Poyet turns down CSKA Moscow offer as he leads Jeonbuk’s stunning K League resurgence

Gus Poyet has rejected an approach from Russian club CSKA Moscow, opting instead to continue his remarkable project with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — a side he has taken from survival to the summit of K League 1.

According to Nova Sport, a Greek sports outlet, CSKA Moscow made a formal offer to the Uruguayan tactician in recent weeks. However, Poyet declined the proposal, citing concerns over Russia’s political instability and the club’s exclusion from European competitions, rather than the sporting aspect of the project itself.

From relegation battle to league leaders

Poyet took charge of Jeonbuk ahead of the 2025 season, inheriting a squad that narrowly avoided relegation the year before. With a team built around academy products and several holdovers from 2024, he has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround.

Jeonbuk now sit top of the K League 1 table, holding a nine-point lead over second-placed Ulsan (albeit with one more game played). His side has lost just twice this season and recently completed a sensational 3–2 comeback victory over Suwon FC, scoring the winner in the 89th minute after trailing 0–2 — a performance that epitomises the grit and belief instilled by the Uruguayan.

Recognition and renewed European interest

Poyet was recently named K League Manager of the Month, with his team drawing praise for their attractive, high-intensity football and tactical flexibility. Inevitably, that success has attracted renewed interest from European clubs.

The approach from CSKA Moscow was one of the most serious to date. Yet Nova Sport reports that Poyet turned it down not due to lack of ambition, but because of the unpredictable environment in Russian football — including limitations on continental competition eligibility.

National team links persist

Poyet, who previously managed the Greece national team and club sides including Bordeaux, AEK Athens, and Real Betis, has also been quietly linked to the South Korea national team job. His deepening knowledge of the K League and emphasis on player development make him an increasingly attractive candidate, especially following Korea’s disappointing Asian Cup campaign last  year.

Nevertheless, the Jeonbuk boss has refused to be drawn into speculation about his future, maintaining a firm focus on the current title race. “We take it game by game,” he reportedly said. “The table doesn’t matter yet — performance does.”

The road ahead

With 14 league matches still to play, Jeonbuk are well-placed to reclaim their first K League crown since 2021. For now, Poyet remains the architect of one of Korean football’s most compelling comeback stories — a manager in form, in demand, but fully focused on the job at hand.

Gustavo Poyet at a glance – 2025 season

• Position: Head Coach, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

• K League Record: 14 wins – 4 draws – 2 losses

• Current standing: 1st in K League 1 (9 points clear)

• Recent honour: K League Manager of the Month (May 2025)

• Turned down: CSKA Moscow (offer reported by Greek outlet Nova Sport)