MOSCOW, January 2. /TASS/. Politics has never been a topic of discussion in Russia’s Spartak Moscow football club, Portugal’s Tomas Amaral, the former sporting director of the team, has said.
In November 2024, Amaral retired as Spartak’s sporting director upon mutual agreement of the parties. The Portuguese national had occupied this position since December 2023.
"Politics has never been an issue. The focus was on football and the best course of action for Spartak at the moment and in the future," he said.
Amaral noted that he had not doubted, if he should join the Spartak FC. "I am married to a Russian woman, who helped me understand that history always has two sides to it. People suffer on both sides. It was a very big opportunity, and I was certain that I should use it."
Following Amaral’s retirement, the position of the sporting director has remained vacant. After 18 rounds of the Russian Football Championship Spartak is third on the table with 37 points.