Club: Krylia Sovetov Samara (often rendered KRYLYA S. SAMARA)

Season context: Around the 2016/17 season Krylya Sovetov Samara were competing in the Russian Football National League (the second tier) after relegation from the Russian Premier League in 2015–16. The 2016–17 campaign was an important season as the club were aiming to return to the top flight.

• Head coach: Frank Vercauteren (appointed in June 2016). Vercauteren is a Belgian coach and former midfielder, with prior managerial experience at clubs including Anderlecht, Genk and Standard Liège. He took charge of Krylia Sovetov ahead of the 2016–17 season.
• League: Russian Football National League (FNL) — the club’s objective was promotion back to the Russian Premier League.
• Home stadium: Metallurg Stadium, Samara (occasionally listed as the Samara Metallurg Stadium), the club’s traditional ground.
• Key points of the season:
  • Krylia Sovetov finished the 2016–17 FNL season in a promotion place (they won the league), securing immediate return to the Russian Premier League for 2017–18.
  • The team combined domestic experience and several signings to dominate the second tier, showing solid defensive organization under Vercauteren and effective attacking returns.
• Notable players (around that time): The squad featured a mix of Russian players and foreign professionals; prominent names across 2016–17 included players such as Artem Samsonov (note: depending on squad lists that season), and other established league veterans. Exact squad lists varied through transfers in summer 2016 and winter 2017.
• Managerial style and impact: Vercauteren brought a structured tactical approach and professional Western-European coaching methods. His appointment stabilized the club and helped deliver the immediate objective of promotion.

Summary: Frank Vercauteren coached Krylia Sovetov Samara from mid‑2016, leading them through the 2016–17 Russian Football National League season and achieving promotion back to the Russian Premier League for 2017–18.