Larionov Igor Illarionovich Russian NHL legends: Professor Igor Larionov, who won three Stanley Cups
Igor Larionov is a legendary hockey player, one of three people on the planet, having won all the major titles of world hockey - the Olympics, the World Championship for adults and juniors, the Canada (World) Cup and the Stanley Cup. The other two are Vyacheslav Fetisov and Scott Niedermeier, but Larionov also stands out in this trinity for his success. Igor's childhood passed in Voskresensk, where he quickly grew from yard hockey and the basics of sports schools to the status of a key player in the only city club - Khimik. Larionov played his first match in the USSR Championship in 1977, when he was not yet 18. And the young center forward scored the first goal not to anyone, but to Vladimir Myshkin himself! In Voskresensk, he played excellently - goals and assists rained down like from a cornucopia. And because the mentor of the powerful CSKA Viktor Tikhonov, by the beginning of the 80s, he realized that this guy was needed to fulfill his old dream - to create the perfect five. It was not difficult to pick up Igor from Khimik. Then it was solved simply - by calling on " military service", which soldiers with clubs in their hands passed on the ice. However, there was nothing to be offended by" shaved "players - only in CSKA (with rare exceptions) they could receive a call-up to the national team, and all related awards and prizes. As part of the army squads Larionov played eight seasons and in eight of them he took the title of champion of the USSR together with his partners.In 457 championship matches, he scored 204 goals and gave 230 assists.It was at that time that the magnificent Larionov Five was created, terrifying rivals both inside the country , and outside of it. When commentators said "Larionov's five on ice", they always raised their voices, anticipating the magic that was to happen on the court. In addition to two Olympic titles, the title of four-time world champion and six-time European Professor, as he was called for his perfected technique and amazing understanding of the game, he became the best hockey player of the USSR in 1988, and from 86 to 88 he got into the symbolic team of the national championship. In 1989, Larionov decided to drastically change his life by going overseas. The first attempt failed: the state company Sovintersport imposed itself on Igor as guardians and received half of his income. The second turned out to be more successful - as part of Scotty Bowman's "Russian Five" in Detroit, he won three Stanley Cups, thus entering the "Triple Golden Club". Larionov's signature style, smart and subtle, was remembered by many hockey fans in America. He was even called the "Russian Gretzky", noting the similarity of the styles of the two great playmakers, who managed to score goals from the most unexpected positions and give assists in the most harmless situations. In the NHL championships, Larionov played 921 matches, scoring 169 goals, in Stanley Cup tournaments he scored 30 goals in 150 fights. April 10, 2004 Igor Larionov played his last official match in his career. At that time, he was 43 years old, and he was not only the oldest player in the NHL, but also the last representative of the same "Red Machine", which is still remembered on both sides of the ocean. At the end of the year, Luzhniki hosted farewell match great forward, which brought together the leading stars of world hockey. Partners in the national team and clubs have always noted calmness and composure, his asceticism and scrupulousness. He made high demands both on himself and on those around him, and, probably, that is why he achieved such heights. Larionov still maintains excellent form and shares tips with players of new generations. by Farid Bektemirov
double Olympic champion (1984, 1988), bronze medalist OI-2002. Four-time world champion (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989). Second medalist of the 1987 World Cup, third medalist of the 1985 World Cup. Six times champion Europe (1982, 1983, 1985-87, 1989). Winner of the Canada Cup in 1981, finalist of the Canada Cup in 1987, bronze medalist of the Canada Cup in 1984.
Eight-time champion of the USSR (1982-89), three-time Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002). Since June 7, 1997 - Member of the Triple Gold Club. In 2008, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the NHL Hall of Fame.
Played in Russian Khimik (1977-1981) and CSKA (1981-1989), Swiss Lugano (1992-1993), NHL clubs Vancouver Canucks (1989-1992), San Jose Sharks (1993- 1995), Detroit Red Wings (1995-2000, 2000-2003), Florida Panthers (2000) and New Jersey Devils (2003-2005).
On Olympic Games, World and European Championships, as well as Canada / World Cups - 98 matches, 36 goals. In the NHL championships and the Stanley Cup - 1071 matches, 741 (199 + 542) points. In the championships of the USSR - 441 matches, 201 goals.
In 2014, he was included in the National Hockey Hall of Fame.
A real genius in his field, a multiple champion, a virtuoso on the ice and just a good, purposeful person, Igor Larionov became a real hockey legend. “Describing Igor is the same as trying to explain the brightness of the sun with the help of a candle flame,” his contemporaries said about him.
to hockey
Igor Nikolaevich Larionov was born on December 3, 1960 in the city of Voznesensk, in which the main attraction of that time was hockey club"Chemist". Passion for hockey seven-year-old Igor instilled in his older brother Eugene, who was a member of this club. The enviable enthusiasm and fervor with which Zhenya went in for hockey could not but develop in Igor's young receptive heart an ardent love for this sport. He became so interested in hockey that, in the absence of his brother, he took his skates and rushed to the yard, where he skated on ice for hours.
The older brother, seeing Igor's deep passion, took his younger brother to the hockey club. The guys were then coached by Vyacheslav Odinokov, who became his first teacher.
Sports youth hockey player
Hockey became for the future champion his life, goal, meaning. Although, despite this, the hockey player did not abandon his studies at school, justifying himself with a lack of time. Parents demanded high academic performance, and their son tried not to disappoint them - the only bad mark could be the one that was put for frequent absences due to constant trips to the games. The boy was an inquisitive enough person to combine both school and hockey.
Igor Larionov received his first recognition at the Golden Puck tournament, held in his hometown. The talents of the leading striker were noticed by coach Nikolai Epshtein, who himself, already a master of sports, at that time could not miss the potential of a sixteen-year-old hockey player, and was not slow to take him to the adult team. It was he who helped Igor to reveal all his abilities and gave him a ticket to professional sports.
Purposefulness and individuality of the athlete
Possessing a unique style of play peculiar only to him, Igor was quite content with the combinational tactics that Khimik preferred. He loved the quick movements, surprise and offensive actions characteristic of her. Therefore, Igor Larionov, the hockey player whose photo you see in the article, quickly won the sympathy of the audience, who loved his special approach to this sport.
His individuality, according to some, was due to a serious passion for other sports: volleyball, basketball and a special love for football. It is difficult to describe the whole gamut of feelings and emotions that seventeen-year-old Igor Larionov experienced after his first match at the USSR Championship and the goal that the hockey player scored himself
The first hard steps to glory
Soon, people began to pay attention to him famous clubs like Dynamo, CSKA and Spartak. The athlete categorically did not want to go to CSKA: he was not satisfied with the peculiar methodology of coach Viktor Tikhonov, which was based on strict discipline and the same inhuman training methods that not everyone could withstand. Later, he will describe it in detail in the Ogonyok magazine, arranging the article as a letter of appeal to the coach.
As always, life had its own way: in order to avoid military service, Igor, after playing three seasons at Khimik, had to leave his familiar team with coach Nikolai Epstein and go to Tikhonov at CSKA. The hockey player's fears were not in vain. His life under the "sensitive" leadership of Tikhonov turned into a kind of maximum security prison: practically only prohibitions, constant separation from his family, heavy, unbearable loads. The reason was the idea of the "iron" coach to create an invincible five, before which not a single gate would resist.
As part of CSKA, Larionov Igor was the unchanging champion, and in the 1980s he began to play as a central striker in the legendary five: V. Fetisov, V. Krutov, A. Kasatonov. Having played 9 seasons with CSKA, the champion scored 204 goals, and in 69 international matches - 27 goals and 38 assists. The talented and famous Larionov, for his unusual specifics of the game, was nicknamed the "professor" and recognized as the best hockey player.
Unfortunately, due to the unwillingness to put up with Tikhonov's tactics, the young champion was deprived of travel for a year. At this time, the hockey player met his future wife- the famous figure skater Elena Batalova, with whom in the future he had two daughters and one son.
Big changes
After the conflict with Tikhonov, Igor Larionov, by blood and sweat, obtained permission to go abroad for the exchange of athletes - to Vancouver. There, having received the long-awaited freedom and instantly winning the love of the fans, he became the best hockey player in the Vancouver Canucks club. After playing three fruitful seasons, Igor Larionov moved to Switzerland and became a member of the Lugano club, in which he scored 13 goals in 32 matches. Later, as part of the "Russian Five" from Russian players, created by coach Scotty Bowman in Detroit, he won victory after victory with them.
The last club in the career of the famous hockey player was the New Jersey Devils. Having played it not very well, Igor Larionov, whose photo you see in the article, left in 2004 at the age of 44 big sport having spent the last match in Moscow.
Life outside of sports
Today, Master of Sports Igor Nikolaevich Larionov is a hockey agent helping young novice athletes in North America. While living in Switzerland, he became seriously interested in winemaking, which resulted in his own winery, which he opened in California.
Today, December 3, marks the 58th birthday of the outstanding hockey player of the top five of the USSR ice hockey team of the 1980s, Igor Larionov.
Larionov Igor hockey player, biography.
Larionov Igor, one of three people in the world who have won all the significant hockey trophies (victories at the World Championship, the Olympics, the Canada Cup, world Cup And Stanley Cup).
In addition, he is legendary in that he terrified the rink with his game on high level up to 44 years old. Sometimes it seems that he ice in the heart.
In hockey for an older brother
Igor's love for hockey appeared from a very young age, when he watched his older brother play in hockey clubs. From the age of four, he spent all his free time in the yard in a hockey box.
The elder brother Evgeny, seeing such passion of the younger, took him by the hand to sports school"Chemist".
The first coach of the future super-forward was Vyacheslav Odinokov. But Igor, in addition to success in sports, received the highest scores at school.
On the ice, he earned the nickname "Professor" because he applied his intelligence in the game, calculating all the passes in hundredths of a second and always choosing the best.
Larionov had a direct and frank character, he was never afraid to express his opinion and argue, defending his point of view.
As part of the Snezhinka youth team, the hockey player won his first Golden Puck award.
All the physical characteristics that are accustomed to in modern hockey, Igor Larionov did not possess, he was short in stature and very thin.
But his technique was inimitable, he rushed across the ice at lightning speed, and handed out passes from impossible positions.
At the age of sixteen, he attracted the attention of the head coach of Khimik Nikolai Apshtein, and he invited the guy to the main team.
Another quality of the "professor" was really scientific approach to the game. In order to study hockey from all points of view, he played in basketball, football, handball, and later projected the information received on hockey.
In 1978, the first official match of the young hockey player in the championship of the USSR took place with a very serious rival, Moscow Spartak. In this match, Larionov did not particularly shine with anything outstanding, but he looked very organically in this team, and in between times they defeated one of the then leaders with a score of 7:2. After this match, the center forward, who showed great prospects, laid eyes on the best hockey teams THE USSR.
CSKA
Having already proved himself, Igor could choose any leading club in the country to continue his career.
Dynamo Moscow showed great activity in attracting Larionov, but the striker did not really want to leave his hometown.
But there is a big BUT, in those years there was a force that no hockey player could resist. Moscow CSKA, which was the undisputed leader Soviet hockey, the base club of the national team. Thanks to all this, the army leadership had, in fact, the feudal right of the “first night” to any promising player they liked, and without special problems could invite him to his team. Moreover, by that time it was time for Igor Larionov to serve in the army, and CSKA took advantage of this by calling the hockey player into their ranks.
At that time, the club was managed by a coach of special rigidity, having created army discipline in the team, round-the-clock training, all the players were not at home for almost 9 months, but spent this time at the training bases.
For the too freedom-loving Igor Larionov, such conditions were unbearable and later this would result in a big conflict with coach Tikhonov. But it was Viktor Tikhonov who created the invincible five of CSKA, where Larionov "Professor" was the brain of this magic pentagon. He built such combinations that the opponents did not have time to take the puck out of their gates.
The years spent at CSKA became the time when Larionov Igor won every possible title in hockey. Eight times he became the champion of the country, won the world championships four times, became the Olympic champion twice. The most memorable was the Canada Cup. After the shame at the 1980 Olympics, where the “red car” lost to American students, it was necessary to restore its reputation.
Here at the same Cup, the USSR team managed to defeat the maple team of rivals with a score of 8:1. Larionov made a significant contribution to this victory.
In that game, the center forward scored a double against invincible opponents.
Well, the most outstanding was the final of the Canada Cup in 1987, where the teams of the USSR and the host team had to play three matches to determine the strongest. As a result, the Canadians became the winners, but this did not overshadow the games of our compatriots. Igor once again became a star thanks to his opposition to the two best Canadian forwards throughout the game. One of the attackers was, who turned out to be very hospitable and invited the entire leading Soviet five to his house for a barbecue.
Scandalous letter.
After “perestroika”, taking advantage of the freedom of speech in the press in 1988 in the Ogonyok magazine, Larionov published a furious article criticizing the authoritarian methods of work of Viktor Tikhonov in CSKA and the national team. He told all the conditions in which the athletes lived and trained, how they had not seen their families for months, about the consumer attitude to hockey players as to working material.
Ruthlessly and frankly Larionov Igor talked about the system sports pharmacology in the country, when young men were forced to inject various drugs to maintain stamina and power.
Of course, this letter had a deafening response. The public sided with the defense of the rebellious hockey player, whose photo did not leave the pages of newspapers and magazines, and this gave him the opportunity to go to another country, overseas, which was not possible before perestroika and this riot.
Work in the NHL
The first club in the foreign career of the "professor" was the Vancouver Canucks, to which he joined in 1989. By that time, the whole world already knew him, he was already an authoritative hockey player and an established personality, and in addition to this, he spoke excellently in English. English language. He adapted quickly, especially since he played in the team with former CSKA colleague Vladimir Krutov, who actually played in the NHL for only one season and returned to his homeland.
The first two seasons, a native of Voskresensk adapted to new conditions, got used to a new style of play for himself. But by the third year, he sold out in earnest.
Vancouver's entry into the playoffs for two years in a row is largely due to Larionov.
Already quite an age striker in 72 matches was able to score 65 points. In 1991, another Russian debuted in the NHL, with whom Igor played in the same bundle and became his guardian.
The swiftness of the "Russian rocket" and the intellect of the "professor" made this attacking combination one of the best in world hockey of those years.
Once again rebelling due to partial deductions of income Russian hockey players playing outside the country, Larionov moved from North America to Switzerland, where he played for the local Lugano for a short time.
But in 1993, he was lured away by the owners of the American San Jose Sharks, where he again played with Sergei Makarov, creating the perfect tandem.
Understanding each other perfectly together, they weaved their effective combination laces. Larionov's 56 points, Makarov's 30 goals - the fantastic duo had such an indicator of efficiency. San Jose made it to the playoffs, where they sensationally knocked out Detroit.
In the second season, Igor was tortured by injuries and rarely played.
And in 1993/94, they stopped letting him out on the ice at all, believing that his song was sung. Tired of polishing benches, the eternal rebel left the team, moving to the Detroit Red Wings.
Team coach Scott Bowman was a passionate fan of the combinational style of the Soviet national team and, on the advice of a 35-year-old striker, who became a player-coach, formed a full-fledged Russian five in the club.
The powerful and forceful primitive North American hockey was replaced by a smart and combinational game, where each player understood each other perfectly.
In the first season, Larionov and his partners watched and played around. The team conceded a lot of goals due to an overly open game. Having made adjustments to the game, paying more attention to defense, the Krasnye Krylia began to play a little slower and more accurately. The result of this reboot was the playoff final, where Philadelphia was simply destroyed by cold-blooded Soviet veterans. After four matches, the outcome of the confrontation was decided, and Igor Larionov together with Fetisov took their last missing trophy.
Igor Larionov rejoined Florida in 2000, seemingly to end his unusually long career. However, a year later he returned to Detroit to raise the main overseas cup over his head for the third time. In the third match of the final series, Larionov scored one of the most important goals of his career. Only in 2004, as part of the New Jersey Devils, did the striker, who was already 44 years old, finish with an active playing career.
after hockey
Despite the busy schedule, he managed to become a happy father of three children. Hockey player's wife is a former figure skater Elena Batanova. The eldest daughter of Igor Larionov is a journalist, the youngest works as a designer. Son Igor, following the example of his father, plays hockey. Having completed his career as a player, the "professor" did not completely leave his favorite game. He is the agent of many promising players. Another business of Larionov was winemaking, which he met in Switzerland and became seriously interested in this art. Now he has his own business related to the production of wine.
Igor Larionov was born in Voskresensk, so the choice of his sports career was obvious - hockey. This small town near Moscow has given the world so much talent that you can call it a hockey anomaly. Igor became the most famous pupil of the local "Chemist" school.
We will not delve into it. sports career. Most of the fans already know about it. He played in the legendary five Fetisov - Kasatonov - Makarov - Larionov - Krutov. Overseas, the hockey player became part of the Russian five of Detroit. IN track record, of course, Khimik, as well as Vancouver, San Jose, Florida, New Jersey and even the Swiss club. Finally, he is one of eight hockey players in history who has won everything that is possible in principle: the Olympics, a senior and youth championships World, Canada (World) Cup and Stanley Cup. A well-deserved result was the inclusion in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and the IIHF Hall of Fame.
However, Igor Larionov is not only a hockey player, but also a multifaceted personality.
Professor
Igor Larionov is not just called "Professor". He is one of the smartest, one might even say the wisest hockey players. Only a few can play for 27 years. In this case, one cannot do without game intelligence. Larionov was primarily a passer, the brain of the link. He possessed leadership qualities both on and off the ice. He was never shy about expressing his opinion, even if it often ran counter to the views of the majority. Most recently, last winter, Igor Larionov spoke about a doping scandal in Russian sports. Unlike the overwhelming majority, he did not blame the West and the global conspiracy against Russia, but said that we need to understand ourselves and accept our own mistakes. He did not put up with the predatory methods of Sovintersport, which continued to take half of the earnings of Russian Enkhaelites when the Soviet Union had already actually collapsed. The hockey player left North America and played a year in the Swiss Lugano. And there are many more such examples.
Not an agent, but a player manager
At the end of his career, Igor Larionov began to engage in agency activities, although he himself does not like to call it that. In his opinion, an agent is someone who sells a piece of meat and rises on it. He leads not only the career of the player, but also his life, helps to understand difficult situations. In general, what a mentor he was for the same Pavel Bure at the dawn of his career in the NHL. Now, under the wing of Larionov, there are about 20 clients. Among them are Nail Yakupov, Tyler Seguin, Alex Galchenyuk. Each of them has difficulties, and with each of them he speaks frankly, as Igor Nikolayevich knows how.
Winemaker and restaurateur
For many years, Igor Larionov has been engaged in winemaking. He has his own brand "Larionov". He is ready to talk about the production of wines for hours and as professionally as about hockey. The first close acquaintance with the wine culture took place in Switzerland, where he played one season. Over time, it turned from a hobby into a job. Larionov started out in the wine business in California, but soon he began to work in Australia as well. The professor is not afraid to experiment in this matter. In 2017, the restaurant business became a logical continuation of the wine business. True, he opened his institution not in America, as many expected, but in Moscow. Already two restaurants under the banner of Larionov Grill & Bar are operating in the Russian capital. They have a family atmosphere, while there you can watch sports broadcasts, not necessarily hockey. In addition, a fitness club is attached directly to one of the restaurants. Another innovative idea from the Professor. Whether new establishments will open, the birthday man does not know. As in any situation, he prefers not to rush, but to draw conclusions along the way.
Citizen of the world
A sports career implies life on suitcases, but even now, after the end of his career, Igor Larionov continues to live on two continents. He organically fit into American life, but he does not lose touch with Russia either. As he himself says, he has no limits. He loves to travel (mainly for work) and keeps his finger on the pulse both there and here. And remember how he fell from America to the Swiss league in 1992. For him, this was not a problem. Larionov needs to keep track of his clients, both in Europe and in America, and the work to promote his wine business expands his geography even more significantly.
Families First
Igor Larionov is a happy husband and father. The love of his life was the figure skater Elena Batanova, whom Igor has been married to for over 30 years. In a strong family union, three children were born - daughters Alena and Diane and son Igor. The two youngest were born already in America. The whole family lives permanently in California, and only the head of the family rides around the world for work. They overcame all the ups and downs with him, and this is his most important asset.
Detroit, sensing the moment, traded the striker from San Jose. The hockey player turned thirty-five years old, but Igor won the main NHL trophy three times with this team. In Detroit, he helped the coach make up the "Russian Five", which led the team to victories.
The athlete's fortieth birthday was approaching, and Detroit was in no hurry to sign a new contract with him. Igor signed a contract with the Florida Panthers through the free agent market. There he played no more than six months. The union with Bure, who played in the same team, did not work out. Soon, Detroit realized what a valuable player they had lost and offered Florida an exchange. Together with Larionov, the team again received the Stanley Cup.
When Larionov left for Switzerland for one year, he got a hobby. Igor learned with great interest everything related to making wine, and this hobby eventually turned into a job. As of November 2018, he has his own winery in California, producing brands such as Hat-Trick and Triple Overtime. But, apparently, you can’t be a “former” hockey player, so Igor Nikolayevich did not completely leave the sport. He is engaged in agency activities and manages the affairs of young athletes.
Awards and Recognition of Igor Larionov
Achievements
Two-time Olympic champion (1984, 1988), bronze medalist at the ZoI-2002.
Four-time world champion (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989). Second medalist of the 1987 World Cup, third medalist of the 1985 World Cup.
Six times European champion (1982, 1983, 1985-87, 1989).
Winner of the Canada Cup 1981. Finalist of the Canada Cup 1987, participant of the Canada Cup 1984. Participant of the World Cup 1996 (5 matches).
Eight-time champion of the USSR (1982-89)
Three-time Stanley Cup winner (1997, 1998, 2002)
Since June 7, 1997 - Member of the Triple Gold Club.
1998 NHL All-Star Game participant
At the Olympic Games and World Championships - 77 matches, 30 goals.
In Canada Cup tournaments - 21 matches, 6 goals.
Awards
Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1988)
Order of Friendship (2004)
Order of the Badge of Honor (1982)
Order of Honor (2011)
Igor Larionov was born on December 3, 1960 in the city of Voskresensk, Moscow Region. In this city, the main attraction was the hockey club "Khimik". Igor had an older brother, Zhenya, who was engaged in the hockey section. The way he did it with enthusiasm and pleasure interested the younger Igor, he also wanted to try. When Zhenya left for school, he took his “Canadians” and ran to the yard where the box was, where the boy rode for as long as he could.
Several years passed, and the older brother took Igor to Vyacheslav Odinokov, who at that time was the coach of the Khimik school. Often young athletes go in for sports so enthusiastically that they do not have enough strength for a comprehensive school, and there is not much interest in it. In the case of Larionov, everything was different. Both hockey and school are equally interesting for him. The athlete did not believe that for the sake of sports it is necessary and possible to sacrifice the school.
In Voskresensk there was a club "Snezhinka", which included young hockey player was the favorite in the Golden Puck tournament. At the age of sixteen he was already playing adult team"Chemist". Nikolai Epshtein became his coach. It was Nikolai Semenovich who made Igor the way the whole world later recognized him. The teenager always had his own opinion, was not afraid to express it: to the coaches, and the guys from the team, and at school.
"Khimik" preferred a combinational game, which, like no other, suited Larionov. Thousands of fans who came to cheer for their team very soon noticed a striker with an unusual style of play. The first official match that Igor played for Khimik gave him so many emotions that the young hockey player could not forget about it for a long time.
Soon, Igor soon ended up in CSKA. The athlete did not want to leave his team and coach, but military duty made this transition forced. So the hockey player began to train with Viktor Tikhonov. Viktor Vasilievich decided to create a five players against whom not a single gate could resist. Larionov got into this five, playing the role of a think tank in it.
Igor's life, according to his feelings, has become like life in prison. Everything was forbidden. The hockey player treated everything connected with CSKA with contempt, which was noticed very soon. Larionov remained restricted to travel abroad for a whole year, and despite the fact that he was the best player.
In 1988, a talented hockey player wrote a letter addressed to Vyacheslav Tikhonov. The letter was published in Ogonyok. In it, Igor criticized Tikhonov, telling the whole truth about the “hockey monarch”. A year later, he left to play in America. He was twenty nine years old. The athlete had to go through a lot to get permission to play overseas.
Once in Vancouver, the athlete received the freedom that he lacked for a long time. Very quickly became the best in the team. Vancouver became his favorite city. Since the athlete showed high-quality hockey, the fans were ready to carry him in their arms. When Igor played his third season in Vancouver, Pavel Bure moved there and helped him to adapt.
The owner of the California "San Jose" came to Larionov to persuade him to sign a contract with an outsider team. Igor agreed. So he ended up in a team with Sergei Makarov. They were placed in one group. The team's business went up very quickly. By the end of the third season, Larionov was already playing less, he was beginning to be written off.
