss?
You know, I think that in Russia - and not only in Russia - there are not so many people who would not be afraid of Giner. Not because he is scary and harsh. It's just a person who always says what he thinks. Maybe harsh, but always honest and, as a rule, to the point. And, of course, many people do not like this. No, I cannot say that I am afraid of Yevgeny Lennorovich, but his authority is undoubtedly a very tangible value.
All friends come from childhood
S: Do you have real friends in the football world?
No, because friends, in my opinion, are a piece category. There are friends. For example, I have a very good relationship with Igor Akinfeev. I can say that few people know him from a purely human point of view. Igor is not only a wonderful footballer, but also a rare person. May God grant everyone who has achieved such success to remain himself, as Igor was able to do. But I cannot say that I have real friends in football.
S: It is difficult to build close relationships with the people you work with ...
Yes, probably. My friends are mostly from school and university days.
S: Apparently, the position does not allow me to relax especially.
Oh sure. To work properly, you have to make certain sacrifices. But I keep in touch with my friends.
S: And with other club managers? They probably understand you like no one else ...
The relationship is extremely friendly. We communicate regularly with Maxim Mitrofanov from Zenit, with Evgeny Smolentsev, who recently moved from Spartak to Zhemchuzhina.
S: And with the players?
As I said, good relations with Akinfeev. Even with Rakhimich, with Shemberas, with the Berezutsky brothers. Nowadays it is very fashionable to be friends with football players, especially when they are successful. Yesterday no one knew them, but today the guys suddenly become overgrown with well-wishers. This is not my case. I am not a supporter of using the opportunities that my position gives in order to make friends with the stars in public.
Came to CSKA in troubled times
S: You've probably been rooting for CSKA since childhood?
I will not lie, I was not sick. For basketball CSKA - yes, I was worried, but in football, to be honest, there were no priorities. Since childhood, my favorite team is Barcelona. And so it is to this day. But now, of course, CSKA is in the first place, and Barça went to second.
S: As a child, whose posters were hung over the bed?
Drawn. I have never had any idols. Family photographs hung over the bed.
S: Did you play football yourself?
Yes, I played - both at school and for the team of the law faculty at Moscow State University, which was far from being the strongest at the university. Since childhood, football was very close, so I think I am terribly lucky that my work is connected with it.
S: Is it an accident that you are in demand in this particular area? Or did they deliberately do this?
Life, of course, is an amazing thing. Everything was like in a movie. When I was in my fourth year, it was by chance that the opportunity arose to work at CSKA. I did not consider it seriously, my task was to graduate from the university and, if possible, provide myself with additional income. It was 1999 - real troubled times. And everything that had to do with CSKA looked completely sad. I, as a common man in the street, drew information exclusively from the press. And I found out that CSKA was somehow connected with the financing of Chechen militants, with the clothing market ... Of course, the club had the same reputation. But I was offered to work as a legal adviser, and I thought: why not? Then the management changed in the club, in 2001 Evgeny Giner came to CSKA. By that time, I was already going to quit, because nothing good happened then. There were enthusiasts who tried to somehow establish legal order in football. But that was the time of an absolute legislative vacuum, no one had any idea about any norms regulating professional sports. There was only an empty "Law on physical culture and sports ”, which did not answer any question. Those times cannot be called otherwise than vague - not only for football, but for the whole country, which was just trying to get up from its knees. Even the very presence of a lawyer on the staff of the organization seemed nonsense. I remember calling a Moscow club, asked to put me in touch with a lawyer, and in response to me: “Where are you calling? This is a football club! "
S: Giner convinced him to stay?
When I already, as they say, pricked my skis into the legal profession in criminal cases - to be honest, I was very interested in this area of jurisprudence - and was about to write a statement, just a couple of words were enough for Evgeny Lennorovich to make me light up again. I agreed to stay and, as you might guess, I do not regret anything today. And it's not just career growth. We created the new CSKA, we, one might say, made history, and how interesting all this is is difficult to convey. Every day is a new challenge. I am very proud and very happy that I was in the right place at the right time.
Extreme is not enough
S: On holidays, the general director of a large football club, apparently, does not manage to rest like mere mortals?
No Unfortunately. And maybe fortunately. On holidays I try to spend free time with family - this is, in essence, a real holiday. Of course, I want to go somewhere to warm countries, but I still can't.
S: In general, can you classify yourself as lovers of outdoor activities?
When there is an opportunity - yes, of course. I really like windsurfing, for example. When I go somewhere, I always choose places where I can realize my hobby. I just don't know how to lie on the beach and sunbathe.
S: Russia recently came out of the New Year's half-oblivion. What can you wish the fans of CSKA - and all other clubs - in the coming year, the Year of the Rabbit?
In the year of the Rabbit? Multiply! The demographic situation needs to be improved! But seriously, the most important thing, in my opinion, is peace and well-being in the family. Unfortunately in recent times there is a lot of aggression around. People have simply forgotten how to appreciate what they have. We have ceased to rejoice in simple blessings, excuse the banality - the opportunity to look and see, enjoy the sun, sky, sea. You need to understand how important it is and how fragile, how easy it is to lose it all. I would like, of course, to have more harmony, warmth and love. Well, for CSKA fans personally - to be with us. And more victories! We have an anniversary, 100 years, so, of course, CSKA will try to please the people.
S: What would you like for yourself personally, if you forget about work? Let's say, collect a collection of butterflies or craft a ship in a bottle ...
You know, I once jumped with a parachute, I was then 19 years old. Since then, I have dreamed of repeating this feat, but somehow it does not work out. Either there is not enough time, then some phobias arise, I will not hide. So if we talk about desires not related to work, I want extreme, thrills, a sense of complete freedom. I would like to have more time to get a new high from life.
S: Is there really not enough thrill at work?
How much is enough! The adrenaline goes off scale sometimes! But this is completely different, the nature of these sensations is different. And they themselves are different.
S: Since childhood, such a passion for extreme sports?
Yes, since childhood. Of course, I delivered a lot of headaches to my parents and school teachers.
S: Well, well?
No, this is a topic for a separate discussion. Let's go some other time, okay?
S: Last question: when will CSKA win the Champions League?
This is for the fortunetellers, not for me. I will not make predictions. CSKA taught everyone a long time ago that they only talk about things that have happened here. I can only say that we really want this and are working in a given direction. Participation in the League quarterfinals - good to that confirmation, isn't it? We lost to the future winner, and, in my opinion, Inter, in the state in which he played against us, was practically invincible.
| God Loves Trinity
Throughout the history of CSKA, three legionnaire coaches have worked in the army club. The first was Portuguese Arthur Jorge, who had experience at Porto, Benfica and PSG. With CSKA, Jorge managed to win only the Russian Super Cup. True, in a match with a principal rival. The brilliant victory over Spartak (3: 1), of course, was remembered by the fans of the team.
In the summer of 2004, the Portuguese was replaced by the returning Valery Gazzaev, and less than a year later, CSKA achieved the most significant success in its history. Leaving at the end of 2008, Valery Georgievich left the fans at a loss: who will get the “team in a golden wrapper”. The baton was picked up by the Brazilian Zico, but the “white Pele” was not destined to finish working until the end of the season. The club's management decided to join the Champions League with Juande Ramos, but the Spaniard's tenure at the head of the team was short-lived. Leonid Slutsky did not manage to rectify CSKA's standings in the championship, but he brought the army team to the quarterfinals of the main European club tournament.
| CSKA Moscow: the 2011/12 season is open!
The first season according to the "autumn-spring" system and concurrently the longest championship in Russia, which will last a year and a half, starts very soon. Preparations for it have already begun. The other day, the capital's army team went to the first pre-season training camp in the Spanish Campoamora, where they plan to play two test matches - on January 26 and 27.
The army team will hold the second training camp in Turkey. The team will leave for Belek on January 31, where they will stay until February 9 and will play four test games (February 2, 4, 6 and 9).
Already on February 17, the army team is waiting for the first performance of this year in European competitions - a match in the Europa League playoffs. The team will go on a visit to the Greek club PAOK. The championship in the Russian Premier League starts on March 12. But with whom the army team will have to play in the first round is still unknown, because the future of the opponent in the starting round (Perm "Amkar") is still in question.
| The mind does not understand
Players and coaches, who have not taken root in Russia and in CSKA in particular, sometimes talk about their impressions of our country, a stay in which for many becomes a real test.
For example, the former head coach of the army team Zico traditionally complained about the Russian winter in one of his interviews: “I think that the main problem for the South American is the cold. I have been to different countries, and it was cool everywhere from time to time, but Russia is a special topic. Here I understood for the first time what real cold is and what it is, real snow, when the desire to leave the house completely disappears. "
But one of the main complaints of all legionnaires is still racism. “I did not expect that what happened to CSKA striker Maazu happens here,” Zico shared his impressions of the experiences of a dark-skinned footballer who had heard insults from Russian fans more than once.
Ouvo Moussa Maazu himself has also spoken out in the press more than once about how difficult it was for him to survive in Russia. True, the striker from Niger was also upset by the “heaviness of being”: the language barrier and unusual food in comparison with African food prevented the talented striker from fully revealing himself. “Moscow was a living hell - both in terms of language and food,” Maaz complained in an interview with foreign media.
Please do not use without the permission of the publisher. Quoting is allowed with a mandatory link to the weekly.
General Director of CSKA Moscow football club Roman Babayev in an interview with NEWS.am correspondent Vere Martirosyan spoke about his Armenian roots, why CSKA did not acquire Henrikh Mkhitaryan in due time and what steps the club is taking now to increase the attendance of its new stadium ...
Recently, an article about the most influential Armenians in Russian football appeared on one of the Russian sports sites. It turned out that there are a lot of Armenians in Russian football. It's no secret that you also have Armenian roots. Where is your family from?
My parents are Armenians. We are from Baku. I lived in Armenia. I went to school to them. Pushkin. I know Armenian, but due to lack of practice, now I can hardly speak, although I understand perfectly.
When was the last time you were in Armenia?
In 2000. I plan to visit next year. I really miss you. I know Yerevan very well. For a long time he lived in Byurakan. As a teenager, I climbed Mount Aragats all the way. When I lived in Armenia, there was a very difficult period - cold, dark years. But, despite this, I have very fond memories. As well as from Nagorno-Karabakh. As a child, I was in Stepanakert and Shushi. Our relatives lived there.
CSKA President Evgeny Lennorovich Giner also has Armenian roots?
Yes, he does not hide the fact that Armenian blood also flows in his veins. Often in Armenia. He has a lot of close Armenian friends.
How did it happen that there are so many Armenians in Russian football?
Well, not just football. Historically, it happened that the Armenians showed themselves in various spheres. This is inherent in the people - family, education and work are a priority for any Armenian family. We had a difficult financial situation in the family - my mother was a doctor, my father was an engineer. But they did everything for me to get a good education. I graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University with honors. Armenian parents try to give their children a good education.
Do you follow Armenian football?
I do, but lately there are not many reasons for joy. At the club level, teams have no success in Eurocups, and the team is not happy yet. This may be due to the difficult economic situation. But I communicate with colleagues from Armenian clubs and, of course, I worry, mainly about the national team.
How did you get into football?
As a 4th year student, I tried to find a job. Through a friend, the opportunity arose to work in the CSKA football club as a legal adviser. Then, under the previous leadership, the club was not worried better times... Honestly, I thought I wouldn't last long here. With the knowledge and ambitions that Moscow State University gives, I wanted more. But he endured it, and then, as they say, got involved. And it seemed to me that doing sports law is very interesting. At that time, there was no such thing as sports law. There was a kind of vacuum, no one understood how to conclude transfer and employment contracts. In 2001, when Evgeny Lennorovich Giner came to the club, it immediately became clear that the club had set new big goals. He invited me to stay. And I do not regret at all that I stayed.
Can you say that you are good at football or your role is to be a good manager?
I'm more of a manager. Although, when you have been working in football for more than 20 years, you begin to understand to one degree or another. I do not participate in the breeding work of the club, precisely as a breeder. I do not consider myself educated enough to evaluate footballers. We put our trust in breeders. My task, if a candidate has already been selected, is to conduct negotiations as efficiently as possible, conclude a contract, and ensure the player's life.
Where do the general directors of football clubs study, and most of all, what professions become CEOs in football clubs?
There are many educational programs that provide an opportunity to learn essential skills in a short time. And the most important thing is to use the resources that are at the disposal of the club as efficiently as possible. I don't see much difference between the CEO of a commercial structure and a football club. Of course, you need to understand football, but in fact it is necessary to use the resources that are at the disposal of the club as efficiently as possible in order to achieve maximum results, both sports and economic.
It's no secret that CSKA is one of the few private clubs in Russia. Therefore, we are trying to build our business model in a European manner. How much we earn, we spend so much. It is desirable to earn more, but due to objective economic reasons, it is not always possible. Manchester United's CEO Ed Woodward has a long career in a consulting company. The club drew attention to him and invited him. The largest percentage are lawyers and commercial directors who become CEOs. Sometimes and former footballers but they are more likely to become sports directors.
How do you feel about criticism? I often read criticism addressed to you, especially criticize your statements about the attendance of CSKA matches?
I react very calmly. Criticism is sometimes very helpful. We cannot assume that everything is good just because we are the most titled club in Russia. Despite fierce competition, over the past five years we have become champions three times and two silver medals. For the last five years we have been playing in the group stage of the Champions League. It's good when criticism is constructive, but this is not always the case. I try to get acquainted with all the materials that are dedicated to our club. In terms of attendance at matches, we have taken a number of very serious measures over the past few months, and the result was not long in coming. Of course, it is not very correct to cite the match against Manchester United as an example. On the other hand, last year we played against such teams as Tottenham and Monaco, but the stadium was not completely filled. Yes, Manchester United is a more status team, but even less this also applies to the work of our services, the acceleration of security screenings, pricing policy, and communication with fans. Even the Russian championship already has dynamics. Despite the fact that it is already autumn and cold, people come to the stadium.
And all this has not happened before?
It was, but our stadium is new. He recently turned a year old. For a similar kind of object, this is a negligible period. This is a unique stadium. A business center is integrated into it. We adopted this idea from Stamford Bridge in London. We also raised the level of service for fans - we increased the number of security checkpoints, which made it possible to reduce queues, and improved the quality of catering. Very serious measures are being taken to ensure the maximum safety of the fans. Separately, it should be noted our fans, with whom we regularly communicate and are in close contact. There have been no offenses lately.
In addition, despite the economic problems, we have lowered ticket prices, even for Champions League matches. And I repeat - we already have a result. Not yet the one I would like to have in the end. But the attendance of 16,000 per match is not the limit, but not too bad either. We will try to reach the level of about 20,000.
Is the CEO position the limit of your ambitions or will you strive for more?
I am very pleased with everything. I am very grateful to the shareholders of the club, my colleagues, our team, whose successes make it possible to regularly achieve sports and economic results. I have no ambitions to become the Minister of Sports.
What can you say about last match CSKA in the Champions League against Manchester United? The fans of your club looked decent to the end, although the team lost by a large score.
It was a great football celebration. Especially considering that the two legendary clubs Liverpool and Manchester were simultaneously in Moscow. The result was disappointing, but in fairness I must say that Manchester United is a very strong team and it would be difficult for any Russian club to play with them. I was delighted with the atmosphere of the stadium. The fans supported their team as best they could. Thanks to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, there were many Armenians at the stadium.
How do you assess the chances of CSKA in the group?
Given the current situation, Basel will be our main rival. This does not mean that we underestimate Benfica, but when the Portuguese team has no points, and we have the same points with Basel, then the fight in the group for the second place will go against Basel.
They say that at one time CSKA was interested in Mkhitaryan. How serious was the interest from the club back then?
We were really interested in him. He played well in Ukraine, while Movsisyan played well in Spartak. Mkhitaryan already declared himself very brightly at that time. When he was offered to us, he had already played at Shakhtar. And we are very careful with our transfer policy. And above a certain maximum, we do not raise the transfer amounts. Unfortunately, at that time, his transition was no longer possible.
Vera Martirosyan
