The career of an athlete is short. It happens that it is interrupted due to injuries, domestic problems, bad habits. Sometimes the family and its priorities come to the fore. This is exactly what happened to Roman Eremenko, who left Rostov for his homeland in Finland at the beginning of 2021 and has hardly been heard from since.

Roman was a real RPL star. He played powerfully in Rubin, then in CSKA. The Army Men adored the midfielder for his versatility, masterful shot and beautiful game. However, in 2016, banned substances were found in the Finn’s blood, and Eremenko was suspended from football for two years.

The football player was able to return and restart his career. However, even his coach didn’t expect him to drop off the radar once again.

Photo: © Dmitry Parshin

Disqualification due to cocaine

In early October 2016, UEFA, without explanation, announced the suspension of Eremenko from matches. The CSKA midfielder was in good shape, so the news came as a shock to everyone. Only the doping test passed before the Champions League game with Bayer was alarming. As it turned out later, traces of cocaine were found in Eremenko’s blood, and UEFA eventually decided to disqualify Roman for two years.

— We cannot believe that the player took drugs, and we regret his act. We condemn drug use, but individual circumstances must also be taken into account. If he needs support, of course we will provide it. But we respect UEFA’s decision,” said Finnish Football Association general secretary Marco Casagrande.

Eremenko ended up in a very stellar company. Diego Maradona, Paul Gascoigne, Adrian Mutu, Alexander Tikhonovetsky, Mark Bosnich, Harry O’Connor, Alexander Panov came across the same banned substance.

CSKA behaved nobly, despite the long suspension period, the club did not terminate the contract with Roman. And after serving his term, Eremenko returned to the field, though in a T-shirt of a principled opponent.

Roman Eremenko / Photo: © premierliga.ru

Eremenko again became the star of the league

When the Finnish midfielder, after the expiration of the agreement with CSKA, moved to Spartak, the indignation of the army fans knew no bounds. However, Roman did not show himself in the camp of a principal rival – seven matches and zero in the column of effective actions. A few months later, Spartak terminated the contract with the Finn, and Eremenko signed Rostov – this deal was a win for both parties. The midfielder opened up under Karpin, began to resemble his old self, performed cool passes from the Swede, delivered crazy shots. But no sooner had Roman become a key player in the Rostovites than fog shrouded his life again.

Like most teammates, Eremenko fell ill with a coronavirus in 2020, and he endured it quite hard. After recovery, he lost his form and looked quite faded on the field. On February 23, 2021, Rostov announced the termination of cooperation with the footballer due to family circumstances.

– The fact that Eremenko left the team is force majeure. One of the best players on our team left. But what to do? That is life. But family is the most important thing. So everything is clear, but for us it is a loss, – Karpin said on the air of the Match Premier channel.

Photo: © Personal archive of Marika Eremenko

Where is Eremenko now?

Judging by the statements of Roman’s father Alexei Eremenko, the football player really wants to play, but he can’t grow together with the clubs. Now the midfielder is 35 years old, and according to the latest trends in sports, this age allows him to keep a high bar. Just look at the 36-year-old Luka Modric! Lack of practice is the main problem, and as Eremenko Sr. says, Roman is ready to receive it everywhere, but not in Russia.

“It’s all about family issues. He has three children of school age, they go to an English school. Roman’s wife is Finnish, who was born in America. At home, the family speaks Finnish and English. Previously, they received a visa to Russia for only three months. Imagine moving with three children to Russia for three months and all these constant trips back and forth? And when the coronavirus pandemic began, visas became even more difficult. Therefore, the family came out on top,” Alexei said at the end of 2021.

It is known that Eremenko keeps fit in the teams of the lower divisions of Finland, while there are no specific proposals from the clubs. Well, we can only admire the bright cuts of his productive actions. A midfielder of that type would definitely not have been lost in the RPL, which has become impoverished today.