Yuri Kovtun

He is an assistant coach of FC Rodina Moscow.

Yuri Kovtun

Kovtun working with Arsenal Tula in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Yuri Mikhailovich Kovtun
Date of birth	(1970-01-05) 5 January 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth	Azov, Soviet Union
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	FC Rodina Moscow (assistant coach)
Youth career
	SDYuShOR-3 Azov
	ROShISP-10 Rostov-on-Don
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1988	FC Luch Azov	36	(1)
1989–1990	FC SKA Rostov-na-Donu	61	(0)
1991–1993	FC Rostselmash Rostov-on-Don	61	(1)
1993–1998	FC Dynamo Moscow	156	(5)
1999–2005	FC Spartak Moscow	121	(7)
2006–2007	FC Alania Vladikavkaz	29	(5)
2007	FC MVD Rossii Moscow	11	(0)
2011–2012	FC Arsenal Tula (amateur)
Total		455	(19)
International career
1994–2003	Russia	50	(2)
Managerial career
2007–2009	FC MVD Rossii Moscow
2010	FC Salyut-Energia Belgorod (assistant)
2013–2014	FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod (assistant)
2015–2016	FC Tosno (assistant)
2016–2017	FC Dynamo Moscow (assistant)
2019–2020	FC Ural Yekaterinburg (assistant)
2020–2021	FC Arsenal Tula (assistant)
2022–	FC Rodina Moscow (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kovtun's career started in minor Russian club Luch Azov in 1988. Then he started his career as a professional player in FC SKA Rostov-na-Donu and FC Rostselmash Rostov-on-Don. In 1992, Rostselmash and Kovtun starred in the first Russian championship where they unexpectedly promoted to 8th place. Kovtun was impressive during the season so two top teams were interested in him at the same time : Dynamo and Spartak Moscow. In 1993, Kovtun chose Dynamo Moscow and became their key player for years, until his move to Spartak in 1999.

Whereas Kovtun's only honour during his 6-year spell in Dynamo was a Russian Cup in 1995, he won 3 titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001 after joining Spartak. Moreover, he took part in numerous UEFA Champions League games and found himself a regular Russian national football team player.

Kovtun played for the Russian international team 50 times, scoring 2 goals. The most notable moments of his international career were his long shot goal to Yugoslavia during a 2002 World Cup qualifier and an own goal in a 0–1 away loss to Iceland Euro 2000 qualifying. He was a part of the Russian squad in the Euro 96 and World Cup 2002 finals. Kovtun was sent off in a Euro '96 match for a lunge at Germany's Dieter Eilts.

Kovtun's strong points as a defender were mainly great tackling, tight marking of opponents and scoring goals in the crucial matches. The main weakness of his game throughout his career was a lack of pace and acceleration. Stemming from this lack of speed, he often had to play too dirty so he could easily receive yellow cards or even be sent off (he holds the Russian League record for number of bookings).

During 2005, already a Spartak's veteran, he could not gain a place in the first team and most of the season he played for the reserves. In January 2006, he left Spartak Moscow for just relegated into Russian First Division Alania Vladikavkaz. He retired in 2007 and became a manager for FC MVD Rossii Moscow. FC MVD promoted to the Russian First Division under his supervision.

On the 8th of June, 2009, Kovtun resigned from FC MVD manager position and was replaced by Vladimir Eshtrekov.

• 1999, 2000, 2001 Russian Premier League
• 1995, 2003 Russian Cup