Yuri Fedorov: biography, creativity, career, personal life

Yuri Fedorov - one of the Soviet hockey players of the golden generation of the seventies. He repeatedly became the champion of Europe and the world. His sports career is associated with the club "Torpedo", first Ulyanovsk, and then Nizhny Novgorod.

Biography

Yuri Ivanovich Fedorov was born on June 8, 1949 in Ulyanovsk. He came to hockey relatively late. He only learned to skate in the fourth grade. He began to play hockey after graduation. Prior to that, he managed to try himself in hockey with the ball and football. Physically, Fedorov was not sufficiently developed, and at first few believed that he would be a good judge of ice hockey.

In childhood, Yuri's idols were famous players of the Soviet national team Bobrov, Babich. He admired the game of renowned hockey players and dreamed of repeating their success. Later, he recalled that he already realized that there was a titanic work behind medals and honorary titles. Fedorov began to work a lot on himself, primarily on his physical form. At each training session, Yuri tried to give all the best. Moreover, he remained after classes to continue to hone his skills on ice. His zeal was not in vain. The ice hockey player was notable for a good "school", he was rarely mistaken in the playing moments, he knew how to predict the actions of the opponent on the move forward.

Sports career

His first club was Torpedo in his native Ulyanovsk. Then he combined the game of hockey with work at the local car factory. As part of the Torpedo, Fedorov began to take part first in regional competitions, after a while in the championships of the Union in class “B”, and then in class “A”.

At the preseason tournament in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Yuri became the best defender. After that, he received an invitation from the capital CSKA. Then he was already 20 years old. However, in the 1969 season, he spent only two matches. It was very difficult to break into the foundation of the eminent club. Then for the army played Gusev, Ragulin, Tsygankov. After the season ended, Fedorov was exiled to the provincial club Zvezda, which was based in Chelyabinsk Chebarkul.

A year later, the then head coach of CSKA Anatoly Tarasov sent Yuri to the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, because he did not see him in the army. He remained faithful to this club until the end of his sports career, having won 14 seasons for it. Fedorov considered Torpedo a native team.

He was repeatedly offered to go to the capital's clubs, but he refused. So, he was invited to Spartak, Wings of the Soviets, and after the world championship in 1975 he was again called to CSKA. Playing for such eminent clubs, it was easier to secure a place in the national team. However, Fedorov decided not to change anything. Perhaps for this reason, in a relationship with the national team, he paused. He was no longer challenged to the 1976 Olympics and the next two world championships.

For Torpedo Fedorov became a true legend. Yuri was recognized as the strongest defense player in the history of the Nizhny Novgorod club. He defended his colors under the fourth number. Under the arches of the Sports Palace in Nizhny Novgorod, Fedorov's name sweater with this number hangs.

Fedorov played in “Torpedo” and the national team in the position of defender, although he began his career in hockey in the role of striker. Subsequently, he was offered a change of position, and he decided to accept the offer. However, in addition to defensive duties, he always sought to participate in the attack. He had a perfect click. This allowed him to chalk up more than a hundred goals and almost 200 points in the games of the Union Championship.

Game for the USSR national team

In 1972, Fedorov joined the union student team, with whom he became the champion of the Universiade. He got into the adult team at the age of 25 years. His debut took place in 1974, when the Soviet team held a super series with the VHA (World Hockey Association) team. Yuri then took part in only one game.

Speaking under the national flag Fedorov won gold in the following tournaments:

World Cup and European Championship 1975 in Germany;
World Cup and European Championship 1978 in Czechoslovakia;
1979 Challenge Cup in New York.

In total, Yuri Fedorov spent 16 games for the union team and scored one goal. In the championships of the USSR, the hockey player played in 606 matches, having chalked up 102 goals. Such high performance was noted by membership in the Club of Nikolai Sologubov. Defenders who managed to score more than a hundred goals in the championships of the Union fall into it.

In 1985, Yuri decided to end his career as a player. He left for Japan to work as a trainer and consultant in the Oji Seisi club from Tomakomai. In 1987, Fedorov returned to his native Torpedo and continued to act as a player. Then the club was going through hard times, and Yuri wanted to help him.

Coaching career

Fedorov finally ended his career as a player in 1988. He immediately received an offer to lead Torpedo as a coach, which he willingly accepted. Yuri worked with the main team for nine seasons with short breaks. In 1996, he led the Torpedo 2. In 2002, Fedorov switched to work with the younger generation, heading the Torpedo Sports School.

In 2008, Yuri suddenly became the head coach of the club "Vladimir". In an interview, he admitted that he simply wanted to work again with adult hockey players, and the material issue played an important role in this.

In 2010, he again returned to the upbringing of the younger generation in his native Torpedo. He works there now. In an interview, Fedorov said that raising boys is much more difficult than professional hockey players. The coach has to answer not only for training the children and the result of the team in competitions, but also to teach them discipline, and simply life.

Yuri Fedorov also pays attention to hockey veterans. So, he coaches a veteran team at the Victor Konovalenko Memorial Cup, which takes place every year in Nizhny Novgorod.