Petrzela: Artem Dzyuba Has 90% Chance of Retiring
Former Zenit manager Vlastimil Petrzela says free agent Artem Dzyuba, 38, is likely finished as a player and could become a good coach after Akron Togliatti.
Vlastimil Petrzela, the former Zenit St Petersburg manager, says Artem Dzyuba has "about a 90%" chance of having already retired, and that the forward's career as a player is over.
The 38-year-old is a free agent. His last club was Akron Togliatti, where he played in the Premier League last season and scored 8 goals with 5 assists. The reports differ on his appearances: one gives 28, the other 26.
Petrzela spoke to Sovetsky Sport about the length of Dzyuba's search. "Almost a third of the championship has gone, and Dzyuba is still without a club. That says only one thing: nobody needs his services. The probability that Dzyuba has already ended his career is 90%," he said.
RB Sport carried another part of the same assessment. "It is long past time for Dzyuba to finish his career, he is already too old a striker even for the RPL. I think last season was his last as a player," Petrzela said.
Sports.ru reports that Petrzela sees a future for him on the touchline. "I do not consider Artem the best striker in the history of Russian football, but he has a big career, huge achievements. The next step is a coaching career. I think he could become a good coach," the former Zenit manager said.
Sports.ru adds that Dzyuba himself had earlier allowed that he might end his playing career.
About this article
Prepared by the editorial team with the help of algorithms, based on the sources listed