[5] Having not played for over eight months, and at the age of 36, Mostovoi signed a contract with Dmitry Pietrman's Deportivo Alavés in early March 2005, initially until the end of the second level campaign.

This was later proven false, after Mostovoi gave another interview and explained he merely said that Yartsev overworked the players during practice, so they didn't have the necessary energy to play well in matches.

A quick, agile, creative, and mobile advanced playmaker, Mostovoi was also tactically versatile, and capable of playing in several midfield and offensive positions.

Mostovoi was renowned in particular for his first touch and speed on the ball, as well as his timing, interpretation of space and dribbling skills, which enabled him to get past defenders; he was also highly regarded for his vision and precise passing.

[9] After retiring as a player, in 2005 Mostovoi was persuaded by the then Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev to play for the Russia national beach soccer team.

[11][12] Mostovoi graduated from college as an electrician, and later joined a sports academy in Moscow, which provided coaching to young players with a university education.

[citation needed] After losing the 2001 Copa del Rey Final, a group of Celta supporters raised four million pesetas to commission a statue of Mostovoi.

The player approved and Maxín Picallo was chosen as the sculptor, but the project was never finished; he believed that his dip in form in 2003 affected enthusiasm in the endeavour.