A famous skier in the past, and in the present, the president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, Elena Vyalbe, can enter the leadership of a titled football team. This news, which appeared the day before on the Runet, intensified discussions on whether a successful manager from another sports discipline will be able to achieve results in the football field.

There are enough arguments on both sides, but if for some all these disputes are of scientific interest at best, for Spartak fans, the possible inclusion of a titled skier in football risks being reflected in the practical sphere.

Will Elena save the Red-Whites?

Interesting offer

Rumors that the head of the FLGR, Elena Vyalbe, will join the board of directors of Spartak have not yet received official confirmation. The famous skier is silent, and the press service of the “red-whites” does not indulge in comments. The option does not look quite supernatural, especially if you put together well-known things.

For several days now, the press has been talking about the transfer of the club by the current owner, Leonid Fedun, to Lukoil structures. The oil company, which is the main sponsor of the Red-Whites, also sponsors the Russian Ski Racing Federation. Elena Valerievna, of course, does not submit directly to any sponsors, but an interesting position can easily reach her, bypassing intermediaries.

If we assume that an interesting proposal was sent, and Vyalbe herself, after weighing all the arguments, agreed, then an equally important question arises. What can come out of such an appointment? On the one hand, Elena Valerievna has repeatedly proved that she is a high-level manager, which means she can be useful to an eminent club. But on the other hand, she did not have any special connection with football. Will the lack of experience reflect negatively?

“I hope this doesn’t happen”

Opinions about the possible arrival of Elena Vyalbe to Spartak are expectedly divided. Some football people cannot understand the purpose of such an appointment and even anticipate possible conflicts.

– For what purpose and for what purpose is it? A woman in general from a different sport is strange. I don’t take this news seriously. Another hype. It’s the same as saying that Mostovoy will go to the theater,” former Russian football player Alexander Mostovoy told the “Championship”.

Alexander Mostovoy / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Ekaterina Chesnokova

– Vyalbe on the board of directors of Spartak is a strange idea. Representatives of “horse” sports absolutely do not consider football players to be athletes, because they (in their understanding) are just loafers and do not train at all,” football commentator Vasily Utkin wrote on social networks.

In the ski world, however, not everyone is enthusiastic about the idea either. They fear that switching the attention of the president of the FLGR to football will negatively affect the development of skiing in Russia.

— The whole ski community wants us to have a result. I think this is more important than an offer to promote a football club. I hope that such a transition does not happen. She needs skiing! – said the vice-president of the FLGR Sergey Kryanin in an interview with Match TV.

“She deserved”

The rumor about a new challenge for Vyalba gathered no less positive feedback. Even among people from the world of football, there are enough those who do not see a problem in the lack of specific experience of a titled skier.

— Vyalbe has vast experience, including extensive experience working with officials. And if she found a common language with them, then this speaks of her qualities as an excellent leader. I think this is a great idea, – said Anzor Kavazashvili, an ex-player of Spartak Moscow and the USSR national team, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Anzor Kavazashvili / Photo: © RIA Novosti/Alexander Wilf

– It doesn’t matter that she’s not from football, if she understands managerial issues. She will not engage in selection, the appointment of coaches. Apparently, some sector of activity will be determined for her. She is a professional in her field. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Gazeta quotes another former Spartak player, Valery Gladilin.

Full of optimism and four-time Olympic champion in biathlon Alexander Tikhonov, who believes that the arrival of Vyalbe in the leadership of one of the main clubs in the country can have a positive impact on all of Russian football.

– She deserved more than everyone who is now sitting in Spartak. If Lena is given free rein, then she will force these players to train. Maybe even she will work to make contracts that could be broken in case of violation of the sports regime, Sport24 quotes Tikhonov.

Perhaps such drastic changes from a single appointment will not happen. But in any case, the appearance in Russian football of a classy and successful manager in his field can become an interesting precedent. And if the experience of the “red-whites” is successful, surely other clubs will want to adopt it. That’s just one Vyalba is definitely not enough for everyone.