Former Spain Manager Dismissed Over Controversial ChatGPT-Driven Decisions
In a startling development that highlights the risks of over-reliance on artificial intelligence in professional sports, former Spain national team manager Robert Moreno has been sacked from his position at Russian club FC Sochi. The 48-year-old coach's departure followed a series of bizarre decisions made using the popular AI platform ChatGPT, which ultimately contributed to the team's poor performance and relegation.
Extreme Training Regimen Based on AI Recommendations
According to Andrei Orlov, the club's former sporting director, Moreno became heavily dependent on ChatGPT for critical football decisions. The most controversial incident occurred during preparation for an away trip to Khabarovsk, where Moreno presented a schedule entirely generated by the AI platform.
"I looked at the presentation: it showed that the players weren't supposed to sleep for 28 hours," Orlov revealed in an interview with Sports Russia. "I asked, 'Robert, that's all great, but when are the guys going to sleep?'"
The AI-generated plan required players to train at 7am two days before the match while maintaining continuous wakefulness for 28 hours. Players reportedly struggled to understand the rationale behind waking at 5am for early morning training sessions.
Failed Player Recruitment Through AI Analysis
Moreno's reliance on ChatGPT extended beyond training schedules to player recruitment decisions. During the summer transfer window, when the club needed a new striker, Moreno input data from three potential candidates—Vladimir Pisarsky, Pavel Meleshin, and Artur Shushenachev—into the AI system.
"Shushenachev emerged as the best according to GPT," Orlov explained. The club proceeded to sign Shushenachev based on this recommendation, but the decision proved disastrous as the player failed to score a single goal in ten matches.
Growing Discontent and Eventual Dismissal
The Spanish manager's unconventional approach created significant friction within the team. Orlov noted that "the Russian core was very unhappy with Moreno, and the foreigners weren't so confident in his ideas either." The sporting director added that Moreno showed little sympathy toward his assistants and players, creating a negative atmosphere that affected team morale.
Under Moreno's leadership, FC Sochi suffered a dramatic decline, picking up just one point from seven matches before his departure in September. The team was subsequently relegated from the Russian Premier League to the First League, marking a significant setback for the club.
Background of the Controversial Manager
Robert Moreno previously managed the Spanish national team on an interim basis for three matches before being appointed permanently in June 2019. He assumed the role after Luis Enrique resigned due to his daughter's illness, but his tenure at FC Sochi has now ended under controversial circumstances.
Orlov offered a measured perspective on the use of AI in football management: "An additional tool—why not? But for Moreno, GPT eventually became one of his primary tools." This case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of substituting human judgment and experience with artificial intelligence in high-stakes professional sports environments.
