Zinetula Bilyaletdinov will coach Russia in Sochi

Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is the successor of Vyacheslav Bykov, fired last month after a disappointing World Championship, on the Russian national team bench. Bilyaletdinov, 56, played all career in Dynamo Moscow and skated in two Olympics, Moscow 1980 and Sarajevo 1984.

As Coach he has worked in Dynamo, Swiss Lugano and from 2005 on the Ak Bars Kazan bench where he won 3 national titles. The Moscow born coach will sign a three-year contract in the next few days which includes participation in the 2014 Sochi Olympics Games. He will choose his staff in the next days.

The Federation claims that Bilyaletdinov is leaving Ak Bars, despite fans protests and club tentative to keep the coach, to be completely focused on Olympic rendezvous.

"I think Bilyaletdinov is definitely the best choice - said Ak Bars and Russia captain Aleksei Morozov - but I'm also very sorry for this loss in Kazan, every fan is now upset, he did a lot for our team".

The Federation president Vladislav Tretiak gave thanks to Ak Bars management for accepting the decision and noted: "We have to arrive at Sochi with best condition possible, our goal is just one: to win".

 

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