The former Spanish coach loses job over ChatGPT’s bizarre advice

The influence of artificial intelligence in professional careers has been growing steadily, with platforms like ChatGPT simplifying complex tasks across various sectors. However, an overreliance on such technology can sometimes backfire dramatically. Spanish football coach Robert Moreno recently became a cautionary tale of this very phenomenon, losing his job after strictly following guidance from ChatGPT.

The 48-year-old Moreno resigned from Russian top-tier club FC Sochi in September after a disastrous run that saw his team earn just one point from seven league matches. According to the club’s former sporting director, Andrei Orlov, Moreno was an avid fan of ChatGPT and often relied on it for making tactical and operational decisions—decisions that, in hindsight, appeared bizarre and impractical.

During a pre-season trip to Khabarovsk, Moreno implemented ChatGPT’s instructions down to the letter. He reportedly ordered training sessions at 7:00 a.m. and instructed players to remain awake for 28 hours straight. Orlov recounted in an interview with Sports Russia:

"When we were preparing for the Khabarovsk trip, Robert said, ‘I have everything sorted. I set all the parameters in ChatGPT.’ I looked at the presentation, and it showed players would stay awake for 28 hours. I asked, ‘Robert, this is all well, but when will the boys sleep?’"

Despite obvious concerns, the team followed the AI-generated schedule, leaving players confused about the early mornings and intense routines. Moreno’s dependence on ChatGPT extended even to player recruitment. Last summer, while scouting for a forward, the club considered three options: Vladimir Pisarsky, Pavel Meleshin, and Artur Shushenachev. ChatGPT reportedly recommended Shushenachev as the ideal choice. However, the forward failed to score in his first ten matches, contributing to growing frustration within the squad.

Ultimately, FC Sochi were relegated from the Russian Premier League under Moreno’s tenure, as players lost confidence in his coaching methods.

Moreno’s career highlights include serving as interim coach of the Spain national team in 2019, before taking over permanently following Luis Enrique’s temporary resignation due to personal reasons. He later coached French side Monaco and Spanish club Granada, before joining FC Sochi in December 2023.

Moreno’s experience underscores the potential pitfalls of unquestioned reliance on artificial intelligence, especially in high-stakes environments like professional sports.