Former Spain coach Robert Moreno has reportedly been dismissed after relying heavily on ChatGPT to plan training schedules and make key team decisions.
The 48-year-old was relieved of his duties at Russian First League side FC Sochi last September, having managed just one point from seven matches.
According to the club’s former sporting director, Andrei Orlov, Moreno was an avid user of ChatGPT and frequently depended on the AI tool for decision-making—sometimes with unusual consequences.
Orlov revealed that during preparations for an away fixture in Khabarovsk, Moreno strictly followed a schedule generated by ChatGPT. The plan reportedly required players to train at 7 a.m. two days before the match and remain awake for a continuous 28-hour period.
Speaking in an interview with Sports Russia, Orlov said Moreno had assured the club that he had carefully planned the trip using ChatGPT. However, upon reviewing the presentation, Orlov questioned when the players were expected to rest, noting that the schedule allowed no time for sleep.
He added that the players were confused about the early-morning training sessions and the lack of rest. Despite having Oleg Kozhemyakin in the squad—who had recently played for SKA Khabarovsk and was familiar with the conditions—Moreno reportedly did not seek his input.
In the end, the team followed the ChatGPT-generated schedule.
Moreno was also said to have used ChatGPT to guide transfer decisions. During the summer window, Sochi were reportedly choosing between Vladimir Pisarsky, Pavel Meleshin, and Artur Shushenachev. Moreno entered performance data from Wyscout into ChatGPT, which identified Shushenachev as the top option.
Sochi signed Shushenachev, but the striker failed to score in 10 appearances for the club.
Orlov noted that while AI tools can be useful as supplementary resources, Moreno eventually treated ChatGPT as one of his main decision-making aids. He added that dissatisfaction grew within the squad, with both Russian and foreign players losing confidence in Moreno’s methods.
According to Orlov, Moreno’s strained relationships with assistants and players further contributed to the negative atmosphere at the club.
During Moreno’s tenure, FC Sochi were relegated from the Russian Premier League to the First League.
Moreno previously managed Spain on an interim basis before being appointed head coach in June 2019, following Luis Enrique’s resignation due to a family health matter.