FC Sochi officially announced hiring of Kurban Berdyev as new head coach.

70-year-old coach, who came back from Iranian club Tractor, will start his job after New Year. Since June Berdyev had been working in Tractor as head coach and technical director.

Previously working in RPL coach led two clubs to best results in their history. Rubin Kazan promoted to RPL in 2002, became Russian champions in 2008 and 2009, won Russian Cup in 2012 and Super Cup in 2010 and 2012. Rostov got silver medals in 2015/16 season. Berdyev is RPL record holder with 439 matches played as head coach and second in league history with 189 wins.

In the first part of the season Aleksandr Tochilin officially worked as Sochi head coach, while Vadim Garanin entered the staff as senior coach. The Southern side earned 25 points in 17 RPL matches and reached the winter break as ninth in the standings. Team also was eliminated from Russian Cup, as they finished bottom in the Group Stage.