Lokomotiv Moscow Manager Resigns: Markus Gisdol, the CEO of Lokomotiv Moscow, has resigned from his position with immediate effect, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The German coach was just appointed in the Russian capital in October, when Ralf Rangnick, the current Manchester United temporary manager, assisted in his recruitment.
Lokomotiv Moscow Manager Resign
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The 52-year-old was only in command of Lokomotiv Moscow for 12 matches before stepping down due to non-sporting issues.
“I cannot pursue my calling in a country whose government is accountable for an aggression war,” Gisdol stated in a statement to German news source Bild.
The German has been coaching football for nearly two decades, but his time with Lokomotiv was his first assignment outside of his own country.
In a statement to Bild, Gisdol confirmed his departure: “Coaching football is the best profession in the world for me.
However, I am unable to pursue my vocation in a country whose leader is responsible for an aggressive conflict in the heart of Europe.
“That is incompatible with my values, and as a result, I have resigned as coach of Lokomotiv Moscow with immediate effect.
I can’t stand on the Moscow training ground, instructing the players and demanding professionalism while orders are given a few kilometres away that cause immense agony to an entire nation.
That is my personal decision, and I am adamant about it.”
Over the last decade, Gisdol has had a number of positions in German coaching circles, including with clubs in the country’s top divisions.
German football coach Markus Gisdol resign
Between 2013 and 2015, he led Hoffenheim for two years, first impressing by guiding the team away from relegation in the Bundesliga.
Gisdol went on to have similar stints with Hamburger SV, where he helped the club avoid relegation from Germany’s top flight, and Koln, where he repeated the feat.
He departed Koln in April of last year and was chosen as the new coach of Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow in October, encouraged by his fellow countryman Rangnick, who worked at the club in an off-field capacity.
Under Gisdol, Lokomotiv won only three of their 12 matches, losing the other half.
However, the way in which he left is noteworthy, and it continues the football-related fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which saw all Russian clubs banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions.
Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv’s city rivals, were thus ousted from this season’s Europa League Round of 16, where they were competing.
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