Yuri Fedorov is 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 Torpedo club, first in Ulyanovsk and then in Nizhny Novgorod.
Biography
Yuri Ivanovich Fedorov was born on June 8, 1949 in Ulyanovsk. He came to hockey relatively late. He learned to skate only in the fourth grade. He began to play ice hockey after leaving school. Prior to that, he managed to try himself in ball hockey and football. Physically, Fedorov was not sufficiently developed, and at first few believed that he would be good at ice hockey.
In childhood, Yuri's idols were the famous players of the Soviet national team Bobrov, Babich. He watched with admiration the game of the famous hockey players and dreamed of repeating their success. Later he recalled that even then he realized that there was a titanic work behind the 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 his best. Moreover, he stayed after class to continue to hone his skills on the ice. His zeal was not in vain. The ice hockey player was distinguished by a good "school", rarely made mistakes in game moments, knew how to predict the opponent's actions on the move forward.
Sports career
His first club was Torpedo in his native Ulyanovsk. Then he combined playing hockey with working at a local car factory. As part of "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 played only two matches. It was very difficult to break into the base of the eminent club. Then Gusev, Ragulin, Tsygankov played for the army team. After the end of the season, 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 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, since he had not seen him in the army team. He remained faithful to this club until the end of his sports career, having played 14 seasons for him. Fedorov considered "Torpedo" his own 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 1975 world championship 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. Probably for this reason, he had a pause in his relationship with the national team. He was no longer called to the 1976 Olympics and the next two world championships.
For "Torpedo" Fedorov has become a real 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 Palace of Sports in Nizhny Novgorod hangs a personal Fedorov sweater with this number.
Fedorov played for Torpedo and the national team as a defender, although he started his hockey career as a striker. Subsequently, he was offered to change his 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 over a hundred goals and almost 200 points in the union championship games.
Playing for the USSR national team
In 1972, Fedorov joined the allied national team of students, with which he became the champion of the Universiade. He entered the senior national team at the age of 25. His debut took place in 1974, when the Soviet team held a super series with the WHA (World Hockey Association) team. Yuri then took part in only one game.
Flying 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;
- Challenge Cup 1979 in New York.
In total, Yuri Fedorov spent 16 games for the allied national team and scored one goal. In the USSR championships, the hockey player played in 606 matches, scoring 102 goals. Such a high performance was marked by membership in the Club of Nikolai Sologubov. It includes defenders who have managed to score more than a hundred goals in the Union championships.
In 1985, Yuri decided to end his playing career. He left for Japan to work as a coach-consultant at the Oji Seishi Club from Tomakomai City. In 1987 Fedorov returned to his native Torpedo and continued to play as a player. Then the club was going through hard times, and Yuri wanted to help him.
Coaching career
Fedorov finally retired 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 became the head of Torpedo-2. In 2002, Fedorov switched to working with the younger generation, heading the sports school "Torpedo".
In 2008, Yuri unexpectedly became the head coach of the Vladimir club. In an interview, he admitted that he just wanted to work with adult hockey players again, and the material issue played an important role in this.
In 2010, he again returned to educating the younger generation in his native Torpedo. He still works there. In an interview, Fedorov said that it is many times more difficult to educate boys than professional hockey players. The coach has to be responsible not only for teaching the guys and the team's result in the competition, but also teaching them discipline, and just life.
Yuri Fedorov also pays attention to hockey veterans. So, he coaches the veteran team at the Viktor Konovalenko Memorial Cup, which takes place every year in Nizhny Novgorod.
Awards
For playing in the national team, Yuri Fedorov was awarded the following awards:
- medal "For Labor Valor" (1978);
- medal "For Labor Distinction" (1975);
- title "Honored Master of Sports of the USSR" (1978).
Personal life
Yuri Fedorov is married. There are children and grandchildren.
