Outpoll | Kokorin Criticizes Spartak's Unprofessionalism and Internal Intrigues.

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Kokorin Criticizes Spartak's Unprofessionalism and Internal Intrigues.

Kokorin Criticizes Spartak's Unprofessionalism and Internal Intrigues.

2 days ago7 min read7 comments

So, picture this: you’re a pro footballer, you’ve just signed for a massive, historic club like Spartak Moscow—the people’s team, with a fanbase that’s basically a religion. You’re hyped, right? But before the ink on your contract is even dry, you’re scrolling through your phone and, boom, you see the news of your own signing already leaked, and not by the club itself.That’s the wild ride Alexandr Kokorin just described, and honestly, it sets the tone for what sounds like one of the most chaotic locker room environments in football. In a recent podcast chat with Fedor Smolov, Kokorin didn’t hold back, painting a picture of Spartak as less of a football club and more of a reality TV show set, calling it a 'club for intrigues, a club-intriguer' that thrives on gossip and lives for the drama.He came in expecting professionalism and found what he calls an 'unexplainable aura' where everything felt, in his words, 'unprofessional in the highest degree. ' Now, let’s break this down because this isn’t just some random rant; it’s a deep dive into the internal culture that can make or break a team’s season, and for anyone who follows sports drama, this is premium content.Kokorin acknowledged that there were bright spots, like working under what he called a 'super classy coach,' Domenico Tedesco, which makes the situation even more frustrating. You’ve got a good gaffer, but the background noise is just constant—this relentless urge from within to spin everything, to report things to the leadership 'in a certain light,' as he put it.He described reaching a point where he realized how he was being portrayed to owner Leonid Fedun himself, with rumors swirling that he wasn’t playing because he’d supposedly promised Zenit he wouldn’t! Let that sink in: a player, new to the club, is dealing with whispers that he’s actively throwing games for a rival, and people are apparently buying it. He’s sitting there in the middle of it all, reading nonsense about his injuries being caused by his lifelong massage therapist, and you can just feel the exasperation when he says, 'Lord, I’ve worked with this masseur my whole life, we always do the same thing.He’s seen more than all of you put together. ' This is the daily grind he’s talking about—not focusing on training, tactics, or recovery, but on managing perceptions and fighting fictional narratives.And the crazy part? His actual relationships were fine. He got on well with the guys in the squad, the coaching staff, the support personnel, and even the fans, who, after an initial rough welcome (he casually mentions they told him to 'go f*** himself' three times early on), were totally cool with him.So the problem wasn’t the people he interacted with directly; it was this pervasive, shadowy ecosystem of intrigue that seemed to operate independently. He was made the highest-paid player at Spartak, a clear sign of the club’s investment and expectation, and all he needed was trust to deliver results, but instead, his mental energy was spent wondering, 'Dude, what did they tell that guy about me? What did they report about me supposedly fixing matches?' It’s a classic case of a toxic environment undermining talent, and it raises bigger questions about club governance and culture in modern football, especially in high-pressure leagues.We’ve seen this movie before at other clubs where internal politics sabotage on-field performance—think of the later Galácticos era at Real Madrid or certain periods at Manchester United post-Ferguson, where leaks and power struggles became a distraction. For Spartak, a club with such a proud history and passionate following, this kind of internal noise is a direct threat to its competitive edge.Kokorin’s account suggests a environment where energy is diverted from pure footballing matters to interpersonal maneuvering, which can erode squad cohesion, dent player confidence, and ultimately show up in inconsistent results. It’s a reminder that for all the tactics and talent, the psychological and cultural fabric of a club is just as critical.If players are worrying about backroom whispers instead of the next opponent, that’s a strategic disadvantage no amount of individual skill can fully overcome. This isn’t just about one player’s experience; it’s a case study in how organizational culture impacts performance at the highest level of sport. Kokorin, now with Aris, is looking back with a mix of bewilderment and blunt assessment, giving us a rare, unfiltered peek behind the curtain at one of Russia’s football giants, and it’s a story that resonates with any fan who knows that what happens off the pitch is often just as intense as the battle on it.