Prokopenko parts with Dinamo
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Article summary
Viktor Prokopenko has resigned as FC Dinamo Moskva coach and returned to FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Article body
No European place
Prokopenko stood down just two days after a 0-0 home draw against FC Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz saw Dinamo finish in sixth place in the Premier-Liga and miss out on a UEFA Cup place for 2004/05. The 59-year-old had been with the Moscow club since April 2002 but failed in his mission to bring glory back to a club that won the old Soviet championship on eleven occasions.
Former glories
The last of those titles came in 1976 but it had seemed Dinamo were on track for success this season. With six rounds to play, they were in second place behind city rivals PFC CSKA Moskva but their challenge faltered in the final few weeks and they failed to score in their last three games.
Silkin fills in
Sergei Silkin has been appointed caretaker coach of Dinamo for Wednesday's Russian Cup sixth round second-leg tie against first division FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan. Dinamo won the first leg 5-1 three weeks ago.
Return to Shakhtar
Prokopenko now returns to Shakhtar, the club he coached from November 1999 to July 2001, leading them to consecutive second-placed finishes in 2000 and 2001.
