Karpin calls time on Spartak reign

Valeri Karpin has resigned as coach of FC Spartak Moskva after his side were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League and consigned to the bottom of the Russian Premier-Liga in the space of four days.

Karpin stepped down after Sunday's 2-1 defeat at FC Anzhi Makhachkala, a result which left Spartak bottom of the standings with just four points from their first five games. The 42-year-old former Russian international will, however, continue in his other post at the club, explaining: "It was decided to look for a new coach. That is a job for the general director, and I will do that now. I was ready to leave the post anyway, but the board would not consider it."

Karpin will nonetheless remain on the bench until after Wednesday's Russian Cup quarter-final against FC Krasnodar, saying: "We do not have enough time to search for a new coach and sign a contract with him. It seems the Krasnodar game will be my last as Spartak coach." The Anzhi Makhachkala setback came in the wake of the team's 5-2 home loss to FC Porto on Thursday which completed a 10-3 aggregate reverse for the Muscovites in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

The outgoing coach, who spent five years playing for Spartak, was appointed general director in August 2008 and also took the coaching reins the following April. He guided Spartak to second place in the 2009 Premier League and fourth last year – earning a place in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League play-offs. After their exit from this season's UEFA Champions League group stage, Spartak got through two rounds of the UEFA Europa League before their Porto demise.