Zubkov Vladimir Semenovich was born on January 14, 1958 in Moscow. The two-time world champion in the USSR national team always dreamed of joining the hockey olympic glory, but was never able to fully realize his dream.
Childhood
The future honored master of sports was born in the family of an accountant and a factory worker. The Zubkovs had a large family, and Vladimir did not have a lack of responsibility. The younger brother Eugene needed a good example in the person of his older brother - Vladimir. Due to the fact that the young athlete had to pick up his brother from kindergarten, he himself did not always have time to train. Hockey Vladimir Zubkov began to practice from the age of five.
The equipment went to partially his elder brother Vadim, who was 4 years older. Vladimir Zubkov in his youth did not show signs of a good sports future. Many described him as a shy child. On the site of young Vladimir Zubkov, high discipline and performance were highlighted. The hockey player recalls: “My grandfather greatly influenced me in childhood. When I complained to him about fatigue after training, my grandfather reassured me and explained that this required real skill. The idea that there was not enough talent for success and it took a lot of work my grandfather suggested. "
First team
Since childhood, Vladimir Zubkov was sick for CSKA. However, he was not admitted to the army club’s sports academy. Then the future national team defender went to the camp of the team’s sworn enemies - Spartak. There they accepted a promising guy, and he first performed in a red and white sweater in 1976. The main problem of Vladimir Zubkov was the weak power of the “click”.
The defenders at that time were supposed to threaten the opponent's goal. The young hockey player could not cope with this and began to play in the fourth link. By persistent training Vladimir Semenovich earned a place in the third link, then the goals began. The hockey player played for Spartak for 5 years, and finally an offer came from his beloved CSKA.
First dream come true
Vladimir Zubkov with restrained joy moved to CSKA in 1981. At first, the hockey player felt anger, as he himself repeatedly noted: "I felt a mixed feeling on the border of love and hatred. Apparently the Russian saying is absolutely true." In those years, the hockey player was often confused with the Soviet judoka - Vladimir Vladimirovich Zubkov. Vladimir's heart thawed when he first became the champion of the USSR. It was with CSKA that its main sports victories at the club level are connected. Having received a place in the third link of the defenders, the player played with incredible dedication and earned the recognition of the fans. As a result, Vladimir Zubkov played for CSKA for 6 years.
World champion
In 1982, Vladimir Semenovich Zubkov went to Finland as part of the USSR hockey team. This is the first test for an already stronger defender. The national team took its first gold, and then the athlete reached its limit. However, he managed to repeat it the next year, but already in Germany (Germany). The USSR team made a gold double, and Vladimir himself became involved in this, scoring 3 goals in two world tournaments.
At home, Vladimir’s career turned out perfectly, and as a result, our hero became the six-time USSR champion in Moscow CSKA. 1982-1988 were truly golden for Vladimir Zubkov. Time does not stand still, and already in 1988 he was made aware that in his place there was a more promising hockey player. With a sense of accomplishment, but with irresistible longing, he leaves his native country and moves to France.
French Championship Player
In 1989, the hockey player begins his performance for Amiens, in which he plays already in the first link of defense. For Vladimir, this was a real revelation, because in France hockey was only in its infancy, and an experienced Soviet athlete was given a high position in the team. Of course, it is nice to receive recognition abroad, but at home, Vladimir Zubkov remained an unrecognized hero. In France, he was truly in demand and in the period from 1989 to 2000 he played for 4 clubs.
As Vladimir himself admitted: "The offers were one better than the other." In 1991, the athlete transferred to Chamonix, where he was given the rank of team captain. In 1994 he transferred to Nantes, and in 1998 he was invited to Cholet. It was “Cholet” that became the last club for Vladimir. Then the hockey player turned 42 years old, and he had to seriously think about ending his career. He returned to his homeland as a tourist, but, according to him, this was not his country. Indeed, Vladimir Zubkov spent the best years in Soviet hockey, but still lost the competition to more stellar defenders. He does not hold a grudge, by the way, and continues to practice hockey, but only as a coach in France.