Dasaev rejoins Spartak in coaching role

Moscow, Jan 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Former Soviet goalkeeper Rinat Dasaev has rejoined the club where he made his name, Spartak Moscow, to train the team’s goalkeepers.

Dasaev spent a decade at Spartak from 1978, where he became a regular for the Soviet Union, with whom he won 91 caps and reached the final of Euro 1988, losing 0-2 to the Netherlands.

“I can confirm it,” Torpedo Moscow head coach Boris Ignatyev said of rumours his goalkeeping coach was set to switch to Spartak.

“Today Dasaev said goodbye to the team and club management. We wished him success.”

Dasaev retired as a player in 1991 after a spell with Sevilla and had brief periods on the coaching staff of Spartak and Russia before working with second-tier Torpedo.

Spartak have had a turbulent season marked by a goalkeeper injury crisis, a Champions League group stage exit and the firing of Spanish head coach Unai Emery, since replaced by Valery Karpin.

Spartak sit sixth in the Russian Premier League, nine points off leaders and bitter rivals CSKA Moscow, with 11 games remaining.