Biography
Igor Larionov is the legendary Soviet and Russian hockey player, sports amplua - central striker. He played in clubs in Russia, Canada, USA and Switzerland. He has a lot of sporting achievements, ranks and titles. The hockey player enters the top three athletes together with Vyacheslav Fetisov and Scott Niedermeer, who managed to win all the main trophies of world hockey both in the youth and adult level.Childhood and youth
Igor Larionov was born in the town of Voskresensk near Moscow and already in childhood "fell ill with hockey. The fact is that the Senior Brother of the Future Hockey Player Evgeny went to the section, and Igor tried to repeat him. Another Igor got into the sports school "Chemist" to coach Vyacheslav Lokoko and began to train hard.
It should be noted that the boy was distinguished from the athletes' friends with love for a secondary school. Igor did not think that education could be sacrificed in favor of the hockey platform, and was always an excellent student, for which he received a nickname professor, with whom he did not part before the end of the sports biography. Another distinctive feature of Larionov became determination. Igor was not afraid to express his own opinion either to comrades nor coaches or teachers.
The first competition of the young athlete was the Golden Washer tournament, at which hockey player showed itself as well that in the future he was considered the favorite of any tournament. And at 16, Igor Larione will make it debuts for the adult team of his native "chemist."
Sport
After three successful seasons in the Larionov team near Moscow, the "top" team is translated into CSKA, who then led Viktor Tikhonov. This club by the end of the 70s becomes a permanent champion of the Soviet Union and the basic composition for the USSR national team. In CSKA, Larionov constantly played in the link with Sergey Makarov and Vladimir Krutov, plus the fits were defenders Vyacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Casaton. These guys became famous for the whole world as the "Five Larionov", as they were not shared for many years neither at the club level or in the national team.Igor himself only in the domestic championship held more than 400 matches, in which he scored over 200 piles. It is not surprising that the smart and efficient striker attracted the attention of professional clubs from North America. True, Igor did not want to let go, so Larionov resorted to a peculiar trick: an athlete published an open letter in the magazine, facing the Tikhonov coach and the Ministry of Sports. The favorite hockey player supported the public, and the green light leader CSKA was given.
In NHL, the first club of Igor Larionov became "Vancouver Chanax", where the hockey player got along with Vladimir Krutov. But if the last thing was not truncated, the Larionov flashed in the NHL. It must be said that Igor showed himself not only as a professional, but also as a good person. Many young Russian athletes remember that Larionov helped young people adapt to life in Canada and the United States. This is evidenced by another legend of domestic sports - Pavel Bure.
In the early 1990s, the professor goes to San Jose Sharks, where he reunited with Sergey Makarov. Their bundle allowed the Outsider teammate not only to go into the playoffs, but also to beat the main favorites of the tournament - "Detroit Red Wingz".
Such self-dedication did not pass in vain, and next season, the hockey player turns out to be in these the most "red wings". There, the coach specially organizes the "Russian five", in addition to Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Sergey Fedorov, Vyacheslav Fetisov. These hockey players helped the club win the championship and honorary trophy - Stanley Cup. Soon the "Russian five" ceased existence, as the car accident set a cross on Konstantinov's career.
In addition to the above teams, Larionov also performed for the Swiss club "Lugano", American Florida Pantherz, and the last team became New Jersey Daeviz. On December 13, 2004, Larionov held a farewell match in Moscow and completed his career.
In 2017, the famous athlete spoke out on the topic of the doping scandal and gave a detailed interview on this occasion to journalists of the site "Championship.com". Former athlete stated that he did not believe in the anti-Russian conspiracy, which the press constantly says after the Olympic Committee banned Russia at the Olympics under its own flag. In proof of his own words that the Olympic Committee is not focused on citizenship, but for justice, Igor Larionov spoke about the disqualification of a number of Turkish and Bulgarian athletes.
According to Larionov, this is a regular response of the Committee on systematic violations. At the same time, Igor Nikolayevich is confident that such consequences could be avoided if, after first deletions and fines, Russian coaches and officials listened to the requirements of IOC and WADA and took steps to meet the Committee, corrected mistakes and apologized.
Personal life
Igor Larionov is happy in his personal life. The only wife and love of the whole life of the hockey player was and remains the famous figure skater Elena Batanova, with which he met in youth. They got married in the mid-80s. The daughter of Alena and Dian's daughter was born in the family, as well as the son of Igor, named after the Father. By the way, two younger children were already born in America, therefore they have US citizenship. Today the family constantly lives in California.
The son of Igor Larionov Jr. went in the footsteps of his father and became a hockey player. He advocated the St. Petersburg club "Skal Neva", which consisted of two matches in the Championship of VHL. In 2020, in the autumn he signed a contract with Kunlun Red Star.
Larioni-senior proud of the son:
"When Igor had just started, he was already standing out among the peers in a very smart game. However, it was difficult to assume that such a big master would grow from this proven guy. Thanks to his work and selfless love for Hockey, Igor was able to achieve unprecedented heights. "The daughter of Alena became a sports journalist. In 2008, she got a job at Pittsburgh Penguins. And if it all happened in her career, he had serious problems with health. In adolescence, she had a RPP, which led to anorexia. Against the background of the desire to get rid of unnecessary kilograms, the girl stopped there. In 2017, when the body began to refuse, Larionov went to the clinic, where he was treated.
When Larione went to Switzerland for one year, he had a hobby. Igor, with great interest, recognized everything that concerned the manufacture of wine, and this passion over time turned into work. Today he has its own winery in California, which produces such alcohol brands like "Hat-Trick" and "Triple Overtime". All varieties relate to elite. You can not buy them in the usual supermarket, they are set in specialized boutiques. The cost of one bottle ranges from $ 25 to $ 40.
In parallel, the former hockey player develops a business in Russia. In Moscow, a private restaurant in Igor Larionov called Larionov Grill & Bar, then opened the second grill bar. These are institutions with a family atmosphere and sports broadcasts on the screens in the halls, and you can see in the grill bars you can both hockey and football, volleyball, basketball and other sports. In the basement of one bar, Igor Nikolayevich also opened a fitness club, creating an innovative institution - Mix of Sportbar and Sports Club.
Igor Nikolayevich does not deny that he would like to open a network of restaurants, but not yet plans the exact number of points, claims that it still checks the market and collects customer feedback.
In January 2018, the hockey player started a page in "Instagram", which was verified. It publishes photos and video on a regular basis. The profile has pictures with family, colleagues, from travel, from secular events. Photo photos shows that the former hockey player is in excellent physical form. When height 177 cm its weight is 77 kg.
Igor Lariones now
Igor Larionov left the ice and stopped the sports biography. But, apparently, it is impossible to be a "former" hockey player, so Igor Nikolayevich did not leave the sport completely. He is engaged in agency activities and leads the affairs of young athletes. Among his clients, for example, Andrei Lokthionov, Tyler Sagin, the first number of the HTHL-2012 draft Nail Yakupov and other young hockey stars. Also, Igor Larionov visits coaching conferences, where he acted with reports.In addition, the opinion of the former hockey player and today is quoted in the sports world and remains important for fans and analysts. Igor Larionov regularly gives interviews on sports and influential themes.
In June 2020, Larionov was appointed head coach of the Russia youth team. In an interview, the former hockey player admitted that this decision was justified by the fact that his type of personality requires a permanent challenge. He considered that the coach would work quite ambitious step. In addition, now he is at the stage when he wants to transfer his experience with young and talented guys, help them develop.
Larionov did not hide that communication with young players of the national team gives him energy. Also internally enriches constant interaction with the coaching staff, as it is an ambitious and strong team.
In November, Russia's national hockey team confidently won the first stage of Eurotour in Finland. Larionov's wards received three victories in three matches at the Cariala Cup.
Igor Nikolayevich was pleased with the results of the team:
"In general, I liked it: it was the return, those things that guys do in the course of the tournament. They became peasants, people who are ready for any challenge. Ready to rebuild, play the team. These things have shown how much we have good youth. "Achievements
- 1984, 1988 - Two Olympic Champion
- 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989 - 4-fold world champion
- 1982, 1983, 1985-87, 1989 - 6-fold European Champion
- 1982-89 - 8-fold USSR champion
- 1997, 1998, 2002 - 3-fold Stanley Cup
- 1997 - Member of the Triple Gold Club
- 1998 - Member of the Match of All Stars NHL
At the Olympic Games and World Championships - 77 matches, 30 goals. In Canada's Cup tournaments - 21 Match, 6 goals.