The former Spanish coach loses job due to ChatGPT’s unusual instruction

The growing influence of artificial intelligence in the workplace has revolutionised many complex tasks, offering speed and efficiency. Yet, an over-reliance on these technologies can prove detrimental—a lesson learned the hard way by former Spain national team coach, Robert Moreno.

The 48-year-old coach resigned from Russian Premier League club FC Sochi last September after a disappointing run that saw the team earn just one point in seven matches. According to the club’s former sporting director, Andrei Orlov, Moreno was an avid fan of ChatGPT and frequently based critical coaching decisions on the AI platform’s recommendations.

During a team trip to Khabarovsk, Moreno reportedly followed ChatGPT’s instructions to the letter when planning the squad’s schedule. Shockingly, the AI-recommended plan included training sessions at 7:00 a.m. and stipulated that players remain awake for 28 consecutive hours.

Orlov recalled in an interview with Sports Russia, “When preparing for Khabarovsk, Robert said, ‘I’ve set everything in ChatGPT, all the parameters for the trip.’ I reviewed the presentation and noticed it suggested players wouldn’t sleep for 28 hours. I asked him, ‘Robert, everything is fine, but when will the players rest?’”

Despite his concerns, the team adhered to the AI-generated schedule. Players were puzzled by the unusually early wake-up calls and the intense timetable, but Moreno’s adherence to ChatGPT left little room for human judgment.

Moreno’s dependence on the AI extended beyond training sessions. Even player recruitment decisions were influenced by ChatGPT’s assessments. Orlov explained, “Last summer, we were evaluating forwards—Vladimir Pisarsky, Pavel Meleshin, and Artur Shushenachev. Robert consulted ChatGPT, which recommended Shushenachev as the best choice.” Unfortunately, Shushenachev failed to score in his first ten matches, further undermining confidence in Moreno’s methods.

Ultimately, the squad lost faith in their coach, and FC Sochi were relegated from the Russian Premier League under his leadership.

Moreno’s coaching journey had seen him act as interim coach for Spain’s national team before assuming the head coach role in June 2019, following Luis Enrique’s resignation due to family reasons. He remained at La Roja until November 2019, later managing French side AS Monaco and Spanish club Granada before taking charge of PFC Sochi in December 2023.

Moreno’s experience serves as a cautionary tale: while AI can enhance decision-making, human oversight remains essential—especially in high-stakes environments like professional football.