Recently, Shanghai Shenhua’s head coach, Slutsky, chose to return home for a break during the Chinese Super League off-season and gave an exclusive interview to Russian media, discussing his coaching experience in China. He noted that China is similar to Russia in being a country fond of drinking.
Long time no see, did you dye your hair blonde? Is that right?
Shanghai is extremely hot! For almost two whole months, the temperature has been above 40 degrees Celsius, with high humidity. My hair has been sun-bleached. I usually wear a baseball cap during training, but sometimes I don’t, especially when I play tennis during my free time each week, as it’s not comfortable to wear a cap.
Currently, your coaching in China seems to be quite successful?
It can only be considered a phased success, as the most challenging times are just around the corner.
You’ve been working continuously without rest for a long time.
I’ve been coaching in the Russian league since 2005, and the first time I asked for a break was in 2023, because by then I had been coaching non-stop for 18 years without any breaks. I always had something to prove, whether in Russia or abroad.
You probably won’t coach in China for more than three years?
I can’t calculate that. When you observe from an external perspective, you can make a rough plan, but if you have important matches and pressure every week, along with many players having their own issues, it becomes difficult to evaluate the future. There are various things waiting for you every day, and not everything is under your control.
Have you thought about when to retire?
Not yet. For each task ahead, I will invest the greatest enthusiasm, interest, and involvement. When I feel that I no longer have the passion, I will stop. I would never work just for money, dealing with tasks half-heartedly. This fuse of mine might burn out in a year or fifteen years; I don’t know.
Have you tried Chinese liquor?
Yes, it’s very strong. Some players gave this liquor as a gift to me and my coaching staff. Everyone knows Russians love vodka, so they said, ‘Why not try this? Our local liquor.’ We tried it, and it’s very strong.
To put it bluntly, China is somewhat like Russia in terms of its drinking culture. I often see drunk people in hotels, on the streets, and at banquets. Chinese people attach a lot of cultural significance to alcohol, and it’s a country that loves drinking.
What do you think about the harm of alcohol to professional players?
Decades ago, you could see footballers who drank alcohol everywhere in Russia and England. But now, the main issue for young players is video games, which are more harmful than alcohol.
They game almost all night long. They’d be better off having a drink and going to bed early rather than sitting there gaming until 5 AM, then training while sleep-deprived. It’s a real scourge!
In the Soviet era, many players smoked, drank, and partied, and these behaviors were seen as detrimental to their careers. In today’s world, the greatest harm comes from staying up all night playing video games.