Russia recently parted company with manager Fabio Capello after a string of poor results left the team struggling to even make it into the Euro 2016 finals.

The national team has not been performing up to the standards expected from the former Real Madrid manager. On his part, Capello complained that he had not been paid for the last seven months. This was always going to end up sooner rather than later. However, fans would not have been expecting the situation to escalate with just 12 months left for the Euro 2016. Russia reaching the finals, though, is an entirely different prospect.

The recent 1-0 defeat against Austria has left the team third in the table, which means that Russia will have to go through a play-off in order to potentially reach the finals. Montenegro remain in with a shout to overtake Russia for this third spot. Any the hope of qualifying for Euro 2016 automatically will evaporate soon is the national team did not start picking up victories. The team had managed only two wins from the six group games so far. As a replacement for Capello, Russia have gone for the home-grown coaching skills of CSKA Moscow manager Leonid Slutsky, who is coming on board on an unpaid position.

“He won’t even have a wage, just a certain bonus for completing tasks,” said the Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko. “The leadership of Russian football came to our club with a request to let me head up the national team. Taking into account the difficult situation the national team has ended up in, I couldn’t refuse the offer. To manage your country’s team is a great honor and responsibility,” said Slutsky upon taking over. His first match is likely to be the Euro 2016 qualification game at home against Sweden in September.