Spartak welcome Titov back

By Eduard Nisenboim

A year to the day after he was banned from football for testing positive for the banned substance bromantan following the first leg of Russia's FIFA World Cup play-off against Wales, FC Spartak Moskva welcomed their favourite wayward son - Yegor Titov - back to the pitch.

Ban expired
On 22 January, the day that his ban expired, Titov was the star of a specially-arranged friendly game against Spartak coach Aleksandrs Starkovs' old club, Latvian champions FC Skonto. He did not score in the 2-2 draw, but his return has raised Spartak's hopes of coming in from the cold in 2005.

Busy phone
The 28-year-old was certainly left in no doubt that the club had missed him as the match approached. "My phone has been white-hot from all the calls I have received," said Titov. "Dozens of friends called to send their regards. And I am very thankful to those who supported me throughout this year."

Spartak assist
A small ceremony heralded Titov's return to the pitch, and he managed 51 minutes of action against Skonto before being replaced by Dmitri Alenichev. He looked bright, and fit and gave Spartak fans a glimpse at what they had been missing by setting up Argentinian Fernando Cavenaghi for Spartak's first goal.

'First steps'
"Tonight we saw Titov taking his first steps," said Starkovs after the match. "I'm sure he will make progress in every game that lies ahead, but as many fans saw, he is still the same old Titov who spreads the ball so wisely. I can only hope that he can work even harder."

Championship sparkle
Certainly, Titov in fine form would be a huge bonus for Starkovs as the man who led Latvia to the finals of UEFA EURO 2004™ looks to bring some championship sparkle to his first full season in charge at Spartak since taking over from Nevio Scala last August.

Post-Soviet giants
Champions of Russia in all but one of the nine seasons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of FC Lokomotiv Moskva and PFC CSKA Moskva in recent seasons has corresponded with a sharp decline in fortunes for Spartak, once regular contenders in the UEFA Champions League.

Steep decline
Having finished third in the league in 2002 as Lokomotiv won their first title in 2002, Spartak had dropped to tenth by the time CSKA lifted their first post-independence title in 2003, while last season was not much better, as Spartak finished eighth.

New approach
However, since arriving in Moscow, Starkovs has been busy reorganising and renewing his side with the intention of challenging CSKA and Lokomotiv, as well as nouveau riche upstarts FC Dinamo Moskva, and returning to the pinnacle of Russian football.

Revitalised roster
With Argentinians Cavenaghi and Clemente Rodríguez, Alenichev, Czech Republic defender Martin Jiránek, Lithuanian defender Ignas Dedura and former FK Crvena Zvezda captain Nemanja Vidic all signing during the 2004 season, Starkovs has continued to add to his armoury during the winter break.

Winter signings
Russia's most famous side will start the 2005 season with former FC Rubin Kazan winger Denis Boyarintsev, Latvian international Andrejs Rubins and Russian Under-21 goalkeeper Dmitri Khomic, a signing from FC Alania Vladikavkaz, having been added to an already impressive squad.

Important Titov
However, Titov may yet be the most important arrival of all. "I wanted to score so much," he said after his comeback match. "I want to thank the club and the fans for this day." Helping Spartak to challenge for the title in 2005 would be the ideal way to do it.