Founded only in 2008, FC Krasnodar quickly made their way to the Russian Premier League in 2011 in fortunate circumstances after finishing fifth in the second tier.
Due to the financial problems faced by the teams that finished in the top three spots, Krasnodar were awarded promotion and have yet to fall down the ladder ever since.
In fact, their performances have constantly improved, with the team participating in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League and group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
In their five league seasons prior to the ongoing campaign, Krasnodar finished among the top four three times.
Theyve taken that to another level this season and currently sit atop the standings after 18 matches with 38 points, two clear of second-placed Zenit St Petersburg.
Manager Vladimir Ivićs side currently boast the best defensive record in the league (14 goals conceded).
They have scored only 28, with eight coming from star midfielder Eduard Spertsyan.
Many fans may already be familiar with that name.
Since last October alone, Spertsyan has been linked with reigning treble winners Manchester City, fellow cash-rich Premier League side Newcastle United, Dutch giants Ajax and Italian heavyweights Juventus.
This followed an incredible 2022-23 season where he recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in 28 league matches.
This scout report and tactical analysis will provide an in-depth analysis of Spertsyans role within Krasnodars tactics, his goalscoring and the kind of midfield role he thrives in.
Background
Spertsyan, born June 7, 2000, has Armenian, German and Russian roots.
His professional journey began with Krasnodars academy, and he moved to their U19 team in February 2018.
Just four months later, he was promoted to their U21 side after scoring six times and providing seven assists in 18 matches across competitions.
In one year with the U21s, Spertsyan played 16 times, recording a goal and two assists.
He showed plenty of promise and was further promoted to their reserve team in 2019.
He spent two years with the reserves, racking up 74 appearances in which he scored 17 goals and assisted 10.
In the summer of 2021, he broke into the first team and hasnt looked back ever since.
Just three months prior to that summer, he made his debut for Armenia and has since played 23 times for his national team.
His first season with Krasnodar saw him make a mark as he scored eight times and provided four assists in 27 matches across the Russian Premier League and Russian Cup despite playing across the frontline and in midfield.
Spertsyan then exploded to life last season playing as an attacking midfielder, recording 14 goals and 14 assists in 41 matches across competitions.
While his team finished sixth in the league, they reached the final of the Cup, losing to CSKA Moscow on penalties.
This season, Spertsyan has enjoyed a tremendous start, racking up eight goals and an assist in 18 league games to help Krasnodar move atop the standings.
Profile
Spertsyan, as alluded to previously, has played in multiple midfield positions since the start of his career, but has come into his own as an attacking midfielder deployed behind a target man.
Interestingly, this hasnt exactly been his role for Krasnodar this season.
Ivić has tried out numerous formations but has used a 4-1-4-1 in 32% of their matches and a 4-3-3 in 29% of their games.
In both these set-ups, Spertsyan typically operates as a left-sided central midfielder with the license to move forward and initiate plays.
In contrast, his fellow central midfielder — usually Nikita Krivtsov — assists build-up play.
Aleksandr Chernikov has usually operated as the holding midfielder, dictating the tempo after receiving the ball from the defence.
Spertsyans role allows him to effectively play as a left-sided attacking midfielder, as his heatmap below indicates.
He targets willing runners in left-back Lucas Olaza or left-winger Batxi.
The variety he provides with his passing is extremely important for a Krasnodar team that usually operates with around 55% possession.
The Black-Greens are usually efficient with their forays forward and have completed (per game) 70.3% of their 50.83 passes into the final third, 71.6% of their 80.78 progressive passes and 59.5% of their 56.28 long passes.
More simplistically, what Spertsyan offers f
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