Oleg Romantsev is the legend of Moscow Spartak. All true football fans know this name. It is about him that the article will be discussed.
early years
The future footballer and coach was born on January 4, 1954 in the village of Gavrilovskoye, Ryazan Region. From childhood, Oleg’s football occupied a special place in life, and even then he decided who he would become in the future, especially since the inclinations were pretty good. Strongly built and confidently standing on your feet are ideal parameters for a successful extreme defender.
Player career
Romantsev began his career in the Krasnoyarsk team "Motorist". There he performed for four seasons (1972-1976). During this time, he managed to play 60 games, scoring 10 goals, which is very good for a defensive player. The success of the young player did not go unnoticed, and already in 1977 he transferred to one of the leading clubs in the country - Moscow “Spartak”. But at the time of joining the team, the Muscovites were experiencing a difficult period, and in the same season (1976/1977) they flew into the minor league. But next year the club returns to the top division, and even a year later, in the 1979/1980 season, it becomes the country's champion. Thus, the young football player Oleg Romantsev at the age of 25 receives the title of champion of the USSR. This does not end the white streak in his life, and already in 1980 he received a call to the national team of the country. And this meant that Romantsev became a participant in the Olympic Games in Moscow, in which the team eventually won bronze.
If Oleg Ivanovich’s career for the club was quite successful, then playing for the national team can’t be called successful. And this is not the fault of the football player himself, because at that time mainly the Dynamo Kyiv football players were called to the national team. Therefore, taking into account the games for the Olympic team, Romantsev spent only 15 games for the national team and scored one goal.
In the following years, Oleg Romantsev did not have any major performances for Spartak. There were only silver awards in the seasons 1980, 1981, 1983; bronze medals in 1982; in 1981, Muscovites managed to get to the Cup final, but there the team was defeated.
Oleg Romantsev was the captain of the capital's club and fell in love with local fans for his dedication and willingness to fight for the Spartak emblem on his chest. Perhaps the player’s further career might have been more successful, but the leg injury in 1983 ruined everything. Did Oleg Romantsev give up? “Spartak” still became his pride, but already as a ward team, as he became its coach. But first things first.
Coaching career (club)
After the player’s career ended, without thinking for a long time, Romantsev decided to become a football coach. Already in 1984, he led the Krasnaya Presnya team from Moscow. Although it was not possible to achieve serious success with the team, the coach considered the main achievement that he managed to instill in the team a dynamic, attacking football. "Red Presnya" Romantsev coached until 1987.
Next was the 1987/1988 season as head coach of Spartak Ordzhonikidze. A year later, Oleg Ivanovich led his beloved Spartak from Moscow. Oleg Romantsev is a coach to be proud of. In the first season, under his leadership, the team won the championship, thereby interrupting the period of 10 years without gold medals of the championship. Further more, “Spartak” becomes the champion of Russia, from 1992 to 2001. Only 1995 and 1996 became an exception, then the Muscovites could not win the gold medals of the championship. In 1991, the team won the last set of silver medals of the USSR Championship. Also in the collection of Romantsev are bronze medals of the 1995, 2002 championship, USSR Cup season 91/92.
As for performances in the Euro-arena, the results here were also high - access to the semifinals of the Champions Cup 90/91, the semifinals of the Cup Cup 92/93, the semifinals of the UEFA Cup 97/98.
It is worth noting that Romantsev had two parishes in the capital's club. The second parish took place in 1996. This is due to the fact that from 1994 to 1996, Romantsev coached the Russian national football team. The second parish was no less successful, judging by the awards and club achievements. But in 2003 Romantsev left Spartak, and since then the club has not won a single trophy.
Further, in the 2003–2004 season, Oleg Ivanovich leads Saturn, with which he occupies 7th place.
In 2004, became the head coach of the capital “Dynamo”. But betting on attacking football does not give a result, and after the 8th round, Romantsev is forced to resign.
In 2006, he worked as an assistant coach in the Moscow Nika team.
Since 2009, he was an assistant coach at Spartak. But with the advent of Unai Emery as head coach, he resigned from his post.
Work in the national team
The Russian national team was headed by the legendary coach twice (1994-1996 and 1998-2002). The main achievements in the team are considered to be the team’s entry into the main stage of Euro-96 and the 2002 World Cup. Romantsev could not achieve much success with the national team, and after absenteeism from the group at the 2002 World Cup he resigned.
Personal achievements
- The best trainer of Russia (1993-2001).
- Recognized as the best Russian coach for the period from 1992 to 2012.
- Repeatedly ranked among the 33 best players of the USSR.
State awards
- Winner of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree.
- Winner of the Order of Friendship.
Oleg Ivanovich Romantsev received all his awards for his contribution to the development of sports in the Russian Federation. The awards to the legendary Spartak were personally presented by the President of Russia.
Romantsev is a special pride of the Spartak football club (Moscow). He is truly legendary for all post-Soviet football. “Spartak” Oleg Romantsev is not at all what he used to be. This is the first coach who was not afraid to play attacking football, and this brought its results.