Why Oleg Znarok was removed. Vladislav Tretiak: I have "friends" who want me to leave
Why did Oleg Znarok, the coach with whom Russia won the Olympics for the first time in 26 years, leave the national team? The version of "emotional fatigue" sounds, to put it mildly, suspicious.
I have nothing to add to the official version. I can only say that Oleg Znarok is now in touch, prompting the coaching staff, helping to coordinate the actions of the national team.
Znarok left the Russian national team
Petr Vorobyov, coach and deputy general director of the St. Petersburg SKA for reserve training, spoke about his relationship with Oleg Znark after he left the post of coach of the Russian national hockey team. His words are quoted by Match TV. “I personally called Oleg Valeryevich, I wanted to talk. But he didn't pick up the phone. Apparently, he considers himself offended. I didn't call back, why? We have nothing to justify. I didn't know anything about this assignment at all. Ilya also did not impose on anyone. But he still has a sense of awkwardness, of course, ”said Vorobyov.On April 12, Znarok left the post of head coach of the national team, which he had held since April 2014. Vorobyov's son Ilya was appointed in his place.
Znarok twice led the Russian team to first place at the world championships. Under the guidance of a coach, the team won the final of the hockey tournament of the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Znarok leaves the Russian national team
Three weeks before the World Championships in Denmark, the Russian hockey team went through a reshuffle that until recently seemed absolutely impossible. The post of her head coach was left by Oleg Znarok, who had just achieved the main triumph in his career: in February, the domestic team under his leadership returned after a 26-year break Olympic gold. Instead, the team was headed by Ilya Vorobyov, who has much less experience at the top level.The situation that has arisen formally, by the way, resembles the one in which Oleg Znarok took over as head coach of the Russian national team. He also found himself in this role during the season, between Olympic Games and the World Championship. Znarok replaced Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who failed at the Olympics in Sochi, and immediately won the gold of the Minsk world championship.
But there are probably more differences between the two permutations than common points. If by the time of his appointment Znarok was already a very hardened and very titled coach who won the Gagarin Cup twice, then Ilya Vorobyov has experience of working at high level not too rich: he first became a mentor of an elite team - Metallurg Magnitogorsk - only in 2015 (however, two seasons before his dismissal, in the midst of the third, he demonstrated fantastic efficiency - the Gagarin Cup plus performance in the final).
Oleg Znarok, where he works now
Two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov expressed confidence that the appointment of Oleg Znark to the position of national team consultant is a mere formality.“Will Znarok give advice to Vorobyov? Of course not. This is a formality. Znarok is just finalizing the contract with the FHR. The question is, how will he advise Vorobyov, even if he does not go to Denmark? Ilya has his own vision of hockey, his own views on the composition and tactics.
Do I believe in Vorobyov? So far, I have nothing to do with him. What happened in early April was surprising. Nothing foreshadowed, and suddenly Znark was changed a month before the World Cup. Well, even if so, take the existing coaching staff and put it at the head of the national team, and do not pull people out of different places with the hope that they will work together on the go, and the fans will once again forgive everything. After all, everything happens for the sake of the fans. And for some reason they have begun to forget about this lately, ”RT in Russian quotes Kozhevnikov.
Russian national ice hockey team at the 2018 World Cup line-up new coach
The declared composition of the Russian national team for the first match of the World Hockey Championship is as follows:Vasily Koshechkin will start the game at the gate, and Igor Shesterkin will be the reserve goalkeeper. The links look like this:
Bogdan Kiselevich - Vladislav Gavrikov, Kirill Kaprizov - Pavel Datsyuk (captain) - Evgeny Dadonov;
Nikita Nesterov - Nikita Zaitsev, Mikhail Grigorenko - Artem Anisimov - Pavel Buchnevich;
Egor Yakovlev, Maxim Mamin - Sergey Andronov - Maxim Shalunov;
Nikita Tryamkin - Dinar Khafizullin, Alexander Barabanov - Ilya Kablukov - Ilya Mikheev.
The coaching staff of the national team is headed by Ilya Vorobyov.
The head coach of the Olympic team Oleg Znarok is a Chelyabinsk hockey graduate. At one time he played as a striker in Traktor. His father, Valery Petrovich Znarok, lives in the Chelyabinsk region, a former hockey and football teams. The correspondent of Komsomolskaya Pravda - Chelyabinsk "talked to him by phone:
After the victory, I did not call my son. I never call him myself. He usually picks me up. Of course, such emotions.
- Yes, it turned out to be a “valid” match. Did you have the tablets ready?
No! What pills. Although I was shaking. Especially when in a minute, playing in the minority, they lost 2:3. He scolded himself hard. But - Oleg well done. I didn't see the panic in his eyes. He controlled himself.
- Did you believe in victory?
And where without faith. When the German was sent off in overtime, I thought, well, now it will be easier to score. And the guys scored. Well done guys what to say!
- Hockey watched with whom?
With my wife. True, as usual in different rooms. My wife and I always watch hockey like this. It's easier for me, calmer. And so does she...
We also talked with Oleg Znark's younger brother Igor, he works as a coach of the Chelmet hockey club:
I was heartily happy for my brother. The hands began to applaud. I believed in victory until the very end. But I think that we were a little lucky that we bounced back at the very end of the third period. Plus, character. That's how victories are won. The strongest wins.
- Have you spoken to your father?
I immediately called my father. They congratulated each other. Dad grumbled about such hockey swings. He is a coach himself, and an aged man. 78 years old. He doesn't like being so nervous. Grumbled that they could not win in a more comfortable format. But I think he will later understand the importance of this big victory, this “gold”, that his son became Olympic champion. Usually, understanding of this comes a little later. Maybe even in a couple of days... And after the end of the broadcast, I immediately went to the Polar Bears match for work.
OPINION
"We drove a golden nail!"
Leonid Moseev, European champion in athletics(marathon), participant of the 1980 Olympics:
Hockey players hammered in the "golden nail" at the finish line of these Games, inscribed their names in the history of the Olympics. Despite any troubles, we proved that Russia is Russia, that we have great athletes who can create a miracle. They proved that Russia is a great sports power. Let's love sports without politics. In 1980, athletes came to the Olympics in Moscow under neutral flags and become champions. That's the beauty of sports.
BY THE WAY
Six players of the Russian hockey team are connected in one way or another with the Chelyabinsk region. Sergey Mozyakin and Vasily Koshechkin play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
A native of Chelyabinsk, Nikolai Prokhorkin, and a native of Magnitogorsk, Yegor Yakovlev, play for the army team from the banks of the Neva. Magnificent five and the goalkeeper!
Vitolinsh is shocked. Harijs lives in Riga, advises the local "Kurbads" and cannot understand why no one calls him or Oleg Znarka to work. Of course, Oleg Valeryevich's faithful assistant did not speak with a guilty verdict against all KHL clubs. Although he diplomatically noted that you need to be ready for any turn.
So Znarok himself, it seems, was already tired of losing at chess to Artemy Panarin and also decided to drive hockey players across the ice. Also in Latvia. The players of Jelgava Zemgale did not really meet that gloomy bearded man who ran his fingers over his throat, looking at his Swedish colleague, but quite a benevolent uncle. Apparently, this is what a rested Znarok looks like. Well, or Znarok, who at the same time is under pressure for the result of the national team and the richest club in Europe. Vitolinsh, it seems, is never gloomy. Even during the playoffs, Harijs intelligently spoke to journalists, talking not only about the upcoming or past matches.
The media are already beginning to argue that it's time for someone to pick up a star tandem in the KHL. Only the followers of the traditions of Bykov-Zakharkin themselves will obviously not go anywhere. Yes, and potential employers understand that it is necessary to create conditions for Znark. It is clear that in Dynamo or HC MVD Oleg Valeryevich got results without multimillion-dollar financial injections, but now the status does not allow him to grab everything in a row.
Two years ago, Leonid Slutsky was in a similar situation. The CSKA football coach led the Russian team to Euro 2016, which could already be considered a success, but failed the tournament itself. Six months later, Slutsky also left the army club. With the same wording as Znarok with Vitolinsh from SKA - take a break, take a break. Six months later, Slutsky was introduced as the head coach of the English Hull City. So Znark's vacation has been going on for six months.
Only Oleg Valeryevich did not travel abroad, considering the models of other clubs. So to find a job, for example, in Europe will not work. Unless Minsk still shelters. But maybe it's worth the risk?
As a player, Znarok, according to one story, did not go to the NHL, confusing dollars with rubles in the contract. Like, I won’t go for 10 thousand. Hasn't the time come for a second attempt, Oleg Valerievich? Learn English while your free time allows and rush across the ocean to new challenges! Moreover, in April, elite insiders, like Elliot Friedman, already predicted the role of head coach of the Rangers to Znark.
In the history of Russian hockey, the main ones in the NHL have not yet been. There were only two pure Europeans: Alpo Suhonen and Ivan Glinka. The sign would fit in. But is a gloomy coach ready for long conversations with journalists when not on vacation, or, just imagine, betting with players like Peter Laviolette?
"AiF" tried to find out from the famous goalkeeper, head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretiak.
Why hockey in May?
Dmitry Grantsev, AiF: I'll start with a question that readers often ask: why hold the Ice Hockey World Championship in May? Many of the strongest hockey players do not come to it, because at this time they are fighting for the Stanley Cup in the NHL. So why don't hockey officials reschedule it? So we would have received a full-fledged competition, and not a tournament of those who could come.
Vladislav Tretiak: And where to transfer it? Spend in the winter? But the NHL hockey league North America. - Ed.) She didn’t even let her players go to the Olympics this year, and they definitely won’t make sacrifices and break the schedule for the sake of the World Cup overseas. Wait for the NHL to finish the games and spend it in the summer? In my opinion, a pointless undertaking. In Europe, the national championships start in September and end in March-April, and the World Cup is the logical finale of the season, after which the players go on vacation. Yes, and in the summer we are doomed to calendar coincidences with the World or European Football Championships. The option that exists now may not be the most optimal, but the most realistic.
They say that the NHL will still let its players go to the next Olympics. That is, we will see Ovechkin and Malkin at the Games?
It seems that the NHL has such a desire, but no one knows for sure. I would like certainty to appear as early as possible, so we will demand a yes or no answer from the leadership of the NHL. We have our own plans, and we want to understand whether the national team can count on those Russian hockey players that play across the ocean. So that it does not work out, as with the Olympics in Pyeongchang. The grandmother said in two - either they go, then they don’t go.
Of course, we want Enkhael players to play at the Olympics. Like it or not, their level is higher, and Olympic tournament will only benefit from their presence. And I know how our guys wanted to go to Pyeongchang. The same Malkin and Ovechkin are always happy to play for the national team. What to talk about if Sasha came to play for the national team with a crack in his leg?!
Vitaly Mutko after defeats in any sport likes to say: "This is not a tragedy." And for you, the loss of our hockey players to the Germans in the final of this Olympics would be a tragedy?
This would be a big shock for me. But tragedy? A shame? I'm not sure that these words are suitable in this case. Is it possible to call the Olympic “silver” a shame? Here the Canadians took the "bronze" and were happy about it. Can you imagine if our players took second place in some major tournament? The world would probably turn upside down. Yes, and in the history of our hockey there were no less offensive defeats. Take, for example, the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, when our “Red Machine” lost in the final to a student team from the United States. At that time, no one held the Americans for a serious opponent. There were only Canadians, Czechs, Swedes and us in hockey. Today there is no such division into the elite and all the rest. The Swiss are already winning medals (the “silver” of the 2013 World Cup). And the same Germany can not be called an outsider if it wins over Sweden and Canada. Teamwork and discipline can beat class - this has been proven a million times in sports. And at the Olympics, the Germans showed just such a game.
- And yet, to be honest, if the Russian team lost to the Germans, would you resign?
I don't know (sighs heavily). Hard to say. I probably would not have been forgiven for the fourth Olympiad without a victory. Moreover, I have "friends" who want me to leave my post (Tretyak has been the head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation since 2006 - Ed.). They have their own views on this place.
Znarok will help the national team
Why did Oleg Znarok, the coach with whom Russia won the Olympics for the first time in 26 years, leave the national team? The version of "emotional fatigue" sounds, to put it mildly, suspicious.
I have nothing to add to the official version. I can only say that Oleg Znarok is now in touch, prompting the coaching staff, helping to coordinate the actions of the national team.
As a rule, the team that takes first place in the Olympics does not win the next world championship. The only exception is the Swedes in 2006. Do you think we can get to the championship medals? Especially considering the recent pale performance of our team under the leadership of Ilya Vorobyov in the Eurotour.
Yes, there is such a bad tradition. The USSR won the Olympics in 1972 and 1976, but we could not win the world championships in these years. And then, excuse me, it was the "Red Car". We were at the training camp for 9 months, and still the “machine” was malfunctioning. But no one has any idea that we have little claim to this championship. We are Russia. And we always want to win. Otherwise why go anywhere?
Of course, the failure in the Eurotour does not add optimism to the fans, but it is due to the fact that new coach is searching. And it's not the job of the Ice Hockey Federation to interfere in his work. This is his area of responsibility, he is the commander-in-chief here. You know Anatoly Tarasov I came to the executive committee of the federation and said: “Here is the composition, I am responsible for it and I guarantee that it will give medals.”
And about. head coach of the Russian national hockey team - Ilya Vorobyov. Photo: / Dmitry Grantsev
- What is the most difficult thing for Ilya Vorobyov now?
He had very little time to prepare. Plus a number of hockey players we counted on ( Bobrovsky, Panarin etc.), will not be able to play due to injuries. The main task of Vorobyov is the acquisition of links. The head coach must have everything planned out: who makes the cartridges, who brings them, who shoots. Now the main thing is to create a team. There will be a team, discipline and spirit, there will be a result. And if not, it will be like at the World Championships in 2000, when our stars managed to lose to both Latvia and Belarus, eventually finishing in 11th place.
16:50 , 20.04.2018
Coach Oleg Znarok, who recently returned Olympic gold to hockey Russia, was sensationally suspended from work in the national team and St. Petersburg SKA. There are several versions: from the coach’s resentment that he was not presented, like all hockey players, with a BMW X5, to serious disagreements with Roman Rotenberg, vice president of the Russian Hockey Federation and vice president of HC SKA. Meanwhile, the Ice Hockey World Championship starts on May 4 and promises to be extremely famous.
Vorobyov will have a hard time
The Russian hockey team to Denmark, where the hockey championship of the planet will take place, will be carried by 45-year-old coach Ilya Vorobyov, one of the most successful specialists (winner of the Gagarin Cup as Main coach and assistant to the chief), but having absolutely no independent international experience. He's going to have a hard time. Having missed the Olympics, NHL players are eager for this championship, and Canada is gathering a powerful squad led by best player NHL last season McDavid. Serious squads are assembled by Americans and Swedes - it will not be easy for us to even get into the medals, therefore, in the event of a probable failure, the untrained coach Vorobyov may come under pressure against the background of Znark, who at the helm of the national team won the Olympics, gold, silver and twice bronze world championships in four years.
Got under pressure
But back to Oleg Znark. His dismissal from the position in SKA and the Russian national team (the official dismissal has not yet taken place, but will soon be formalized) looks sensational only at first glance. Immediately after the end of the gold Olympic match Russia-Germany (4:3), the winner admitted to being tired, and also said that he was not sure whether he would remain in the national team. Indeed, before the Olympic Games, Oleg Znarok came under serious pressure: they demanded gold from him and nothing less. In conditions when the NHL did not let its players go to the games, it was Russia that had the strongest selection of hockey players. And we haven't won the hockey Olympics since 1992. We waited, and here is such a chance.
The KHL calendar was made up for the national team, the base clubs SKA and CSKA were made up for it, as a part-time coach worked in Soviet times, in short, everything for victory, about which many wrote extremely negatively. And let's remember the final, one of the most dramatic in the history of our hockey: half a minute before the end of the third period, our team was losing 2:3 and remained in the minority, but Nikita Gusev incredibly managed to level the score. Further there was an overtime and a victory. One such ending can bring the coach to a heart attack.
There is another reason why Znarok is "tired and leaves." He categorically did not have a relationship with the press. And most of all, he is to blame. How do you like the phrase addressed to the correspondent: “Why are you sitting there, etc.?”
For the most part, journalists in hockey are amateurs, and sometimes at press conferences they ask naive, and even stupid questions. But that's why she and the Russian national team, that her life is covered not only by sports publications, and therefore the questions are sometimes raised not quite professionally. It could and should have been tolerated. As a result, in many ways, the media, in retaliation, created a situation for Oleg Znark in which he must always and everywhere win. Slightly stumble - peck. Here Znarok stumbled in the semi-finals of the Gagarin Cup, losing to the powerful CSKA. It seems that the leaders of SKA, and part-time of all Russian hockey, were just waiting for this.
Znarok vs Rotenberg
It's no secret that the main person in Russian hockey here and now is 37-year-old Roman Rotenberg. Behind him are the elders - Chairman of the Board of the Russian Hockey Federation Arkady Rotenberg (Roman's uncle) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Petersburg SKA and KHL Gennady Timchenko. But all operational decisions are still on Rotenberg Jr. The legendary Vladislav Tretiak, head of the Russian Hockey Federation, has long been, if not a wedding general, then an official, endowed with only representative functions.
In hockey circles in St. Petersburg, they are now saying that Oleg Znarok and Roman Rotenberg did not get along very well on some issues, let's call it that. Allegedly, the disagreements began in the fall of last year and were insurmountable. However, before the Olympics, on which an unprecedented state stake was made, it was decided to leave everything in its place. Now it is clear that then, 30 seconds before the end of the Olympic final, not only the Russian team, but also the career of Oleg Znarok, hung on the thinnest thread. After the defeat by Germany, he could be immediately expelled with a wolf ticket, and it would not be easy to find a job in Russia. Moreover, in our country, the undiscussed would immediately come up loudly - that Oleg Znarok is just a citizen of Germany. However, Roman Rotenberg is a citizen of Finland, and the new national team coach Ilya Vorobyov is again of Germany.
A story also surfaced - after the Olympics, Oleg Znarok was allegedly offended that the coaching staff was not presented with BMW X5 cars, unlike hockey players. And he expressed dissatisfaction with just Roman Rotenberg. But this is unlikely: Znark's salary in SKA and in the national team would be enough for many such "behs", especially since all the hockey players sold the donated cars for charitable purposes.
One way or another, among the many obscure things about the dismissal of Znark, there is something clear - he was really tired, but he definitely didn’t leave on his own. But, it turns out, he left the national team as a winner. The story is unique, but not quite. In 2015, another eminent coach, Vyacheslav Bykov, won the Gagarin Cup, but immediately left the champion club under mysterious circumstances.
Which? SKA! Which then had the same leaders as now.
