By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Former Valencia coach Unai Emery has officially taken charge at Russian club Spartak Moscow after signing a two-year contract, the club confirmed.
Emery left Valencia at the end of last season after two years and was announced last month as Valery Karpin’s successor as Spartak coach by club owner Leonid Fedun.
“The specialist from Spain will take his first training session as head coach tomorrow (Monday) at (Spartak’s training ground) Tarasovka,” Spartak said on its website Sunday.
Karpin submitted his resignation in April 2011 after a string of poor results but carried on in a temporary capacity until the end of last season while seeking his own successor. Karpin and Emery were Real Sociedad teammates between 1995 and 1996.
Emery led Valencia to back-to-back third-place finishes in the Spanish Primera Liga, both times finishing far behind the dominant duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Last season, he came under pressure from fans as Valencia fought off strong challenges from Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Levante.