Spartak’s Yartsev named as Russian coach

SPARTAK Moscow trainer Georgy Yartsev has been appointed coach of Russia’s struggling national team, the country’s soccer chief said yesterday.

"We have decided on Yartsev. It was a mutual decision, made by our executive body," said Alexander Tukmanov, executive director of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

The 55-year-old Yartsev replaces Valerey Gazzayev, who quit as national team coach following a lacklustre 2-1 home defeat by Israel in a friendly last Wednesday.