Spartak’s newcomer is a Russian German. They took over Ayrton from Tyrol, where he was coached by Cherchesov’s ex-teammate – Wild, Wild West – Blogs
Gain for Vanoli.
It seems that for the first time in a long time, according to the plan, “Spartak” bought all the necessary players before January and will go to the training camp in full force. The red-and-white ones close their transfer campaign (most likely) – Leon Klassen comes to Russia.
Let’s figure out who it is.
He played for the youth team, in Tyrol he was coached by Cherchesov’s former teammate, and the ex-coach of the national team dropped in for training
• Klassen is 21 years old. He plays on the left in defense – it is obvious that Spartak has finally stopped plugging the flank with Alexander Lomovitsky. Although the same “SE” wrote that Ayrton could also leave. And then it is Klassen who will become the first choice in this position. But for now he is a player for the future.
• Leon is a clear left-hander who can play along the entire flank. But for now, the profile position is precisely the left-back. “Spartak” bought it from “Tyrol”, he spent the last six months in the Austrian Bundesliga, before that he spent his entire adult career at “1860 Munich”, the academy of which he was finishing. By the way, as Klassen’s agent said in the summer, there was an interest in him from Ufa and Akhmat.
Klassen skillfully connects to attacks: in 20 games (including three cup games), he scored 6 assists. In three games this season, he played better – however, and the team played in three centerdef, so he fits perfectly for the current “Spartak”.
True, Tyrol itself is one of the worst teams in the Bundesliga. Only two teams have scored fewer points this season.
• Stanislav Cherchesov played with Tirol coach Thomas Zilberberger in the nineties. The former coach of the national team even dropped in to the training session of the Austrian club. “I wanted to say that I would be called up to the first national team, and then I remembered that Stanislav was no longer a coach there,” Klassen retold Zilberberger’s joke to the Championship.
And here is how Zilberberger described Klassen when he bought Tyrol: “A very talented guy. Technical and dynamic. Klassen will perfectly fit into the system of our club. We will develop it. We need a left-back now, and we hope that Leon will help us in the near future. “
Klassen is a Russian German, his grandmother lives in Kaliningrad. He has already made his youth debut and played with Umyarov, Prutsev and Khlusevich
• Leon was born and raised in Germany, but in a Russian family (only his mother has German roots). Parents have been living there since the early nineties: father Sergei was a volleyball coach, but then went to work in a car service, and then began to help his son’s agent. Mother taught German in Russia, and in Germany became a kindergarten teacher.
Father’s real surname is Drankov. He became Klassen already in Germany – he took the name of his wife. This is a common practice among Russian immigrants, it is more convenient this way.
“I have been a big fan of Spartak since childhood, so Leon has a great desire to write his name in the history of such a big club,” Sergei told Sport24. – As far as I know, Spartak’s management approached Leon’s agent directly. They were at several games that Leon used, but then they did not know him – they came to look at other players. But in the end they liked him. There was interest from European clubs, but a specific offer came from Spartak. “
Klassen Jr. also likes Spartak, although he has no fan preferences, unlike his father. “I still want to develop in the European championships,” he said several years ago. – In two or three years I will be ready to consider the proposals of Russian clubs. I follow the RPL teams. I especially like Spartak and Zenit. “
• Leon does not speak Russian perfectly. Until the age of three, he was brought up only on it. Klassen recently admitted that now the family speaks 50-50 German, but it is more convenient for him to communicate in German.
I have only been to Russia in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. His grandmother lives there – he visited her once a year, but now he will be able to drop in more often.
• Klassen was called up to the Russian junior teams U17, U18 and U19 – but managed only 5 matches there.
“I had to get used to it a little – to the Russian language and new people. The team received me well, so everything went well. Were the players teasing? Of course, they teased. It’s the same in the youth team. They laughed if they said something wrong or didn’t know a word. This is fine. For the last two years I have rarely spoken Russian, so I speak worse. The more often I communicate with the guys, the better I will know the language, ”said Klassen.
He got another match (and a couple of times) in the current set of the youth team – he won the left midfielder against Lithuania. Leon made his debut in its membership. Well, of course, he will not be considered a legionnaire in the RPL.
By the way, there he crossed paths with Nail Umyarov and Danil Prucev, another newcomer of Spartak. And I also saw Daniil Khlusevich. Leon called Umyarov the leader of the youth team.
Klassen himself is already dreaming of the main team. What do you need to add to get into it? “I think in defensive action and athleticism. I hope I’ll be there someday. “
Photo: spartak.com; globallookpress.com/ Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON; rfs.ru