Leonid Slutsky is a Russian football coach born in 1971.
He has been awarded the title of Merited Coach of Russia.
Slutsky managed PFC CSKA Moscow from 2009 to 2016, achieving significant success.
Biography
Early Life and Playing Career
Leonid Viktorovich Slutsky was born in 1971 and began his football journey as a goalkeeper. His playing career was cut short at the young age of 19 due to a knee injury sustained while rescuing a cat from a tree. Despite this setback, Slutsky transitioned into coaching, where he would make a significant impact in the football world.
Coaching Career
Slutsky's managerial career took off when he became the head coach of FC Moscow in 2005. He led the team until 2007, achieving notable success. In 2009, he took over as head coach of CSKA Moscow, where he made history by guiding the team to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. Under his leadership, CSKA won multiple titles, including the Russian Premier League in 2012–13, 2013–14, and 2015–16, as well as the Russian Cup and Super Cup.
In 2015, Slutsky was appointed head coach of the Russian national team, successfully leading them to UEFA Euro 2016. His tenure was marked by a series of victories, including a memorable win against Portugal. After his time with the national team, he managed clubs such as Hull City and Vitesse, and most recently, he took the helm at Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
Legacy and Achievements
Slutsky's contributions to football have been recognized with several awards, including the title of Merited Coach of Russia. His coaching style and ability to adapt have made him a respected figure in the sport. Additionally, he has ventured into TV commentary, although his career in this area faced challenges due to a controversial incident during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Slutsky's journey reflects resilience and a passion for football that continues to inspire many.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Slutsky saw his professional playing career ended aged 19, after he injured his knee falling from a tree while saving a cat.
Early career
Slutsky became head coach of FC Moscow on 14 July 2005 until the end of the 2007 season. His final match as head coach of Moscow was a 3–1 win against Luch-Energiya Vladivostok on 11 November 2007. Slutsky became head coach of Krylia Sovetov on 1 January 2008.
CSKA Moscow
On 26 October 2009 he replaced Juande Ramos to become the head coach of CSKA Moscow. In December 2009, under Slutsky, CSKA reached the knock-out stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history, before being knocked out by José Mourinho's Inter Milan, the eventual champions, in the quarter-finals. Two years later, the achievement was repeated, when CSKA defeated Inter Milan at the San Siro in the last game of the group stage. Towards the 2012–13 season, Slutsky strengthened the team defense and re-organized the attack, which helped the team set a record of 15 games without being scored against, and to win all the games where the team scored first, resulting in a title. On 7 August 2015, it was announced that Slutsky would take over the Russian national football team in place of the outgoing Fabio Capello. The contract was until the end of UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. Slutsky won all of his qualifying games and got Russia into UEFA Euro 2016. On 14 November 2015, Russia beat Portugal 1–0 in a friendly game and Slutsky repeated Pavel Sadyrin's achievement of winning his five first games as the head coach of Russia. On 21 May 2016, CSKA beat Rubin Kazan 1–0 to…
Slutsky has commented on football games many times on Russian TV. His commentating career was disrupted after he repeated the word "Navalny" following his co-commentator's using the term навальный футбол (navalny futbol); the term навальный (navalny) is a term best translated as "overwhelming" or "storming", but is also the surname of opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The incident led to his sacking from the TV pundit role at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- Club
- PFC CSKA Moscow (2009–2016)
- Club
- FC Zvezda Gorodishche (1989–1989)
- Club
- FC Elista (2003–2004)
- Club
- FC Moscow (2005–2007)
- Club
- FC Krylia Sovetov Samara (2008–2009)
- Club
- Russia men's national football team (2015–2016)
- Club
- SBV Vitesse (2018–)
- Club
- Hull City A.F.C. (2017–2017)
- Club
- FC Olimpia Volgograd (2000–2000)
- National team
- Soviet Union
- National team
- Russia
Trophies & Awards
Medal "100 years anniversary of the foundation of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic"
- Award
- Merited Coach of Russia
Legacy
CSKA Moscow
Russian Premier League: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16 Russian Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13 Russian Super Cup: 2013, 2014 Shanghai Shenhua
Chinese FA Super Cup: 2024, 2025
Clubs
- SBV Vitesse2018current
- FC Zvezda Gorodishche1989–1989
- FC Olimpia Volgograd2000–2000
- FC Elista2003–2004
- FC Moscow2005–2007
- FC Krylia Sovetov Samara2008–2009
- PFC CSKA Moscow2009–2016
- Russia men's national football team2015–2016
- Hull City A.F.C.2017–2017
Played together with
Aaron McLeanHull City A.F.C. · 2011–2014
Aaron Samuel OlanarePFC CSKA Moscow · 2016- Aaron WilbrahamHull City A.F.C. · 2004–2005
Abbosbek FayzullaevPFC CSKA Moscow · 2023–2025
Abdoulaye FayeHull City A.F.C. · 2012–2014- Abdoulaye FayeHull City A.F.C. · 2012–2014
Abdülkadir ÖmürHull City A.F.C. · 2024
Abel HernándezHull City A.F.C. · 2014–2018- Abel HernándezPFC CSKA Moscow · 2018–2019
Abiola DaudaSBV Vitesse · 2014–2016- Abubakari YakubuSBV Vitesse · 2004–2005
- Abubakari YakubuSBV Vitesse · 2005–2009
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Leonid Viktorovich Slutsky is a Russian professional football coach and a former player who was most recently the manager of Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. He has managed Olimpia Volgograd, Uralan Elista, Moscow, Krylia Sovetov, CSKA Moscow, Russia, Hull City, Vitesse and Rubin Kazan.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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