The Russian club, which is preparing to take on Norway’s champions Røa IL in the UEFA Women’s Champions League round of 16 next month are making a statement of intent by signing the two-time league and cup winning coach. The Polish-born coach led his previous club, US powerhouse FC Indiana, to Women’s Premier Soccer League titles in 2005 and 2007 and US Open Cup titles in 2005 and 2008.

With Borkowski now installed as Aleksandr Grigoryan’s replacement at Zvezda-2005, the club located in the most easterly European city of Perm, questions are being raised over the future of the squad, with some significant signings expected to be made in the off-season after the Pole vowed to “take the club forward.”

Borkowski’s appointment shows the serious commitment from the club’s president Gennadiy Shilov, reinforcing the belief that the club’s emphasis next season will be placed on success in Europe. As such, Borkowski is believed to be looking to bring key changes to a squad based on Russian and Ukrainian internationals who, while claiming the last three Russian League titles, have fallen just short of getting the coveted European crown.

Zvezda-2005 sporting director, Stanislav Kharitonov said: “We are delighted that we were able to replace a great coach Grigoriyan with another great coach – Borkowski. We hope that our team will continue to improve and will move only forward as we target winning every tournament that we participate in.”

With regards to player changes, Borkowski who has worked with players from 21 countries during his term in the US, has been linked with several internationals including Mexican midfielder Fatima Leyva. Leyva, who flourished under Borkowski in America and was FC Indiana’s and her National Team captain, is a likely import.

LTA Agency Director of Women’s Football, Anton Maksimov, who was involved in Zvezda’s approach for Borkowski, said: “I always thought that Europe was ideal for Borkowski. After winning titles in America, it is a natural transition for him to coach in a European setting, and the Russian club’s international ambitions match his desire for success perfectly. Fully committed to the women’s game, he is one of the most hard-working, driven, and tactically astute coaches around.”

To be officially presented to journalists in Perm next Tuesday October 27th, Borkowski will be joined in Russia by his long-time assistant LTA’s Bulgarian strength and conditioning coach Kaloyan Petkov.

The press-conference will take place at Zvezda Stadium at 5pm local time. See the club’s news release here:

http://bit.ly/2VuGC3

Mery has just started her first season back in Spain after a highly successful 5-year spell in the United States where she won the National Championship and the US Open Cup with FC Indiana and led a new Buffalo Flash franchise to the USL W-League Play-Offs in their debut season.

The Madrid-born trickster is very dangerous both as a goalscorer and the assist getter and has reached double figures in goals scored in each of the last five seasons. Mery was instrumental in FC Indiana’s run to the 2007 Women’s Premier League National Championship (WPSL), and she was named that year’s WPSL National Championship Final Four Most Valuable Player (MVP).

You can see one of her most spectacular goals scored in the 2007 US Open Cup Final versus Ajax America of California by following this link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B5Du2kCwUs

Mery has returned to Spain with the aspirations of helping RCD Espanyol regain the Spanish Superliga title and earning her spot on the Spanish National Team in the current FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 qualification cycle.