Moldovan coach Andrei Martin could leave Ordabasy following the most successful season in the club’s history, with the two sides reportedly unable to agree terms on a new contract.
According to Russian journalist Ivan Karpov, the 52-year-old and the Shymkent club have failed to reach an agreement over an extension despite Ordabasy completing their first-ever domestic league and cup double.
Martin’s current contract runs until 30 November 2026. At the time of publication, Ordabasy have made no official announcement confirming his departure.
The situation is particularly surprising given the club’s results this season. Ordabasy secured the Kazakhstan Premier League title ahead of Kairat in late October before beating Kaisar 4-1 in the Kazakhstan Cup final on 7 November.
It was the first time in the club’s history that Ordabasy had won both major domestic trophies in the same season, while the league triumph was their second after their maiden title in 2023.
Reports over Martin’s future had already been conflicting before the cup final.
On 28 October, KazFootball reported that Ordabasy’s management had decided not to renew his contract regardless of the result in the final. However, on 5 November, club board chairman Darkhan Kyzaybayev said he hoped Martin would remain and that a decision would be made after the cup match.
Martin himself had kept both possibilities open.
“My contract runs until 30 November. All decisions about the future will be made only after the Cup final,” he told KazFootball.
“An extension is possible, but so is choosing a new stage in my career. Everything will depend on the outcome of negotiations with the club.”
Karpov’s report therefore represents a new development in those negotiations, although it does not yet amount to official confirmation that Martin will leave.
From Mordovia and Kuban to two domestic doubles
Martin, 52, began his coaching career as an assistant to Romanian coach Dorinel Munteanu at Russian clubs Mordovia and Kuban, while he also worked with the Moldova national team.
He later took charge of Dacia Buiucani, guiding the club into Moldova’s top flight, before moving on to Petrocub.
With the Hincesti club, Martin won both the Moldovan league and cup in 2023/24, ending Sheriff Tiraspol’s long run of domestic dominance. He also led Petrocub to the league phase of the UEFA Conference League for the first time in the club’s history.
Ordabasy’s double in 2026 therefore became Martin’s second league-and-cup double in just three seasons.
There is also an unusual connection between Martin and Ordabasy. In the summer of 2024, his Petrocub side eliminated the Kazakh club from Champions League qualifying.
Just a few months later, in December, Martin was appointed Ordabasy head coach.
His first season in Shymkent ended with a seventh-place finish, but in his second he delivered two trophies and the most successful campaign in the club’s history. In November 2026, Martin was also named Kazakhstan’s Coach of the Year.
Ordabasy will enter Champions League qualifying in summer 2027. If Martin’s departure is confirmed, his successor will inherit the task of preparing the club for Europe immediately after a historic domestic double.