Christian Noboa leaves Sochi to return in Ecuador

FC Sochi officially parted ways with 38-year-old player Christian Noboa.

The Ecuadorian, joined the team in 2019, will return to Ecuador to play for native club Emelec. Noboa made pro debut with this team in 2004, and from Emelec he moved to Russia in 2007.

Noboa was a player for five RPL teams, starting with Rubin Kazan in 2007, then playing for Dynamo Moscow, FC Rostov, Zenit St. Petersburg and finally Sochi. Christian won two RPL title with Rubin, added one more in Zenit. In Kazan player also became Russian Cup and Super Cup winner.

366 matches, played by Noboa, is the top result for foreign player, since RPL started in 2002. In all-time stats of Russian top division (since 1992) only Deividas Semberas has more matches among foreigners – 369. Noboa scored 78 goals, which is fourth result for foreign players, only Quincy Promes, Sardar Azmoun and Vagner Love have more.

During winter break Sochi also parted ways with Georgy Melkadze, Ivan Ignatyev, Artem Meschaninov and Ivan Miladinovic. Team, now coaching by Robert Moreno, go bottom of the RPL standings with eleven points.