Russia's getting better. They've got the World Cup, a moderately recent UEFA Cup title, the money and glorious landscape of Dagestan (Samuel Eto'o says hello) and, in general, promise.

The video released of Spartak Gogniev the player assaulted after being sent off in a reserves game is not what one might call "promising".

The business end of the 2011-12 Russian Premier League season began this weekend with the sixteen teams split into two groups of eight. In recent seasons the league would've concluded after thirty rounds of matches but due to the changing of the league season from a spring-autumn season to an autumn-spring timetable from the 2012-13 season another fourteen rounds of matches are necessary in order to decide championship and relegation matters this time around.

Terek Grozny is more famous for the things which happen on the sidelines like Ruud Gullit, for instance than it is for their on-pitch accomplishments, as they've never finished higher than tenth in the RPL. They're also rather famous for their home base, being the local club of Chechnya and all, while being run by Chechnya's president, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Disney is not going to do a cartoon remake of the Russian Premier League anytime soon. That may be an exercise in acknowledging the obvious, but it remains true the RPL isn't for the kiddies. Roberto Carlos might have a few words of commentary in that realm.

And yet, it can still manage to surprise with some off-pitch shenanigans, like this weekend, when one player who'd just been sent off in a reserve game was beaten in the tunnel by men "dressed as" police officers.

CSKA Moscow currently top the Russian League

The 2011-12 Russian Premier League may still have a long way to go but the next nine rounds of matches will prove intriguing. After 30 rounds the league is split into a championship group and a relegation group with eight teams in each. It is, therefore, vitally important for every club that they put some form together at this crucial time.

This is old news as we all know but there seems to have been an interesting development regarding this outburst by a certain Barry McIntosh. In a slightly amusing twist of fate, and if North East football correspondent for the Sun Steve Brenner is to be trusted, Mr. McIntosh doesn't even represent the player!

Defending cup holders CSKA are out of this year's competition

CSKA Moscow, defending title holders of the Russian Cup, have been sensationally knocked out of this year's competition having gone down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of second-tier club Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan. A goal in the 88th minute from Alan Chochiev ensured that the Army club, who have won six Russian Cups in the last decade, will not retain the title this time around.

Former AC Milan and Netherlands forward Ruud Gullit has been dismissed as coach of FC Terek Grozny after a disappointing start to his first spell in Russian football.

• Right back into oblivion. (Left Back In The Changing Room)
• Sexy football, unemployed football. (AP)
• Transient Juve. (IBWM)
• This might be regretted. (KCKRS)
• This is also regretful. (Dirty Tackle)
• Looking up at expectation. (Three Match Ban)
• Liverpool fans do math, might not end well.

Ruud Gullit's managing stint in Chechnya ended the same way it did in Los Angeles -- with him being shown the door after a brief time in charge.

Gullit was fired by Chechen club Terek Grozny on Tuesday, just five months after being hired as the club's manager.

He was given an ultimatum to win Tuesday's game by team management, but a last-minute goal doomed his team to a 1-0 loss and cost him his job.

Nem todos os grandes jogadores têm capacidade para virem a ser grandes treinadores. Maradona é capaz de ser o melhor exemplo desta máxima, mas Ruud Gullit também está nesse lote. Depois de ter iniciado a carreira no Chelsea, já treinou Newcastle, Feyenoord, LA Galaxy e Terek Grozny, de onde acaba de ser despedido.

Nem todos os grandes jogadores têm capacidade para virem a ser grandes treinadores. Maradona é capaz de ser o melhor exemplo desta máxima, mas Ruud Gullit também está nesse lote. Depois de ter iniciado a carreira no Chelsea, já treinou Newcastle, Feyenoord, LA Galaxy e Terek Grozny, de onde acaba de ser despedido.

It's Chech-out time Ruud Gullit looks like he's earned his flight home from Chechnya (assuming that's how they deal with sacked managers) after his Terek Grozny slipped to defeat in their crunch match against Perm. OTP told you earlier that Terek's press team had gone public with a win or you're sacked warning to Gullit.

This morning, Terek Grozny, the Chechnyan football club attempting to make waves in the football world, released one of the best official website statements in recent memory, torpedoing their coach in no uncertain terms, declaring if he does not win this afternoon's game, he'll find unemployment.

And because that coach is Ruud Gullit, it makes it all the better.

This morning, Terek Grozny, the Chechnyan football club attempting to make waves in the football world, released one of the best official website statements in recent memory, torpedoing their coach in no uncertain terms, declaring if he does not win this afternoon's game, he'll find unemployment.

And because that coach is Ruud Gullit, it makes it all the better.

Ruud awakening Ruud Gullit has been told to win his next game in charge of Chechen side Terek Grozny of face the chop. The ultimatum was issued in a press statement on the club's official website, which outlined that the club were not happy with Gullit's management, his party lifestyle and his general failure to [.

Easily one of the more excellent things you'll see this week, perhaps this month.

While doing his retirement tour in the land of Chechnya, Roberto Carlos, he of world-class sheen and galactic left foot, was approached by a pitch invader, seemingly a very big fan of one of the two aforementioned biblical skills Roberto holds.

In 1917 Russia was gripped by a revolution that sent shockwaves throughout the west, as governments agonized over potential repercussions upsetting their own status quo. Today Russian football is experiencing a revolution of its own, yet western reaction is surprisingly ... Continue reading →

In 1917 Russia was gripped by a revolution that sent shockwaves throughout the west, as governments agonized over potential repercussions upsetting their own status quo. Today Russian football is experiencing a revolution of its own, yet western reaction is surprisingly ... Continue reading →

In 1917 Russia was gripped by a revolution that sent shockwaves throughout the west, as governments agonized over potential repercussions upsetting their own status quo. Today Russian football is experiencing a revolution of its own, yet western reaction is surprisingly ... Continue reading →

A great number of parallels between Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and the current headline-making of Terek Grozny, Russia's version of the 'hey, let's throw obscene money at it' methodology of team-building.

They've approached the recently retired Ronaldo, landed the recently freed Roberto Carlos (think Rivaldo) and now have set their sights on a European-conquering striker (a la Samuel Eto'o in Uzbekistan): Diego Forlan.

A great number of parallels between Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and the current headline-making of Terek Grozny, Russia's version of the 'hey, let's throw obscene money at it' methodology of team-building.

They've approached the recently retired Ronaldo, landed the recently freed Roberto Carlos (think Rivaldo) and now have set their sights on a European-conquering striker (a la Samuel Eto'o in Uzbekistan): Diego Forlan.

Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star writes of the thankless job of the manager, and about how to make the manager's star shine.

The curious thing about managing a soccer team is how little actual soccer is involved.

Most of the job involves coddling your players and thinking up names to call the officials.

Ruud Gullit found another coaching gig.
I thought *I* would get a coaching gig before Gullit, but the story gets better.
Quote: Ruud Gullit has rejected criticism of his decision to coach Chechnyan club Terek Grozny, whose president, former militia leader Ramzan Kadyrov, also is the Kremlin-backed president of Chechnya.

It's a long way from Chelsea to Grozny, but in one of the most extraordinary appointments in recent sporting history, the legendary Dutch footballer and former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit has been unveiled as the new manager of Terek Grozny, the Russian premier league club from the country's restive region of Chechnya.

From the Guardian:
The former Chelsea and Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit has joined Russia's Terek Grozny as coach on an 18-month contract, the Chechnya-based club said on its website yesterday. Gullit, 48, joins the club three years after being fired by the Los Angeles Galaxy. He has also managed Feyenoord.

Former World Player of the Year and Dutch international Ruud Gullit has been named coach of Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny, the Chechen club said on Tuesday.

"Chechen and Terek president Ramzan Kadyrov has appointed Ruud Gullit the team's head coach," Terek said on their website (www.

MOSCOW, Russia — Former Dutch international skipper Ruud Gullit was appointed on Tuesday coach of Russian Premier League club Terek Grozny, local media reported. The 48-year-old has previously coached English Premiership sides Chelsea and Newcastle United along with Dutch giants Feyenoord and MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy.

Former Chelsea and LA Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit has become manager of Russian Premier League outfit Terk Grozny.

Terek hope he can supply what it takes to win a Russian title which is set to last a marathon 15 months to accomodate the League changing to a Winter League. Isn't it always Winter in Russia?