Denis Popov is well known to fans of Russian football. During his 13-year playing career, he changed several clubs, won a certain number of trophies. And then he hung his boots on a nail and became a coach.
Since he is a rather significant person in the world of Russian football, we should now talk about him in a little more detail.
Club career
Denis Popov started with FC Chernomorets. His debut took place in 1996, May 4. Then he played for a while at the farm club, and then moved to Kuban. I didn’t stay there for a long time, a year later I returned to Chernomorets.
After playing for 2 years, Denis Popov received an invitation from CSKA and, of course, agreed. From 2001 to 2004, he defended the colors of the Moscow club, played 70 matches in the Premier League, scored 19 goals. And then he moved back to the Kuban. From there he was rented by clubs such as Chernomorets, Minsk Dynamo, Spartak from Nalchik.
Denis Popov did not stay long anywhere. At CSKA, he spent most of his time. His last clubs were Torpedo and Khimki. In 2009, he decided to end his career.
In the Russian team, he also could not prove himself. In total, he played 5 matches, and then did not get into the application for the 2002 World Cup due to a meniscus rupture. Total on his account two friendlies and three in the qualifying round for Euro 2004.
Personal impressions
In many of his interviews, Denis Popov freely shared his own opinion about what was happening in his difficult career.
He always said that he did not want to play on lease. The footballer explained:
“When you come to the club and conclude a full-fledged contract, then they start treating you like their own. But if you are rented, then perception changes. They are treated as a temporary person. They do not hope and do not count on you. Because they know - there are often problems with a rented footballer. ”
But the striker agreed. Because I wanted to play while my health and age allowed.
Frequent change of clubs was reflected in the career. Once, being a rented club from Nalchik, Denis Popov was preparing for the match with Kuban, but they called from Krasnodar and demanded that he not leave.
The footballer believes that this is wrong. If the leadership released the player, then it should allow him to work in full force already in the new conditions. Having met a coach in Sochi, Denis even made fun of him, asking why they were afraid of one striker with such a strong team.
Achievements
During his club career, football player Denis Popov managed to win several trophies and titles. Among them:
- Victory in the championship of Russia (2003).
- Two country cups. The first in the season 2001/02, and the second in 2004/05.
- Participation in the golden match of the Premier League (2002).
- Second place in the championship of Russia (2002).
- Participation in the match for the Super Bowl of the country (2003).
- Silver at the championship of Belarus (2006).
- Place in the TOP 33 of the Premier League players for 2002.
- The title of the best scorer of the 3rd division (1997) and 1st (2008).
Coaching career
This topic also needs to be paid a little attention, talking about the biography of Denis Popov. He did not come to coaching immediately after completing a club career. Several years have passed.
For a while he coached an amateur team from Gelendzhik called “Spartak”, which participated in the Major League of the Krasnodar Territory. And then, on September 26, 2016, he was invited to the Druzhba PFL (Maykop).
But in November 2017, Denis Popov left this club. In one interview, he even said that he was negotiating with top-level teams, and not only from Russia.
The footballer said he was not going to pause in his coaching career. Why, if there are real offers? He assured that he received a good coaching experience, even led Spartak and Friendship to some success. Denis Popov called it “stuffing cones”, and then noticed that he was ready to move on.
Commentator Activities
No, the former footballer does not work on any sports channel. And by the way, he is not a coach at the moment, although he said that he was not going to pause. But then his name regularly appears on the most popular football portals.
Former footballer Denis Popov, whose photo is presented in the article, is pleased to give journalists detailed comments on this or that occasion.
In the summer, of course, the most talk was about the World Cup. Former CSKA striker said that the Russian team won according to football law. At the pre-season training camp they didn’t look very good, but at official matches they showed themselves worthy. At the very beginning, Denis said that Russia has a great chance to “slam the door loudly,” and he was not mistaken. Although he also clarified that it is very important to really evaluate your own capabilities.
Bold predictions
Having played a considerable amount of time at Chornomorets, Denis Popov makes rather ambitious predictions. He is sure that his native club will show itself perfectly this season in the fight for the Cup - it will fight, fight, tear and throw.
Denis even analyzed the situation. He said that for some teams now it will not be at all up to the Cup, since internal problems are more important. It is a pity that the forecast turned out to be incorrect. “Chernomorets” at home lost with a sad score 1-0 “Spartacus”. Moreover, the Muscovites a certain part of the players were from the 2nd composition.
And as for the “Torpedo”, Popov said that “appetite” in the RPL will come to this team during the game, also betting on their victory. But here he miscalculated. “Dynamo” beat them, also with a score of 1: 0, but not without difficulty, if judged objectively.
What about the Champions League? Popov believes that CSKA can leave the group. Well, while in the first place is the “Real” with 3 points, and immediately after it - the Muscovites and “Victoria” (Pilsen). Both teams have one point. “Roma” is still with “zero”.
The group is strong, and this is clear to everyone. Denis says that it will be hard with Real Madrid, but you can try to overcome Roma. He believes that the Italian club is not in good shape. And if they manage to defeat, then they will be able to compete for the second place. Be that as it may, Denis supports his former club and hopes to win. But he clarifies: there is no game to play.