Rubin end Berdyev's 12-year reign
Friday, December 20, 2013
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Kurban Berdyev has been dismissed after 12 years in charge of UEFA Europa League contenders FC Rubin Kazan, with the Tatarstan side lying 11th in the Russian table.
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Kurban Berdyev has been dismissed as coach of UEFA Europa League contenders FC Rubin Kazan following a meeting with the president of the Republic of Tatarstan, which is the club's main financial backer.
The decision was prompted by a poor start to the Russian season, with Rubin lying 11th in the table with just five wins from their first 19 games. The Ashkabat-born Berdyev, 61, had been in charge of the club since 2001, making him one of the longest-serving coaches in European football. He leaves along with club vice-president Kamil Iskhakov and general director Andrei Gromov.
Berdyev led Rubin unbeaten through to this season's UEFA Europa League round of 32, having signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with the club in December 2012, which bound him to the Tatarstan side until 2015. His biggest achievements at the club included Russian titles in 2008 and 2009 and qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage – where they earned a shock 2-1 win at FC Barcelona in 2009. More recently, he led Rubin to a first Russian Cup triumph in 2012.
Rubin take on Real Betis Balompié in the UEFA Europa League round of 32, playing the second leg at home.
