He explained why Roman Eremenko moved to Spartak, and not to the army club.
- Roman Eremenko's parents are surprised why CSKA is still silent and does not clarify the situation ...
- Will explain. We believe that this situation is overblown. Therefore, they deliberately did not want to comment on it, so as not to aggravate the situation again and, first of all, not to harm the player himself. But now, when things have already come to the point of accusations against CSKA, I consider it necessary to clarify.
I want to emphasize right away that we do not agree with the terms "traitor", "traitor" in relation to Roman. Such words are simply inappropriate in this situation.
- However, Eremenko will play in Spartak, and not in CSKA.
I can’t say that we are very upset by this fact, but we are definitely surprised. Roman's decision seems to us at least strange and unexpected. We fought for him until the very end in the UEFA disciplinary bodies, supported him as best we could.
They did not apply to him significant penalties provided for by the contract in such cases. Although it is difficult to overestimate the damage - both sports, and reputation, and financial, which was caused to the club by all this unpleasant history. In addition, you need to take into account the rather large compensation that CSKA paid at the time to Rubin for Eremenko's transfer.
- CSKA could sue Eremenko, as Chelsea tried to do it in relation to Mutu?
Yes, they could do it. And the fine was big. That is, this is not even a subject of discussion - everything was spelled out in the contract. But we thought it was wrong. Everyone can stumble. We tried to support Roman as best we could. And from a moral point of view, they provided legal assistance. Now the act of Eremenko, to put it mildly, surprised. We certainly did not expect such a turn.
- Was there an agreement that Eremenko would return to CSKA?
- In the winter of this year, we really began substantive negotiations with Eremenko on the renewal of the contract, when we learned that Roman intended to return to big football. Meetings have begun. At a certain stage, as it seemed to us, we agreed on everything in principle. Moreover, the head coach, the team leaders personally communicated with Eremenko, expressed their full support and desire to work together further, no matter what.
- Why did not agree with Eremenko?
— Apparently, the decisive factor was the financial factor. Although I don't think there was a huge difference in the proposals. But ... In principle, there is nothing shameful in this. However, it seems to us that in this situation, it would be much more important for Eremenko to resume his career where there are more prerequisites - where he already had relationships with teammates, there was Gancharenko's joint work, the personnel situation in this position. And, of course, it is difficult to overestimate the support of the fans when a person returns after such a disqualification. In my opinion, this is very, very important. I no longer take into account any moral and ethical aspects.
- At the same time, Roman's parents claim that for two years CSKA practically did not contact and did not support their son.
- I perfectly understand the emotions of Roman's mother, who is perplexed when now his son is insulted and accused of betrayal. It is unacceptable! Not that situation. No one, as they say, took an oath on blood.
But we constantly communicated with Eremenko, and in the winter we actively negotiated with him. In principle, until recently, they continued in one form or another. They exchanged drafts of an employment contract, discussed conditions, and so on.
- Approximately what conditions were discussed?
- Understanding the difficult financial situation of Eremenko, an agreement was reached that Roman could move from CSKA to any foreign club (China, Arab countries, Europe) for a symbolic compensation.
- Even so?
- Yes. We understood that the player first of all needs to improve his financial situation, think about the interests of the family. Therefore, we agreed that if a player receives a very good offer from abroad, he will leave for a symbolic sum. But what happened happened. In any case, we wish Roman good luck and patience. Him and his family.
- When did it become clear that he would not return to CSKA?
“Negotiations were basically curtailed about two months ago. And then the final decision had not yet been made. We continued to communicate with the agent - Marco Trabucchi. I think they also had to make a difficult choice, weigh all the pros and cons.
- Did Eremenko himself somehow explain to you why he chose Spartak?
“I repeat, there is no need to explain anything here. Everything is on the surface here. Financial conditions. But we do not consider this a betrayal. But I have already said above the arguments why, it seems to me, it would be more correct for Roman to make a choice not in favor of money, but in favor of resuming his career where more prerequisites are created. And then really try to make money - in the Chinese championship, Arab countries, and so on.
- From a moral and ethical point of view, after letting CSKA down, Eremenko should have returned to the team and, as they say, atone for his guilt on the field?
But we are not the morality police. I would not like to discuss moral and ethical aspects. As they say, everyone has their own skeletons in the closet. I am now talking about rational things, and everyone decides for himself the moral and ethical issues.
- Don't you think that the factor of Marco Trabucchi, who closely cooperates with the red-whites, played a decisive role in the transition of Eremenko to Spartak?
- Maybe. Although Marco and I have an absolutely normal, working relationship. I don't think it was in retaliation. They made such a decision. The financial factor, I think, came to the fore here.
Will you shake hands with Eremenko at the meeting?
- Of course, I will. Although his decision and caused bewilderment. We had a great desire to work with Eremenko again. It seems to me that a beautiful story could turn out if Roman returned to CSKA, where an unpleasant situation happened to him (he nevertheless let down the guys, the team, and the club). But we would do everything in our power so that Roman would quickly forget about that incident, get in shape and do what he does best - score goals, give assists. At the same time, we understood that, perhaps, in a year he would leave us practically for free in a Chinese or Arab club. Well... Life goes on.
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 team: for the most part, they are laconic. With the hope of finding out as much as possible about Roman Babaev, I went to the CSKA office. Alas, we had to wait a bit: 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 that need to be addressed immediately. When at last Roman Yuryevich was released, he told everything about himself at ease and honestly. It became clear how versatile and addicted he is.
So, get acquainted: the general director of CSKA Roman Babaev is a graduate of the law faculty of Moscow State University, a romantic and a big fan of extreme sports.
In touch with the phone
S: Roman Yuryevich, tell me honestly: will we be able to talk at all? The phone, as I see it, is cut off every minute.
Yes, I even sleep with the phone. This is my second wife, you can say. But I'm used to it and I can't say that it's very annoying. Another thing is that they often call because of all sorts of nonsense. We have to separate the wheat from the chaff.
S: So I wedged myself into this busy schedule. There is an interest to learn more about you, to talk about the success of the club ...
Well, success is a relative concept: we did not become champions of Russia last year. But the team looked really worthy throughout the entire championship, fighting for the first place until the last rounds. Not everything worked out for us, unfortunately - there was a period of unacceptable mistakes, due to which Zenit failed to overtake. Nevertheless, I think that in the second round CSKA showed an interesting game, bright and spectacular. Fans love this kind of football. I know that even many fans of our direct competitors recognize CSKA as the number one team precisely from the standpoint of entertainment. So there are fond memories of last year. But we need to move on to the titles.
S: Let's prioritize. What comes to mind first?
Of course, participation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is the first time our club has reached this stage. Successful performance in the Europa League. And, I repeat, 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 set of high-class players. This is a single whole, this is a fist, this is a perfectly balanced machine that is able to think, develop and rebuild. CSKA showed both attacking football and rational football, if the need arose; CSKA got a game pattern, which is especially pleasing given the large number of newcomers - it usually takes much more time to build up. And if we also remember that Leonid Slutsky worked with the team, in fact, the first season, we can firmly say: CSKA showed a good result in 2010.
S: Whom do you see as the main competitor in the championship race in the coming season?
You know, Russia is such a country that all sorts of predictions practically lose their meaning. This applies to all types of activities, and sports - even more so. Do you 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 high goals for themselves can be written off - for example, Lokomotiv and Dynamo. But at a distance, it was Zenit and Rubin that looked the most stable and competitive. Partly - "Spartacus".
Do not go to job.ru
S: What rating do you think the head coach deserves?
I think that the entire coaching staff of CSKA, headed by Leonid Slutsky, did a good job. At the moment the decision was made 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, there are slightly different mechanisms, the players behave a little differently, the management sets other tasks. All this was a novelty for Slutsky, and he honestly admitted this more than once. But time passed, and everything fell into place. I think that the coach coped with his work with dignity.
S: After Valery Gazzaev left the team, CSKA did not immediately get on their 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 choose this candidate?
Honestly, I don’t even want to remember the period when Valery Georgievich left CSKA. It was just New Year's Eve. You won't wish what we experienced then on your enemy. We were not ready for such a turn of events - to be without a head coach. The options that were available in the nearest reserve, unfortunately, for various reasons did not grow together, and we rushed at a gallop across Europe. We've tried everything we can. Unless they visited the site job.ru. 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 quarter-finals of the Champions League, the title of champion of Turkey ... 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 top-notch specialist to work, as they say, without noise and dust. Ramos is a very strong coach and a very decent person, but not everyone in Russia is able to realize himself and find himself. That's not news.
S: A special country, what 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 together. It was unreasonable to demand quick success from Ramos, 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 in top teams, but his professional level is beyond doubt. With him, sacrificing, perhaps, a momentary result, CSKA will succeed in the future - approximately in this vein, we thought. Fortunately, everything went even according to a more optimistic scenario: almost immediately, a phenomenal, in my opinion, result was issued - participation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. I think the choice justified itself. And I really hope that CSKA will have very serious success 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 three times - even more so. Gazzaev has already left the team once. Then he returned, and returned enchantingly, winning the UEFA Cup. For the third time, it would probably 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, experts unanimously gave CSKA a five for selection. You can be congratulated...
Thank you. I am often asked what is the secret of CSKA. The answer is simple: in relation to the case. Yevgeny Giner has repeatedly said that clubs focused on state subsidies, unfortunately, are doomed. In this matter, the president of CSKA turned out to be a visionary, this can be seen in the example of the same Amkar and Saturn. Public money is a road to nowhere. And it's not that someone accuses someone of wasting people's money. It's just that Russian football in its purest form is by no means a business, so no one sets any financial tasks for the management of the so-called "state" clubs. Put sports. But it is clear, after all, that six or seven teams, no more, can fight for the first three places in the Russian championship, and the rest simply go along the path of mastering budget funds. The money has been allocated, it needs to be spent, but how is the tenth question. The attitude towards private capital is completely different. This is yours, not someone else's. This is daily control, daily accounting. That's the whole secret of success: we try to be extremely attentive to any transaction, and even to the transfer - doubly and triple. We once defined a strategy that will soon be ten years old. Her name is a bet on young, unpromoted, talented players. Such as Carvalho, Wagner, Zhirkov, Krasic, Jo, Doumbia, Tosic. When we found them, perhaps they were familiar to a narrow circle of specialists, 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, unfortunately, we did not take into account certain traits of his character, which did not allow the guy to fully reveal himself in Russia.
S: Can you be more specific: how exactly is the process of finding a suitable player?
Yes, I already said, there is no secret here. Only work. I can add that both the president and the shareholders of the club are personally involved in transfer issues, and on a daily basis. There is no such thing as a certain breeder, conditional Vasya Petrov, who is looking for the right people from morning to evening, brings us a profile and everyone immediately says: “Well, 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 footballers over the age of 23-24, with rare exceptions. All football players are divided into categories A, B and C - by talent, by sports results, and so on. Breeders regularly update this database, and if necessary, we turn to the list and enter into negotiations. Of course, they are not always simple and successful, because the market is tight. For example, several clubs from Russia were interested in Doumbia at once. And they offered the guy much more favorable conditions.
S: Why did Doumbia end up in CSKA?
I had to look for additional arguments ... So, I will continue. When the need arises to acquire a particular player, as, for example, in a situation where we knew that Krasic would leave, we look at who appears on our list in the right position. In Krasic's case, Tosic was one of the alternatives. We weighed all the pros and cons, including the fact that the Serbs adapt to Russia, perhaps better than other foreigners, and made a collective decision. And then the technical work went on - calls, trips, negotiations. At the same time, CSKA prefers to negotiate directly with the clubs, avoiding all these near-football comrades.
S: By the name of the agents?
Yes. Although the agent is different for the agent, of course. But, in my experience, most of them appear only at the moment when a player moves from team to team, which, of course, promises certain profits. And for the rest of the period, when a footballer needs help, agents disappear somewhere.
S: Do you plan to strengthen for the upcoming long season?
The team, according to objective professional assessments, is currently well staffed. 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 enough game practice and, of course, remain dissatisfied with this circumstance. Our football players are very ambitious people, most of them play for the national teams of their countries, and far from being the last in the football world. So if we 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 fact must always be kept in mind. This is football, this is life. CSKA is not the kind of club that tries to make a profit on a player at the first opportunity. Many players who come to CSKA noticeably increase in price after a while. If we talk about recent acquisitions - almost ten times like Sekou, for example, whom we saw, we can say out of the blue. And if there are offers from top clubs worthy of both the players themselves and the CSKA brand, we will definitely consider them. Of course, it is impossible not to let people go to Juventus or Chelsea, but the priority is still to preserve the team in the form in which it is now.
Few people are not afraid of Giner
S: Two people are invariably present at RFPL meetings from the army club - you and Evgeny Giner. Why?
This is just 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 meetings is a matter of principle. As the saying goes, one head is good, but two is better. Naturally, all serious decisions in CSKA are made at the level of the club president, who is directly involved in all processes without exception. But since I also need to keep abreast of events and I am included in a number of working groups of the Premier League, my presence at RFPL meetings is justified and expedient.
S: How long have you known Yevgeny Giner?
Since 2001.
S: What did he become for you during this time? Friend, senior comrade? Or is it still the direct boss?
First, of course, Evgeny Lennorovich is my leader and teacher. I have learned a lot from him in these ten years. And not only me: almost all the people who come across him in life speak extremely positively about this person. I think it is 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 vocabulary. There are plenty of examples when I was sure that this or that project was unrealistic, but then I was convinced of the opposite: if you try very hard, everything will work out. As Yevgeny Lennorovich says, a person who wants to do a job will find ten ways to achieve this, and one who does not want to find a thousand ways why this cannot be done. God bless everyone with such a teacher. The success of CSKA is largely the success of the club's president.
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 unanimously 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 not to blame for anything. The club then literally stood on its ears, we did a lot of work, and in the end, justice prevailed. But you could send two or three letters to the appropriate authorities and limit yourself to this ... So here, at CSKA, we often go across the stream, trying to achieve results. True, not always, everything depends on us, as, for example, it was in the autumn on the football field, when we could not score a penalty in three matches. Just some kind of accident, a fantastic outcome with a minus sign...
S: Apparently, Giner also infected you with efficiency?
Yes, I have already learned to go without sleep when necessary. In the same transfer issues, sometimes every hour counts.
S: Are you 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 man who always says what he thinks. Maybe harsh, but always honest and, as a rule, to the point. And, of course, a lot of people don't like it. No, I cannot say that I am afraid of Yevgeny Lennorovich, but his authority is certainly 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 football player, but also a rare person. God forbid everyone who has achieved such success to remain themselves, as Igor could do. But I can't say that I have real friends in football.
S: It's hard 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 you to especially relax.
Oh sure. To work normally, 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 ...
Relations are exclusively friendly. We communicate regularly with Maxim Mitrofanov from Zenit, with Evgeny Smolentsev, who recently moved from Spartak to Zhemchuzhina.
S: What about the players?
As I said, good relations with Akinfeev. Also with Rakhimich, with Shemberas, with the Berezutsky brothers. It's very fashionable to be friends with footballers now, especially when they are successful. Nobody knew them yesterday, but today the guys are suddenly 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 be friends with the stars in public.
Came to CSKA in troubled times
S: Have you been rooting for CSKA since childhood?
I won't lie, I didn't get sick. Yes, I was worried about CSKA basketball, 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 in the first place, of course, CSKA, and Barca went to second.
S: As a child, whose posters hung over the bed?
Draws. I never had idols. Family photos hung above the bed.
Q: Did you play football?
Yes, I played - both at school and for the law school team at Moscow State University, which was considered far from the strongest at the university. Football has been very close since childhood, so I think I'm terribly lucky that work is connected with it.
S: Is it a coincidence that you were in demand in this particular area? Or did you deliberately go for it?
Life, of course, is an amazing thing. Everything was like in a movie. When I was in my fourth year, quite by accident 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 quite sad. I, as a simple layman, drew information exclusively from the press. And I found out that CSKA was somehow connected with the financing of Chechen fighters, with the clothing market ... Of course, the club had that reputation. But I was offered to work as a legal adviser, and I thought: why not? Then the leadership 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 restore the legal order in football. But that was a time of 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 a single question. Those times can’t be called otherwise than vague – not only for football, but for the whole country, which was just trying to get up off its knees. Even the very presence of a lawyer in the staff of the organization seemed nonsense. I remember I called a Moscow club, asked to put me in touch with a lawyer, and in response to me: “Where are you calling? It's a football club!"
S: Giner convinced, then, to stay?
When I had already, as they say, sharpened my skis in the criminal lawyers - to be honest, I was very interested in this area of jurisprudence - and was about to write a statement, Evgeny Lennorovich had just a couple of words to fire me up again. I agreed to stay and, as you might guess, I do not regret anything today. And it's not just about career growth. We created a new CSKA, we can say we made history, and it's hard to convey how interesting all this is. Every day is a new challenge. I am very proud and very happy that I was at the right time in the right place.
Extreme is not enough
S: On holidays, the general director of a large football club, apparently, does not manage to relax, like mere mortals?
No Unfortunately. Or maybe fortunately. On holidays, I try to spend my free time with my family - this is, in fact, a real holiday. Of course, I want to go somewhere in warm countries, but so far I have not been able to.
S: In general, can you classify yourself as an outdoor enthusiast?
Whenever possible, yes, of course. I love windsurfing, for example. Going 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 has recently come out of the New Year's half-forgetfulness. What can you wish the fans of CSKA - and all other clubs - in the coming year, the Year of the Rabbit?
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, there has been a lot of aggression around lately. People have simply forgotten how to appreciate what they have. We have ceased to rejoice in simple blessings, sorry for the banality - the opportunity to look and see, to enjoy the sun, sky, sea. You need to understand how important it is and how fragile, how easy it can all be lost. I would like, of course, to have more harmony, warmth and love. As for the fans of CSKA personally - to be with us. And more wins! We have an anniversary, 100 years, so, of course, CSKA will try to please the people.
S: And what do you wish for yourself personally, if you forget about work? For example, collect a collection of butterflies or make a ship in a bottle ...
You know, I once skydived, I was then 19 years old. Since then, I dream 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 it. So if we talk about desires that are not related to work, I want extreme sports, thrills, a feeling of complete freedom. I would like to have more time to get a new buzz from life.
S: Are there not enough thrills at work?
How much more is enough! Adrenaline is sometimes so over the top! 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 gave a lot of headaches to my parents and school teachers.
S: Come on, come on?
No, this is a topic for a separate discussion. Let's go another time, okay?
S: Last question: when will CSKA win the Champions League?
This is for the soothsayers, not for me. I will not make predictions. CSKA has long taught everyone that they only talk about things that have taken place here. I can only say that we really want this and are working in the given direction. Participation in the quarterfinals of the League is a good confirmation of this, isn't it? We lost to the future winner, and, in my opinion, Inter, in the state in which they played against us, was almost unbeatable.
|God loves a trinity
In the entire history of CSKA, three legionnaire coaches have worked in the army club. The first was the Portuguese Arthur Jorge, who had experience in Porto, Benfica and PSG. With CSKA, Jorge managed to win only the Russian Super Cup. True, in a match with a principal opponent. The bright victory over Spartak (3:1) was certainly remembered by the team's fans.
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 complete it before the end of the season. The club's management decided to enter the Champions League with Juande Ramos, but the Spaniard's stay at the head of the team turned out to be short-lived. Leonid Slutsky did not have time to improve the standings of CSKA in the championship, but he brought the army team to the quarterfinals of the main European club tournament.
|CSKA: the 2011/12 season is open!
The first season according to the "autumn-spring" system and concurrently the longest Russian championship, which will stretch for a year and a half, will start 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 control matches - on January 26 and 27.
The second training camp of the army team will be held in Turkey. The team will travel to Belek on January 31, where they will stay until February 9 and play four control games (February 2, 4, 6 and 9).
Already on February 17, the army team is waiting for the first performance in European competition this year - a match in the playoffs of the Europa League. The team will visit 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, it is still unknown, because the future of the rival in the starting round (Amkar Perm) 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 becomes a real test for many.
For example, the former head coach of the army 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 everywhere it was cool from time to time, but Russia is a special topic. Here, for the first time, I understood 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 didn’t expect what happened to CSKA striker Maazu to happen here,” Zico shared his impressions about the experiences of a black football player who had heard insults from Russian fans more than once.
Ouvo Moussa Maazu himself also spoke more than once in the press 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 compared to African food prevented the talented striker from revealing himself to the fullest. "Moscow was a living hell - both in terms of language and food," Maazu complained in an interview with foreign media.
Please do not use without the permission of the editor. Quoting is allowed with a mandatory reference to the weekly.
Roman Yuryevich, financial fair play, the invention of UEFA President Michel Platini, is it good for Russian football?
– The idea is undeniably progressive, but at the same time it is somewhat naive. Its main message - to force the clubs to earn their own money, eliminating the financial gap that separates two dozen owners of "dimensionless" budgets from the rest - I personally like it. But how to implement it 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. Starting in 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 vigorously! And now look: in our country there are many clubs that are supported by corporations, including state ones. If such a club enters into 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 in income were received, as it were, through advertising activities.
And how is the situation in CSKA?
- We recently summed up the financial year 2011. There is a surplus (excess of income over expenses. - Ed.) Almost half a million dollars. Unfortunately, this is less than we planned. To be honest, we expected that the surplus would be about 7 million. Such a result would have been possible if CSKA had reached the semi-finals in the Europa League. Alas, Porto was prevented by Village-Boas - a team that at that time was practically invincible.
Do fluctuations in exchange rates affect the budgets of Russian clubs in any way?
Best of the day
- Undoubtedly. If the euro-dollar pair creeps up, this creates a bias in the budgets towards expenses, since most of our income from commercial activities is in rubles, and expenses in terms of salaries and transfers of football players are traditionally pegged to the euro or dollar. You sign, for example, a foreigner. He demands: “I don't care what happens to the ruble exchange rate. I want to receive my legitimate 50 thousand euros, not a cent less.” And we are forced to transfer rubles to him into 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 at once work in Russia?
- I doubt. Over the past five or six years, our clubs have so warmed up the market with high-profile transfers that with each new “window” we are being offered increasingly unaffordable prices. As soon as the agent makes it clear that a 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 some money! Cheating “for Russia” is another plus of at least 50% of the real value of a football player. But to buy regardless of the price ... In our Premier League, only two out of sixteen clubs can afford this. The rest in this race are not participants - either due to their own ideology, or due to 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 whose total income from which is no more than 50-60 million dollars for all clubs in the Premier League. In this case, it will no longer be economics, but some kind of recklessness.
But in business, it happens that sometimes you get wildly lucky. Let's say Lionel Messi marries a Russian beauty and persuades the president of Barca to give up his transfer to CSKA for 25 million euros. Will you take it?
I see you are a joke...
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 look into the eyes of a beauty after such a “re-export”? ..
That's why people invented sunglasses. I see, Roman Yuryevich, that you do not complain about a sense of humor ... But let's get back to something serious. What does CSKA make the main bet in the revenue part of its budget: earnings in the Champions League, the sale of players?
- To take a player, promote and sell him more expensive is not our way. CSKA does not speculate with players. We always put sports results 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 great benefits to CSKA, in 2008 he was recognized as the best football player in Russia, after which he received an invitation from Chelsea, a club that is not invited twice. Well, how could we not let him go? Such a chance comes once in a lifetime. Similarly, with Krasic, who moved to Juventus.
As for the financial ideology of the club... In recent years, our main income comes from a successful performance in the Champions League. Participation in the group stage alone brings about 10 million euros to the treasury. This is one of the main budget items.
Inter - Record box office
If the terms of the revenue part are arranged in order, then ...
- In second place - revenues 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, automotive, hotel... Next in terms of gross volume - proceeds from the sale of tickets and subscriptions. In 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 article gives somewhere around 7-8 million dollars a year, or 12-14% of the budget.
And how much did you collect in 2011?
“About six million. Traditionally, the match with Spartak was the most attended in the championship. 50,590 tickets were sold for the April game at Luzhniki. Revenue amounted to more than 23 million rubles. We made quite good money on games with Zenit, Lokomotiv... In the Champions League, the arrival of Inter Milan ensured the maximum income - almost 26 million rubles. This is our box office record of the year. Very good fees were with the same "Inter" in the quarter-finals of the League and in the game with "Manchester United" in the fall of 2009. I hope we will be able to cover these results in the home game with Real Madrid, which would be a plus for the draw that is so unkind to CSKA (smiles).
By the way, "Barcelona" annually has a tidy sum only on membership fees of registered fans. Do you think such a tool will work in Russian football?
- Hardly. Firstly, for Barcelona it is a historical tradition that is over a hundred years old. Another argument is attendance, which is also very much not in our favor. If less than forty thousand came to the Camp Nou as part of Examples, for Barca this 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 home match attendance 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 share capital of the club - or going public with their shares.
In addition, fans in this case will have to be given the right to participate in the presidential elections, which is an undesirable procedure for our club authorities.
– And this too. I do not think that, having pulled on an overseas caftan, our clubs will immediately turn into prosperous enterprises. Yes, in European football there is an experience 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, Bundesliga clubs, unlike Barcelona, do not have such an income item.
Started as a legal adviser
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?
- I will not dissemble: I followed football, but I was more worried about basketball CSKA. The mid-nineties, as you know, is not the best period of Russian football.
What is your first job in this field?
- I remember the trial - it coincided with my arrival - in relation to one publication that published an article under the heading "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.
And the reputation of Valery Gazzaev has not been defended? He also had enough conflicts with the media at one time.
- Well, Valery Georgievich will stand up for himself so much that he won’t show himself a little. I personally did not have to defend him. But in the spring of 2005, our semi-final of the UEFA Cup with Parma turned into such a scandal that I will probably never forget it.
Did the Italian club's complaint to UEFA claiming that their goalkeeper was injured by pyrotechnics from the CSKA fan sector, was there any basis?
- 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 not have been a victorious final in Lisbon in the history of CSKA. Fortunately, we managed to bring the signors to clean water. In two days, we collected all the necessary evidence.
In short, will the army team now definitely not give a hand to people from Parma when they meet?
- We'll serve it today. Over the past almost seven years, the entire leadership has changed there.
Fight the ruble with Zenit
You recently said that the Doumbia transfer costs at least 30 million euros. Is there a fixed release clause in his contract, by paying which another club can get the Ivorian striker?
– No, we are against such options.
It seems that CSKA will still not let the leading player go to another Russian team, even if the transfer amount is much higher than the offer of foreigners.
– We consider the principle “to sell anywhere, as long as it is more expensive” unacceptable. For a variety of reasons. Let's say foreigners give ten million for our player, and someone in Russia - all 15. Well, they sold it to the guys from their native Premier League. And then what? As a result, we have strengthened a direct competitor that overtakes CSKA in the championship, and we get a less preferred draw in the Champions League. And we won't get there at all. Financial losses in this case are much higher than momentary benefits.
Does the club have a certain line, proposals below which are swept aside even in negotiations with foreign partners?
- It all depends on the individual player. We are ready to discuss any reasonable figure.
It seems that purely financial rivalry is also starting in our football. Zenit is ready to fight for leadership in terms of revenue, the owner of Spartak intends to bring his club to full self-sufficiency ...
- And it's great - it will benefit the entire Russian football.
You said it in a somewhat detached way. Fighting Zenit on the commercial field - isn't it exciting for CSKA?
- It's 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 Moscow has four more competitors in the fight for the hearts and wallets of fans. Or take the shareholders of Zenith. In terms of financial power, Gazprom is able to give odds to almost any European company. I think our starting positions are not very comparable.
In an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent Vera Martirosyan, General Director of CSKA Moscow Football Club Roman Babayev spoke about his Armenian roots, why CSKA did not acquire Henrikh Mkhitaryan and what steps the club is now taking 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 websites. 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. Went to school. Pushkin. I know Armenian, but due to the lack of practice, now I speak with difficulty, although I understand perfectly.
When was the last time you were in Armenia?
In 2000. I plan to visit next year. I am very bored. I know Yerevan very well. For a long time he lived in Byurakan. As a teenager, Mount Aragats climbed all over. When I lived in Armenia, there was a very difficult period - cold, dark years. But despite this, I still have very fond memories. As well as from Nagorno-Karabakh. I was in Stepanakert and Shushi as a child. Our relatives lived there.
Does CSKA President Yevgeny Lennorovich Giner also have Armenian roots?
Yes, he does not hide the fact that Armenian blood also flows in his veins. Often happens in Armenia. He has many close Armenian friends.
And how did it happen that there are so many Armenians in Russian football?
Well, not just in football. Historically, the Armenians showed themselves in various fields. This is inherent in the people - family, education and work for any Armenian family is a priority. We had a difficult financial situation in the family - my mother is a doctor, my father is 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 follow, but recently there are not many reasons for joy. At the club level, the teams do not have success in Eurocups, and the national 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 for the national team.
How did you get into football?
As a 4th year student, I tried to find a job. Through a friend, I got the opportunity to work at the CSKA football club as a legal adviser. Then, under the previous management, the club was going through hard times. To be honest, I thought I wouldn't last long here. With the knowledge and ambitions that Moscow State University gives, I wanted more. But he endured, and then, as they say, got involved. And it seemed to me that doing sports law is very interesting. At that time, sports law as such did not exist. There was some kind of vacuum, no one understood how to conclude transfer and employment contracts. In 2001, when Yevgeny Lennorovich Giner joined the club, it immediately became clear that new big goals were set for the club. 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 is it your role to be a good manager?
I'm more of a manager. Although, when you have been working in football for more than 20 years, to one degree or another you begin to understand. I do not participate in the selection work of the club, just as a breeder. I don't consider myself educated enough to evaluate footballers. We fully trust the breeders. My task, if the candidate has already been selected, is to negotiate as efficiently as possible, conclude a contract, and ensure the life of the player.
And where are the general directors of football clubs trained and, most often, representatives of what professions become general directors in football clubs?
There are many educational programs that provide an opportunity to learn the most important skills in a short time. And the most important thing is to make the most efficient use of the resources that the club has at its disposal. I don't see a big difference between the general director of a commercial structure and a football club. Of course, you need to understand football, but in fact, you need to use the resources at the disposal of the club as efficiently as possible in order to achieve the maximum result, both sports and economic.
It's no secret that CSKA is one of the few private clubs in Russia. Therefore, we try to build our business model in the European manner. How much we earn, how much we spend. It is desirable to earn more, but due to objective economic reasons, it is not always possible. Manchester United CEO Ed Woodward worked for a consulting company for a long time. The club drew attention to him and invited him. The largest percentage are lawyers and commercial directors who become CEOs. Sometimes former football players, but they often become sports directors.
How do you feel about criticism? I often read criticism addressed to you, especially your statements about the attendance of CSKA matches are criticized?
I react very calmly. Criticism is sometimes very helpful. It cannot be assumed that everything is fine 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 silver medalists twice. For the last five years we have been playing in the group stage of the Champions League. It is 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 match attendance, we have taken a number of very serious measures over the past few months, and the result was not long in coming. Of course, the match with Manchester United is not very correct to cite as an example. On the other hand, last year we played with such teams as Tottenham and Monaco, but the stadium was not completely filled. Yes, Manchester United is a more status team, but even less so, this also applies to the work of our services, the acceleration of screening activities, pricing policy, and communication with fans. Even in the championship of Russia there are already dynamics. Despite the fact that it is already autumn and cold, people come to the stadium.
And all this was not before?
It was, but our stadium is new. He recently turned one year old. For this kind of objects, this is a negligible period. This is a unique stadium. It has an integrated business center. We adopted this idea from Stamford Bridge in London. We also raised the level of service for fans - we increased the number of screening points, which allowed us 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 recent offenses.
In addition, despite the economic problems, we have reduced ticket prices, even for the Champions League matches. And I repeat - we already have a result. Not yet the one that I would like to have in the end. But an 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 position of general director the limit of your ambitions or will you strive for more?
I am quite 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 like to become the Minister of Sports.
What can you say about the last match of CSKA in the Champions League against Manchester United? The fans of your club looked decent until the end, although the team lost with a big score.
It was a big celebration of football. Especially considering that the two legendary clubs Liverpool and Manchester were in Moscow at the same time. The result was disappointing, but in fairness it must be said that Manchester United is a very strong team and it would be difficult for any Russian club to play with them. I was pleased 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, our main rival will be Basel. 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 struggle in the group for second place will be with Basel.
They say that at one time CSKA was interested in Mkhitaryan. How serious was the interest from the club then?
We were really interested in him. He performed successfully in Ukraine, at the same time, Movsisyan played well in Spartak. Mkhitaryan already declared himself very brightly. When he was offered to us, he was already playing at Shakhtar. And we conduct our transfer policy very carefully. And above a certain maximum, we do not raise transfer amounts. Unfortunately, at that time, his transition was no longer possible.
Vera Martirosyan
Roman Yuryevich 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. Cavalier of the Order of the Badge of Honor (2006).
The path to CSKA
To date, 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 of Moscow State University had the opportunity to work in the eminent football club CSKA as a legal adviser. The end of the 90s were troubled times that also affected the team's football economy, financed by all kinds of clothing markets. It was a dead-end path with no prospects for developing the club's infrastructure. Roman Babaev decided not to have any more business with this office and leave as soon as possible.
But 2001 came. The team was joined by new shareholders, headed by Evgeny Giner, who sought to do everything possible and impossible to ensure the legal order in football. And in those days there was a situation 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 advent of Giner, it became clear that he and his team are a union 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 line up 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. Babayev himself headed the legal management for 6 years. And only in 2007, by decision of the Board of Shareholders, he was appointed to the position of General Director of the club. Thanks to the professionalism of the leadership, an effective and workable system was built without political and clan intrigues.
Achievements of CSKA (2001-2015)
In 2001, the CSKA team received new club management and new sponsors in the person of 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 and 2 bronze medals 5 times, won the Super Cup 6 times, 2 times the Champions League quarter-finalist. In 2005, the club won its first European Cup trophy, the UEFA Cup. Naturally, these victories are the result of the joint efforts of the coaching staff and the team president. To a large extent, CSKA General Director Roman Babaev also had a hand in the success of the club.
Success Secrets
The secret of success in any enterprise (and especially in football), as you know, is the attitude to business.
All clubs that operate on government subsidies are often doomed. In these matters, the president of the Giner team and the general director Babaev turned out to be visionaries. This was clearly seen in the example of such Russian Premier League clubs as 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 business in its purest form, since the solution of financial issues is not put before the team leaders. Only sports tasks are determined.
Therefore, such clubs only develop budgetary funds. The attitude towards private financing is different. This is the process of daily control and accounting of funds. Therefore, Giner and Babaev have defined a strategy that has been in place for more than 10 years: the bet should be placed on unpromoted, 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 the 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 Babaev:
- Andrey Solomatin - participants of the 2002 World Championship;
- Igor Akinfeev, Ivica Olic - participants of the 2004 European Championship;
- Milos Krasic - participant in the 2004 Olympics;
- Chidi Odia - participant in the African Cup of Nations (2006);
- Wagner Love - participant in the America's Cup (2007);
- Keisuke Honda - participants of the World Championship held in 2010;
- 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.
This was well understood by Evgeny Giner and Roman Babaev. The club's first sponsor was Conti.
Then there was Sibneft, which invested almost $55 million in the team. Currently, the sponsor of the club is the Russian Networks company. The amount of the concluded contract is 130 million dollars (4 billion rubles).
About biography and nationality
It is difficult to imagine a successful football team that does not have its own modern stadium. This was clear to Roman Babaev as well.
In 2007, the construction of an elite football stadium began, which meets all UEFA requirements. On the allotted territory, it is planned to build a children's and youth sports school, a business center, a hotel, a museum of the CSKA club.
And who is this Roman Babaev? His nationality is not exactly known.
Some say that he is Armenian, others say that he is Jewish, like Giner. In fact, without taking into account nationality, let's say that Roman Babaev is the man who helped one average club in the Russian championship to become the fortieth team in the UEFA rankings with an annual budget of $90 million.