Bilyaletdinov Zinetula Khaidarovich is a popular Soviet hockey player who is known throughout the country. He was one of the main defenders in the USSR. Zinetula Khaidarovich has long completed his professional career. He remained in the sport and began coaching. In his sports career, this athlete repeatedly won the world and European championships, the Canadian Cup and the USSR championship.
Athlete's childhood
Bilyaletdinov Zinetula was born on March 13, 1955 in Moscow. His family lived modestly at that time. His father, Khaydar, was born in the Nizhny Novgorod region. There he graduated from high school and got a job on a collective farm. At the age of 24, he decided to move to the capital. Upon arrival, Haidar began working at the Krasniy Bogatyr shoe factory. In this place he worked most of his life. After the retirement age he went on a well-deserved rest. Zinetuly’s mom - Nyaymya, worked as a technician at the Krasny Oktyabr confectionery. Parents of the legendary Soviet hockey player met and got married in Moscow. Zinetula as a child went to a pioneer camp, participated in various events. In the summer he was sent to his father’s homeland. Zinetula always remembered that time with warmth. After all, in the village, he and his friends bathed in a river, climbed trees and ate berries.
The beginning of the sports path
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov began his career in the yard team. The first club of the legendary Soviet defender was called Dynamo. It was opened by former Soviet footballer Arkady Larionov. The guys themselves built an ice rink, and after all they poured ice together. Arkady Larionov was kind to children. The coach gave them uniforms and taught hockey skills. It is unlikely that Larionov assumed that he was engaged in the future defender of the USSR national team. Bilyaletdinov at that time was called Alexander, since his real name was difficult to pronounce. In the Dynamo yard team, Bilyaletdinov Zinetula improved his hockey skills. Many talented guys gathered there, who later replenished clubs in the USSR. The Dynamo team won regional competitions, and then became the winner of the popular Golden Puck tournament. The talented player Bilyaletdinov made a great contribution to the success of his first team. His game at the Golden Puck tournament was highly appreciated by the mentors of the Dynamo Moscow hockey club Petukhov and Kvasnikov. In 1969, they took Zinetula to their team. After a couple of years, the young athlete corresponded to the level of a hockey master.
Professional performances
Zinetula Khaidarovich Bilyaletdinov first played as a striker. Only at the tournament in Poland, which took place in 1971, he was put in defense. Zinetula had to learn a new position for herself. The young defender successfully coped with the selection of the puck, deterring a specific striker, blocking shots and assists with passes. That is why Bilyaletdinov was left to play in this position. The talented defender managed to finally gain a foothold in the main team in 1972. He spoke with great gratitude about the coaches Vitaly Davydov and Arkady Chernyshev. Davydov taught him the right way to choose a position on the field and carry out selection. This coach was able to improve the game of defenders.
Mentor Arkady Chernyshev more acted as a psychologist and tactician. He set up players for heavy games. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov spent his first match for the main Dynamo team in 1973 against the SKA team. Later, the legendary Soviet defender admitted that he could barely cope with the excitement. In the Moscow hockey club "Dynamo" Bilyaletdinov spent 15 years. During this time, he played 588 games and hit the opponent’s goal 63 times. This defender was highly respected by the fans of the team. Zinetula forever went down in the history of Dynamo Moscow club.
Team appearances
In hockey Zinetula Bilyaletdinov achieved great success in his youth. At the age of 21, he made his debut in the USSR team, where at that time a large number of legendary players played. Despite such a young age, he managed to gain a foothold in the team. His first international tournament was the World Cup, which took place in 1978 in Czechoslovakia. Of course, everyone considered the hosts to be the favorites, since before that they had confidently won two past world championships. But our team showed a quality game and interrupted the winning streak of the hosts. After the legendary defender recalled how hard they managed to win this victory. On the sound of the anthem of the USSR, even experienced athletes shed tears. Immediately after a difficult victory, the young Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports.
Bilyaletdinov took part in 253 matches for the national team of his country. In them he managed to score 21 goals. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s goals for the national team have repeatedly helped our team win prestigious tournaments. This defender made a great contribution to the victory of our team in the Canada Cup. Canadians are very responsible for participating in this tournament. As a rule, the Canadian national team does not leave any chances for rivals on it. Bilyaletdinov, together with the USSR team, tried three times to win this tournament. But the match that took place in 1981 was victorious for them.
It was a slap in the face of Canadian hockey. Our team has once again proved that against Canadian professionals you can play hockey on an equal footing, even surpassing them in some aspects. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov occupied an important place in the national team. The teammates admired his skill, hard work and discipline. Even as the leader of the national team, this legendary defender did not stop improving his game. Zinetula spent a lot of time studying new theoretical knowledge.
The beginning of a coaching career
Even in his youth, Zinetula Bilyaletdinov decided that after completing his career he would become a coach. His many years of experience playing at the highest hockey level undoubtedly helps him in his new position. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov from 28 years old recorded all the most effective exercises in a diary. The legendary defender officially ended his professional career in 1988. By that time, his diary had turned into a whole hockey encyclopedia. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov began his coaching career at Dynamo, his native Moscow. In this team, the defender is considered a living legend. Fans were glad that he stayed in hockey. Photos of Zinetula Bilyaletdinov in youth will forever remain in the museum of Moscow Dynamo. The ex-defender of the Moscow club began as assistant coach with the famous Yuri Moiseev.
Departure overseas
Zinetula Khaidarovich Bilyaletdinov was useful in the Moscow Dynamo. But over time, he became cramped as an assistant coach. In 1993, he was invited to work at the Winnipeg Jets club from the NHL. Bilyaletdinov became the first Russian coach to be offered a job in the most prestigious league in the world. This meant that Canadian specialists highly appreciate the professionalism of the coach from Russia. In the Canadian club Zinetula Khaidarovich spent five years. During this time, he gained invaluable experience, which he then brought with him to Russia. The Winnipeg Jets club respected this Russian specialist. Fans and players called him the great Bill.
Return to Russia
Bilyaletdinov came to Russia from the NHL in 1997. He returned from the strongest league in the world with an already formed coach, almost immediately headed his native Moscow Dynamo. Photo Zinetuly Bilyaletdinov did not come down from sports magazines. Fans were very happy about the return of their legend. During the game, Zinetula Khaidarovich behaves intelligently. He does not lose his temper even in the most stressful situations. After the arrival of the new coach, a strict discipline appeared in the Moscow club. Hockey players noted that physical activity has increased significantly. He took this style of training players from the NHL. The Moscow hockey team led by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov quickly became one of the leaders of the Russian championship. Some young and talented players from that team left to play overseas. Dynamo club fans noted that that team was one of the strongest in a long time.
Continuation of the coaching career
In 2001, Zinetula Khaidarovich again left to work in the most powerful league in the world. This time he became the Chicago Blackhawks coach. But after a short period of time he moved to the Swiss championship, where he worked at the Dynamo club. In 2002, this coach returned to Dynamo Moscow. In 2004, Bilyaletdinov moved to Kazan. It was at Ak Bars that he spent most of his coaching career. Zinetula Khaidarovich managed to assemble the strongest team. The first three, which included Morozov, Zaripov and Zinoviev, inspired fear in the rivals of the Kazan club. Under the guidance of the famous Ak Bars coach, he repeatedly won the national championship, Gagarin Cup and European Champions Cup. The Kazan team was the first to win the Gagarin Cup. “Ak Bars” during Bilyaletdinov’s work regularly takes the top line in the standings. Currently, this specialist continues to work in the Kazan team.
Coaching with the national team
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s statistics of victories for the position of coach is outstanding, so after long negotiations he headed the Russian national hockey team. In 2004, our team showed a phenomenal result. Throughout the entire World Hockey Championship, the team did not lose a single match and won gold medals. At the championship in 2013, the national team unexpectedly for many lost the US team in the semifinals. In 2014, Sochi hosted the long-awaited Olympics for all Russians. Everyone was expecting gold medals from the country's hockey team, but our team in the quarterfinal lost to the Finnish team.
Athlete's Family
Zinetula Khaidarovich is married. He has a daughter, whose name is Natalya. She is a lawyer by education. Natalia is married to a former hockey player Stanislav Romanov. Our hero twice became a grandfather.
Zinetula Khaidarovich Bilyaletdinov is undoubtedly the legendary hockey player and coach. He devoted his whole life to hockey, made a great contribution to the development of this sport in our country.