Safar hands for Spartak
Monday, June 16, 2003
Article summary
FC Spartak Moskva have signed Hungarian goalkeeper Szabolcs Safar from SV Austria Salzburg.
Article body
Free transfer
The 28-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Moscow club, and will move to Spartak on a free transfer once his current deal with the Austrian side expires on 30 June.
Austrian citizenship
Safar, who joined Salzburg from Hungarian side Vasas SC, was first choice for his club in Austria and played 14 games for the Hungarian national side until he retired from international football on acquiring Austrian citizenship.
Goalkeeping crisis
The goalkeeper's arrival should alleviate some of Spartak's problems, with first-choice goalkeeper Abdellulah Bagui nursing an injury while stand-in Alexei Zuyev has not been showing his best form for the club.
Cup glory
Spartak are only 13th in the league at present, having recorded 13 points from their 12 games this season. However, they already have silverware to show for their efforts this year, having beaten FC Rostov 1-0 in Saturday's Russian Cup final.
