Russia national football team head coach Valery Karpin has revealed his frustration with people who rudely demand joint photographs and autographs in public.
Speaking to the Russian state news agency TASS about his attitude toward fame, the national team manager explained that he is irritated when individuals approach him in an inappropriate manner. Karpin said people often shout over casually, using the diminutive form of his first name to demand that he sign something or order him to walk over so they can take a picture together. He said that this conduct is annoying and provokes a reaction that is, to put it mildly, not good.
The coach stressed, however, that such encounters remain relatively rare. He noted that the vast majority of supporters who approach him in public are polite and begin by apologising for disturbing him.
Dealing with fame
Karpin is one of the most prominent personalities in Russian sport, known for a candid and blunt speaking style that has defined his public career. Before taking charge of the national team in 2021, he built a distinguished playing record as an attacking midfielder, earning dozens of caps for his country and appearing at major international tournaments. At club level, he won league titles with Spartak Moscow before spending more than a decade in Spain's top division with Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, and Valencia.
After retiring from playing, Karpin transitioned into coaching, managing clubs including Spartak Moscow, Spanish side Mallorca, and FC Rostov before accepting the national team post. His high profile in Russia means his public appearances and squad decisions regularly attract intense scrutiny from supporters, media, and cultural figures.
Squad selection debate
The discussion around Karpin's popularity comes alongside sporting debates over his recent decisions. Actor and singer Mikhail Boyarsky recently argued that Karpin had made a mistake with his latest squad selection. According to Boyarsky, the coach should have included Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Maksim Glushenkov in the squad for the team's upcoming matches.
Boyarsky is a household name in Russia, celebrated for a decades-long career on stage and screen, notably playing D'Artagnan in the Soviet adaptation of The Three Musketeers. A passionate and vocal supporter of Zenit St Petersburg, he frequently comments on the fortunes of both the reigning Russian champions and the national team. Glushenkov, who joined Zenit after impressing in the Russian Premier League, has developed into one of the country's most effective domestic attacking players, leading to public debate whenever he is left out of the national setup.
