Oleg Ivanovich Romantsev (born January 4, 1954) is a Soviet and Russian footballer and coach, best known as the longtime head coach of Moscow's Spartak. Since 2023 he has worked as an advisor to the football club Pari NN (Nizhny Novgorod).[1]

Playing career

As a player, Romantsev became USSR champion (1979), an Olympic bronze medalist (1980), a USSR Championship runner-up (1980, 1981, 1983) and bronze medalist (1982), and a USSR Cup finalist (1981). Five times he was named to the list of the 33 best footballers in the USSR: twice as number one (1979, 1980) and three times as number two (1978, 1981, 1982). He was awarded the title of Master of Sport of International Class.[1]

Coaching career

Romantsev began his coaching career in 1983, taking charge of Moscow's Krasnaya Presnya (1983–1987). He then briefly led Spartak Ordzhonikidze (1988) and in 1989 took over Moscow's Spartak, with which he achieved his greatest successes.[1]

With Spartak, Romantsev won the 1989 USSR Championship, 8 Russian championships (1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), 3 Russian Cups, 6 Commonwealth Cups of Champions, and the 1991/92 USSR Cup. In European competitions, the club under his leadership reached the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League (1990/91), the quarterfinals of the Champions League (1993/94, 1995/96), and the semifinals of the UEFA Cup (1997/98).[1] Eight times he was named Coach of the Year in Russia by the Russian Football Union (1993–1995, 1997–2001).[1]

In 1994–1996 and 1998–2002, Romantsev concurrently led the Russian national team. With it he qualified for the final tournament of the 2002 World Cup, but the team was eliminated at the group stage.[2] At Euro 1996 the team likewise went no further than the group stage.[2]

After leaving Spartak in 2003, Romantsev worked as head coach of Saturn (Ramenskoye, 2003–2004) and of Moscow's Dynamo (2004–2005), as well as consulting coach of Moscow's Nika (2006) and again of Spartak (2009–2012).[1]

Connection to Nizhny Novgorod

Since 2023, Romantsev has held the position of advisor to FC Pari NN (Nizhny Novgorod), which plays in the Russian Premier League. He holds a "PRO" category coaching license.[1]

Sources

  1. ootf.ru — Romantsev Oleg Ivanovich — OOTF coach
  2. news.sportbox.ru — Romantsev Oleg Ivanovich — Head coach — Oleg Romantsev