Victor Kozlov Hockey player biography

He was suspected of robbery, raised the Gagarin Cup in Ufa, knew coaching through Guardiola: we carefully study the career of the new head coach of Salavat Yulaev about the stories about Viktor Kozlov. In early May, Salavat Yulaev announced the appointment of Viktor Kozlov by the new head coach of the team. Although this was known long before official messages, since Kozlov was the most understandable and logical choice for Ufa in the current situation.

Firstly, the summer specialist had been entering Tomi Lama’s headquarters for two years, responsible for the attack and the majority. And the club leadership clearly made it clear that he was not going to ruin the financial system created by the Finn, which could bring more if it were not for the departure of all legionnaires. Secondly, Kozlov already has the experience of the head coach in the top club-he brought Magnitogorsk to the semifinals of the Eastern Conference and is now as ready for the new chance and challenge.

Thirdly, Victor has already led Salavat to conquer the Gagarin Cup as a player and captain in m. But, in fact, we know not so much about the Kozlov trainer-we still have to do it in the coming years. In general, Victor himself was a star whose career could have developed even better, if not for a number of circumstances. The rapid growth of the city, founded in the year, began only in the 10ths of the last century since the construction of the VAZ.

Do not connect Victor with his life with hockey, he himself, as he expected later, entered the technical school after school, and then went to work at the automobile plant. Thus, he would follow in the footsteps of his father, who himself was engaged in hockey and football, but as an amateur. With the presentation of his father, Little Victor began to engage in hockey - at the age of four he stood on skates, and at the age of six he went to the Lada school former Torpedo.

Even then, Kozlov stood out his growth. Subsequently, he waved to see training early, at seven in the morning. Victor got to the sports school on foot, on still deserted and dark streets. Kozlov began to stand out and was the best from the first days of training, his first coach Nikolai Nikolaev said. From the age of age, Moscow clubs began to follow him. CSKA, the main Soviet club that collected talents from all over the country, was the advantage.

At 17, Kozlov came to Moscow to view. In addition to a nominal increase in the classroom, it was necessary to look for a club where it was possible to play in the offset of the army service. And here Dynamo, which also hunted for the striker, played ahead of the lead. Victor was met right at the exit of the train car. And the representatives of CSKA were waiting for the player in the station building, remaining with nothing with nothing.

Kozlov got into the team to the legendary Peter Vorobyov - later this will play a significant role in the formation of his coaching career. Victor lived and spent almost all the time at the Dynamo base in Novogorsk, which more reminiscent of the barracks: a minimum of freedom, all according to a routine. For misconduct or failure to fulfill the training plan, still young athletes could be sent for re -education for a week in the real military unit.

But Kozlov escaped such a fate, although he was considered one of the main violators of the regime. In any case, in Russia the summer Kozlov was not going to linger. There was practically no money. Many players raised by the Soviet system went to work abroad. After the first season in Dynamo in the year, Kozlova chose San Jose under the high sixth number of the first round of the draft.

Only seven Russians were chosen above the entire history. By the way, the current Kozlov assistant in Salavat Nikolai Tsulygin was also chosen on the same draft, but noticeably lower - in the second round under the mm number. Kozlov, despite impressive dimensions, stood out with skiing and skillful, easy handling of the puck. And, if you cover the entire overseas career of the striker, then it is difficult not to call it outstanding.

But comparison with Lemier did not justify themselves. He never got to the cherished Cup of Stanley, and in 14 years in the NHL he played in the playoffs only six times, only once passing the first round-in his final season in the league. Not the most successful turned out to be the first years in San Jose for Victor. It was not possible to declare himself as a star for the striker.

Perhaps this pressure and big expectations affected. Maybe that's why it was hard in the first couple of years. When something is expected from you, the additional responsibility on the shoulders lies. It was not easy to play with this, ”the hockey player recalled. But much more Kozlov brought health. Until 30 years, he only once reached 80 matches per season. For various reasons, he missed more meetings in total.

Victor would surely play matches in the League and scored under glasses, if not for frequent problems, then with the shoulder, then with the inguinal muscles. It was not possible to avoid injuries in the first season, and he received damage not in the USA, but in Russia. Then, due to the local, the NHL regular championship began already at the end of January, and the total number of matches was reduced to mi.

In the fall, the striker maintained the form, helping Dynamo, but he played for the Moscow team in only three matches.On one of the training, during the work of the majority, the horse on Kozlov’s left leg hit the gap so unsuccessfully formed on the ice while the body went the other way. The result is torn ligaments and a fracture of the small bolt. Two days later, he flew to the United States, was operated on, but the entire preparation process was crossed out.

He played only in 16 matches, scoring two goals. I went well a training camp, I was in uniform. And after this injury, my leg of the year was swollen for two years. It was hard. It took time to return back. Psychologically, he was afraid to load this leg too much, somewhere to go into clashes, to play aggressively, ”said Kozlov. In addition to Victor, from the Russians in the club there were his idols - experienced Larionov and Sergey Makarov.

There was also Andrei Nazarov, whom he also knew Dynamo. It is clear that Kozlov communicated more with the one -year. After a strict, practically authorized life in Russia in America, the guys had untied hands. Vitya and I got into such a light “Disneyland”, when everything is possible and there are plenty of money. Probably, this factor played a cruel joke for us.

In the first two years, we tumbled a little, played in the farm clubs and it is not clear where. And then they understood mistakes and began to work, ”Nazarov recalled. In his second season, this also played a role and an angry joke. He played in 62 matches of the regular championship, but experienced problems with the implementation, scoring only six goals. Finally, he distinguished himself after a long -lasting without a series and, during the celebration, looked up.

I was asked: “Did you look for someone with a look in the stands? Journalists did not understand the jokes. The coaching staff, led by Kevin Konstantin, reacted to my words in his own way. Tikhonov himself, who then worked in our club system, appreciated the joke, but I had to play the season in the farm. In fact, it was my mistake. I was oriented incorrectly, ”said the hockey player.

However, the team in the playoffs did not break through. And the head coach of San Jose was appointed Darril Sattteri, who relied on power and aggressive hockey. And Kozlov with a creative, even graceful style for such a system did not particularly fit. And he and the coach almost resulted in conflict. In an interview, Satter even compared the striker with his son with Down syndrome: “At home I see a boy who tries to just learn how to live normally.

He has to plow to achieve the smallest progress.

This tears my heart, but makes you be proud of my son. And then I see Kozlov - a guy, healthy, like a horse who hacks on ice. It just infuriates me! I just don’t have time for people like him. ” Somewhere I myself am to blame. I thought that I was doing everything right, but it didn’t seem so to him. He had such an opinion about me at that time. Although later we met and everything was fine.

It was hard, but this was a good life test for character and patience, ”said Kozlov. After the exit match in Los Angeles in the hotel room, Victor saw Baul with a note: “You are exchanged in Florida. Tomorrow you have an airplane. Thank you, goodbye. " So the first stage of Kozlov’s career in the NHL ended. Over the years, the striker realized that the former coach made only better for him.

Now, all the more, I realize how to relate to young hockey - to train, play the team.