CSKA Season Recap

Since CSKA Moscow TX’s founding in September 2022, we’ve obviously had our purchase by private equity, rebranding, and relocation. Chris’ Soccer Kids Academy is home to some of the world’s best young talent. But have the on-field product and results improved?

From a results standpoint, I took over a team in the bottom of half of D4 at around the midyear point. CSKA Moscow was a yo-yo team between D2 and D3 through the first 10 seasons of Top100 and were an annual D4 team when I took over. We were promoted into D3 in the second full season, then finished 4th from bottom in D3. We have now yo-yo’d back to D3 after a nice run of form in the 2nd half of the season. In order to say that the on-field product has improved, we need to stay in D3 next season. Anything less will be an on-field failure.

From a talent perspective, there really was no youth academy. By my count I believe there were 10 youth players, mostly Scandinavian. I would say Arne Engels or Nanasi were the best inherited youth. CSKA now boast the likes of Kendry, Mastantuano, Konate, Musah, Odobert and many others. All well and good, but the first team is what matters. The team I inherited had Robert Sanchez (88), Denis Suarez (89), Gaetan Laborde (88), and Chris Smalling (88), Seba Coates (89) as it’s over 88 players with a smattering of aging 87s who were about to be downgraded (think Luciano Vietto, Bartosz Berezynski-esque). Our talisman is now Marcelo Brozovic (92) along with 7 other 88+ players. I do think the first team has improved and expect the summer ratings will help our cause a bit.

What does this all mean? CSKA is glad to have been re-promoted to D3. But we need to aim higher. If CSKA yo-yos again, the American owners are likely to cut ties with the current manager. The Board’s aim is to take the club to the glory and riches of D1 for the first time in club history.