Dynamo may find Carpin ineffective due to specific reasons.
Hear This, Dynamo Fans!
Russian coach Sergei Balahnin has spilled the tea on Valery Karpin's appointment as Dynamo's head coach, and it ain't all rainbows and sunshine, folks. Balahnin, speaking to Vprognoze.ru, pointed out a major concern: Karpin's lack of silverware anywhere, ever.
"Sure, there are some worries among Dynamo fans and experts. Karpin hasn't won anything anywhere. Just working, without any clear goal to win titles, that's not what sets a coach apart," Balahnin shared.
So, what's the deal with Karpin? He's been handling the Russian national team since mid-2021, taking over from Stanislav Cherchesov. Prior to that, he coached Rostov, with a brief interlude to work with the national team.
Remember Marcel Likka, Dynamo's former coach? He was given the boot from the Moscow club back in May 2025. A few days earlier, Dynamo dropped a 1:2 to Moscow Spartak in the Russian Cup's Regional Path semi-final, bringing their tournament run to an end. In the Russian Premier League (RPL) standings, the club managed a fifth-place finish that season. Gusyev stepped in after that.
Many predicted turbulent times for Karpin in his new role at Dynamo. The club had struggled with both promise and inconsistency in the previous season, losing crucial matches despite being in a strong position[3]. Add to that the fact that Karpin himself acknowledged the challenging schedule and workload[2]. Transitioning from national team duties to club football with its less frequent breaks and constant demands is no walk in the park.
Dynamo had lofty expectations from Karpin, increasing the pressure on him as a coach[2]. Plus, he was making a comeback to club management after a break, which is nosmall feat[2]. So, it's a high-stakes, high-pressure situation—just the way Karpin likes it, right? We'll see how it plays out!
"Despite Valery Karpin's extensive coaching experience with the Russian national team and Rostov, there are concerns among Dynamo fans and experts about his lack of titles, as European-leagues football and the Premier League are title-focused sports."
"If Karpin can lead Dynamo to win titles, it would be a remarkable achievement, given the high-stakes, high-pressure situation he finds himself in, as he attempts to transition from national team duties to club football management after a break."
