What military rank did Anatoly Firsov have? Anatoly Firsov

Anatoly Firsov born in Moscow on February 1, 1941. He grew up, like many of his peers, without a father who died at the front. And, like many, he started playing early. At first he played bandy, which was then more popular in the USSR, and only at the age of 16 did he come to ice hockey. The first adult hockey team was the Moscow Spartak, but Firsov said in one of his interviews how he ended up in CSKA: “ I was 19 years old, I played for Spartak. But the time came to serve in the army, and the CSKA coaches just had their eyes on me. At that time I really didn’t want to go to the army club, I hid with my coach for three days Alexander the Newly Baptized. When I came home, the military commissar and the head of the police department were already waiting for me there. We went to the military registration and enlistment office. All the documents were prepared for me, and on the same day I left for Riga to play for my new team. In the match with the Riga team, I scored two goals, thanks to which CSKA won - 4:2".

Looking at Firsov then, it was difficult to imagine him in the role of a formidable striker - he was so thin that Anatoly Tarasov called it a "skeleton". These words were perceived by Anatoly as a signal to action, and after six months he could no longer be afraid of weighing himself - he managed to gain five kilograms muscle mass. Firsov trained like hell; Tarasov often had to kick him out of the gym. Firsov himself always recalled his coach, who in some aspects literally replaced Anatoly’s father, with constant respect and deep gratitude: “ I lost my father during the war, so Tarasov treated me a little softer than others. He not only taught me to play hockey, but also forced me to study. First I graduated from a ten-year school, then from an institute, then from a higher school of trainers. I am very grateful to him for many things. But he never enjoyed any benefits from Tarasov. Moreover, he demanded more from me than from others". And Anatoly Tarasov himself greatly appreciated and respected one of his best wards: " I can’t imagine Anatoly Firsov without a smile – clear, open, but with a sort of squinting smile. She, this Firsovsky smile, infected those around her with a good mood. True, not everyone – on the contrary, she spoiled the mood of Anatoly’s rivals. Not only did this outstanding forward beat them, but he also smiled. And when the opponent got angry and, trying to restrain

Anatoly Vasilievich Firsov(February 1, 1941 - July 24, 2000).
Triple Olympic champion(1964, 1968, 1972), scored 2 goals in 5 games. Eight-time European champion (1964-1971), scored 64 goals in 62 games. Eight-time world champion (1964–1971), three times recognized best striker at the world championships 1967, 1968, 1971.
Champion of the USSR 1963-1966, 1968, 1970-1973, second prize-winner in 1967, 1969, third prize-winner in 1962. In the USSR championships, Firsov played 474 matches and scored 346 goals. Winner of the USSR Cup (1966–1969, 1973). Winner of the European Cup (1969–1974), scored 14 goals.
Awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and two Orders of the Badge of Honor.
In 1998, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the National Hockey Hall of Fame.

Firsov’s assertive attacks, he fouled, Anatoly could – still with the same smile – pat him on the shoulder: go and rest... And so many people had to “rest”, including best players foreign teams.
Individual uniqueness in the execution of cascades of feints, dribbles, hidden passes and, of course, throws, both “signature”, rehearsed, and dictated by the game situation, but almost invariably ending in goals - all this distinguished Anatoly Firsov. Even in a relatively small group of outstanding forwards of domestic and foreign hockey. Anatoly mastered all means of attack perfectly. Moreover, during contact with an opponent, he would certainly feint, and when he “took the bait”, a high-speed explosion followed - and look for the whistling wind, that is, Firsov, in the field.
And the famous Firsov throw - a blow! Unlike many current hockey players, he never used it blindly. Anatoly saw and took everything into account - the goalkeeper on the rollout, and the position of his partners and opponents. Depending on the situation, he could pause before shooting, he could put the puck on his partner’s stick, and only the result was the same - a goal. Firsov's perfect game from the stands seemed so simple that one day Anatoly was asked: “Is it difficult to play like that?” And he answered in his usual style: “Simple. Very simple. What’s difficult is training to play like that...”
In training, Firsov, improving old techniques and finding new ones, literally compressed time. And he infected many, especially young partners, with his passion. However, “excitement” is not quite the right word when talking about Firsov. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say: I trained and played furiously...
Sometimes we, the coaches, tried to restrain the irrepressible Anatoly during training, but our attempts were useless. Moreover, he himself increased the difficulty in the exercises we proposed. He made it more difficult to dribble the puck with jumps, sort of dance steps, similar to today’s aerobics. When dribbling, he made life so difficult for himself that other army men, who were always difficult to surprise with the complexity of training exercises, simply stared at Anatoly.

When Firsov came to us at CSKA, he was by no means an athlete - in some places even bones stuck out from under a thin layer of muscles. But the training, in which he believed immediately and unconditionally, quickly yielded visible results: his muscles became stronger, his weight increased, and the power of his throws increased. True, outwardly Anatoly never became a hero, but only a few of his rivals won, and even then rarely, he did single combats. And the point is not only that Firsov developed strength, speed and agility to the highest degree, he also brought the ingenuity gifted to him by nature to perfection. Suffice it to recall the famous “skate-stick” technique, which would be more correctly called, as is done in gymnastics, by the name of its author, Anatoly Firsov.
Literally from Anatoly’s first steps in hockey, opponents began to pay special attention to him – with all the ensuing consequences. And from year to year this “attention” grew. The guardianship became more and more dense and intrusive. It was then that Firsov once tried to show his opponent, who was looming in front of him at a stick-length distance, that the puck had come off his hook. As soon as the opponent, who believed in this, went forward to approach, Firsov turned on the speed and, together with the puck, which had traveled along the “stick-skate-stick” route, ended up behind him. Later, Anatoly brought this technique to perfection. And although the entire hockey world studied this Firsov weapon, no one learned to counteract it.

And one more feature of Firsov the athlete needs to be mentioned. It happens that, having achieved recognition, a player begins to take liberties. In twelve years of working together, I couldn’t even find fault with Anatoly – neither in connection with being late, nor even more so with violations of the regime. I believe: in the sport of the future, such as Firsov’s, the athlete’s highly conscious attitude to his work will become the norm.
Strong skill, the ability to fight for victory - Anatoly showed all this more than once. And yet, as a coach, I see the special value of a player like Firsov for the team in another way.
We entrusted 20-year-old Anatoly with a place in the top three at CSKA. Later, when we gave Anatoly seventeen-year-old Vladimir Vikulov and Viktor Polupanov, Firsov acted so skillfully on them that the young ones managed to withstand and physical exercise, and competition, to become a leading link, first in a club like CSKA, and then in the national team.
Of course, Anatoly remained the lead singer. But next to him, the subtle tactician Vikulov grew before his eyes, and Polupanov progressed as a scorer. And in the future, no matter who Firsov had to play with, the skill of his partners began to manifest itself in previously unseen facets.

For ten years, Anatoly performed excellently on the left edge of the attack, but when we invited him to try himself in the new role of midfielder in general for hockey, he agreed immediately, without hesitation. I agreed, although it was clear that we would have to radically restructure, focusing mainly on organizing attacks, creating conditions for the front forwards - Vladimir Vikulov and Valery Kharlamov. Anatoly Firsov again played this fundamentally new role in world hockey practice perfectly, and his line in 1972 did not lose even one micro-match to anyone.
I don’t remember that anyone else in 10-12 years of playing in big hockey was able to prove himself in such a multifaceted way. Could contribute to the formation of such a galaxy outstanding athletes, creating outstanding links."

Firsov was the first in Soviet hockey to use a curved stick. The hockey player argued for a long time with his mentor Anatoly Tarasov about this, and as a result, the coach gave up. But for a long time Only Firsov was still allowed to play with a bent hook.

And how we now lack people like Bobrov, Tarasov, Firsov, and many others who created Soviet hockey out of nothing, fanatically and selflessly devoted to it. Anatoly Firsov talked about his favorite coach: " Tarasov is a person whom I have always held up as an example. Yes, he was strict, sometimes even cruel. I would call him a dictator to some extent. Even when we won several world championships and Olympics, Tarasov continued to keep us under a tight rein. He was fanatically devoted to hockey and, in order to achieve his goal, did not spare either himself or others. I will never forget the match between CSKA and Spartak, when the referees made a mistake and counted a puck into our goal that was not thrown according to the rules. Tarasov took the team off the ice for half an hour and did not obey either the head of the club, the Minister of Defense, or the chairman of the sports committee, who demanded that the match continue. He gave up only when he was given a personal request from Brezhnev himself to return the team to the ice. Tarasov lived by hockey. He did not need money or other material goods. Having received a two-room apartment, he lived in it all his life. I remember after winning the ’64 Olympics we had to go to Gorky. There were no tickets for either the compartment or the reserved seat. Tarasov decided that his team could travel in a common carriage. No one was indignant: if the coach said so, then that’s how it should be".

Firsov loved the theater, which, you see, is quite unusual for an athlete. He had many actor friends: " … my actor friends gave me brilliant lessons in theater skills. From them I learned to be an actor on ice. It happened that in a single combat with an opponent I could fall so beautifully, making a corresponding grimace on my face, that the judge, without hesitation, sent my counterpart to the penalty box".

Women make men. This well-known truth suits Anatoly Firsov perfectly. He met future wife Hope at 18 years old. For forty years life together We experienced a lot together, but Firsov could not bear the death of his wife - soon after her death his heart began to play around, which later became the cause of death. Anatoly Firsov believed that his sporting achievements were largely due to his wife: " It is possible that if I had remained single, I could have squandered my skills. When you have a family, you rush home. When you are alone, then, as a rule, you find yourself in the company of the same bachelors, you go to a restaurant with them, have a drink...".

1972 was a turning point for Firsov - an hour after receiving the government award for winning the Olympics, he learned that he had been expelled from the national team. For him, big hockey ended at 31 years old. After the Olympics, he was appointed head coach of the national team. Vsevolod Bobrova. His ill-wishers convinced him that Firsov was Tarasov’s favorite and would interfere with the new coaching staff. He was not taken to the World Championships in Prague, although just a month ago, largely thanks to Firsov and his line partners - Valery Kharlamov And Vladimir Vikulov- the USSR national team celebrated Olympic success in Sapporo. After the Prague fiasco of the national team, Firsov hoped that he would be returned to the team. But that did not happen. Firsov recalled: " I was then invited by several NHL clubs. I admit, I even secretly met with a representative of the Montreal Canadiens. Naturally, I was ready to play in the NHL only if the Soviet leadership allowed me. But when sports officials found out about my meeting with the Canadians, a scandal broke out. I was “cleared” by all authorities and was banned from traveling abroad for a long time".

Anatoly Firsov Career: Hockey player
Birth: Russia" Moscow, 1.2.1941 - 24.7
Anatoly Firsov is an outstanding Soviet hockey player, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR. Born on February 1, 1941, Anatoly Firsov is considered one of the best forwards in the history of Russian hockey. From 1964 to 1961, Anatoly Firsov played for Spartak. From 1961 to 1973 for CSKA. In addition, Anatoly Firsov is the author of the book “Light the Light of Victory” (1973).

Anatoly Firsov joined the national team hockey team It’s too late for the country, if we consider the age of today’s debutants, who previously managed to play for the Russian youth team under the national flag. He was 24 years old, he practically broke into the elite of world hockey then, becoming an Olympic champion, world and European champion. And in 1967, the International Hockey Federation for the first time named Firsov the best forward of the World and European Championships, at which he topped the list of snipers. He remained an unsurpassed scorer three more times - in 1968, 1969 and 1971, scoring 12, 10, 11 goals respectively. On two occasions - in 1968 and 1971 - Firsov was again recognized as the best hockey player on the planet.

Firsov, an eminent Spartak hockey player, was drafted into the army in the fall of 1961 and began playing for CSKA. According to him, he was then one of many who were usually described as promising. Such guys have always been and are in any club, but not everyone finds himself in hockey in the distance. Anatoly Tarasov helped Firsov find a position in the famous team.

The same coach identified a significant flaw in the newcomer - weak physical training. Of course, Firsov was quickly tired during his first classes at CSKA, but little by little Tarasov got Anatoly so accustomed to frequent and intense training that Firsov soon began to feel disgusting if he did not go on the ice for one or two days.

A single example testifies to how strong Firsov became. One day he decided to repair his Volga. Before Anatoly had time to climb under the car, it jumped off the jack and crushed his hand. So Firsov held the car with his feet for 30 minutes, while support did not arrive in time.

In the CSKA team, Firsov, a former central “forward”, was transferred to the left flank. God only knows how long that same hockey player worked hard in training, creating and polishing his famous signature technique “stick-skate-stick”, practicing a throw that drove goalkeepers into awe . In 67 matches on Olympic Games oh, at the World and European Championships Firsov scored 66 goals.

Firsov’s contemporaries especially remember his goal against the Canadians at the 1967 World and European Championships. The fight took place in a bitter struggle. For the fifth consecutive victory in such tournaments, Soviet hockey players needed to win. But it is not difficult to say to achieve victory if the USSR national team was opposed strong team, who arrived from overseas (at that time, in the homeland of hockey, they decided to form a national team for the first time; they once sent a club that won the Allan Cup - the first prize in amateur hockey).

For a long time, the 1:1 draw, which did not suit us, remained - the famous Canadian goalkeeper Seth Martin worked wonders. Coaches Arkady Chernyshev and Anatoly Tarasov practically demanded team play from their players, but because they insisted on accurate passes. In one of the episodes, Firsov got carried away by individual actions, seemed to lose the puck and went to change. But on the way to the bench with the resting hockey players, the puck ended up under Firsov’s skate. Angrily, without looking, he wanted to throw it aside, but he saw Martin relax and momentarily open the top corner. This was all Firsov needed. He sent the puck flying into the net! The score became 2:1, which did not change later. The USSR national team once again won the World and European Championships, dedicating the victory (similar dedications were accepted in Soviet sports) to the upcoming 50th anniversary, as they said then, of the Great October Revolution.

In 1965, Anatoly Tarasov, who believed that the difficulties of changing generations are created by the coaches themselves, who do not think about the future, began ahead of time to construct a trio capable of playing under the Loktev-Almetov-Alexandrov line. Next to 24-year-old Firsov appeared two hockey players who had not yet celebrated their 20th birthday - the smiling and shy Viktor Polupanov and the stern, taciturn Vladimir Vikulov. This trio in one breath became one of the best not only in our country, but also in the world. Meanwhile, Firsov mastered the role of a midfielder. All the way he assured journalists that without Polupanov and Vikulov he would never have been recognized three times as the best hockey player of the USSR.

The great hockey player Valery Kharlamov said that Firsov helped not only Polupanov and Vikulov grow up, but also him: during training he showed how to master this or that technique, he learned combinations with recruits, and he never got angry if something went wrong.

According to three-time Olympic champion Viktor Kuzkin, in CSKA, after Veniamin Alexandrov, the only other star hockey player, finished playing, there was no such versatile striker as Firsov, who scored 344 goals in 474 matches of the USSR championships (with Spartak and CSKA). . After all, he was famous not only for his shot, but for his cascades of feints, dribbles, and hidden passes.

From the point of view of the legendary Vsevolod Bobrov, the strong edge of Anatoly Firsov, 3-time Olympic champion, 8-time world champion, 7-time European champion, 9-time USSR champion, as a person is the ability to be forever in both life and sports yourself. Great fame came to him, but he remained simple, warm-hearted, responsive to everyone - his teammates, hockey players who played before him or who replaced him, to journalists, to fans.

In 1988, Anatoly Firsov was elected people's deputy of the USSR in a single-mandate electoral district (in Moscow). Hundreds of people reached out to him for help and advice, and he tirelessly tried to implement the orders of voters, respond to a sign of distress, come to the aid of a pensioner or an Afghan warrior, a novice cooperative enthusiast or a gray-haired labor veteran.

Millions of boys doted on Firsov when he played. Firsov was constantly greeted with deep respect wherever he appeared as the plenipotentiary representative of the headquarters of the glorious Golden Puck club.

Anatoly Firsov is a famous Soviet hockey player. Multiple champion and winner of the USSR Cup, three-time winner of the Olympic Games. One of the brightest and most memorable forwards in Russian hockey in the 50-60s.

Biography of a hockey player

Anatoly Firsov was born in Moscow in 1941, a few months before the start of the Great Patriotic War. He started playing hockey in the children's team at the Red October plant. Moreover, it was not the now well-known classic hockey to all of us, but Russian, also known as bandy. At that time he was much more popular in the Soviet Union.

At the age of 13, young Anatoly Firsov found himself in a nursery sports school Moscow "Spartak". Only here he switched from bandy to ice hockey.

Career at Spartak

Firsov ended up in Spartak not so much because of his passion for this particular team, but because the club’s base was located not far from his home. At the age of 17, Anatoly Firsov made his debut for the “red-whites” in the USSR Championship.

At that time, the domestic championship was first played in four subgroups at the preliminary stage, and then best teams places from 1 to 8 and from 9 to 16 were determined in the second round.

“Spartak” was not among the leaders of the championship. In 1958, he won the tournament for 9th-16th places. In 1959, 5 teams were left in the Major League, the “red-whites” became fifth, in which Anatoly Firsov greatly helped them. Spartak showed good results then, scoring 92 goals in 27 matches.

In 1960, the scheme changed again, and Firsov’s team became only 15th.

The young forward played brilliantly, but never got a place in the first line. The turning point in his career was the season when Anatoly Tarasov, the head coach of CSKA, one of the founders of the glorious traditions of Soviet hockey, drew attention to him.

Did Firsov want to go to CSKA?

It is still not known for certain how Anatoly Firsov ended up on this team. The hockey player officially arrived on the team after he was drafted into the army. Experts still argue today whether the athlete himself wanted to be in the army camp. Some are sure that the attacker was taken away almost by force, others that all the details were agreed upon in advance with Tarasov. At the same time, fans of Spartak Moscow still tell stories about how the “dastardly army men” stole the player.

Anatoly Firsov made his debut in the 1961/1962 season. CSKA met with Dynamo Riga. The forward scored a double. However, overall the season was unsuccessful for the Army team. They scored a lot - 240 goals in 38 matches. The closest pursuer in this indicator, Dynamo Moscow, scored 40 goals less. At the same time, CSKA missed a lot - the lamp was lit behind their goal 105 times. But even with such indicators, the team fought for victory in the tournament until the last round. In the end, only third place. The champion was Moscow's Spartak, which did not show such results under Firsov. The Red-Whites scored 2 points more.

USSR Champion

However, there was no need to worry for long. Already in the next season, Anatoly Vasilyevich Firsov won gold medals. In the playoffs, the army team won 16 out of 18 matches.

Over the next 12 years, the striker won the USSR championship 9 times. Anatoly Firsov was one of Tarasov’s favorites. The hockey player won a place in the first line and was one of the main forwards of CSKA for more than 10 years.

Experts noted that the striker perfectly assesses the situation on the court and has a brilliant reaction. Before moving to CSKA, he lacked the physical condition to develop into a first-class hockey player. Working with Anatoly Tarasov solved this problem.

Olympics in Innsbruck

Having started to play brightly in the domestic championship, Firsov began to regularly be involved in games for the national team.

In 1964, he went to the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. The USSR national team was one of the favorites of the tournament, and began to prove it in the very first matches. At the qualifying stage, they defeated the Hungarian team in all respects 19:1.

In the group tournament, Soviet hockey players did not lose a single point. Moreover, Switzerland was defeated 15:0, Finland and Germany - 10:0. Team USA 5:1, Czechoslovakia 7:5, Sweden 4:2.

The biggest problems arose in the game with the Canadians. The match was even, but Firsov’s team still won 3:2.

Triumph in Grenoble

In 1968, Anatoly Firsov, whose biography was now firmly connected with hockey, went to his second Olympics to repeat his success.

This time the Soviet team was exempted from the qualifying stage, the games were played in a group of one round. Most matches for domestic hockey players were also easy and simple. 9:0 - victory over the GDR team, 9:1 - over Germany, 10:2 - over the USA, 8:0 - over the Finns.

The Canadians were defeated - 5:0, but this time it was not easy with the Swedes, who were beaten only with a score of 3:2. The Czechoslovakian national team, which won the Olympics, managed to ruin its impeccable statistics Soviet hockey players 5:4. However, the Czechs themselves lost to the Canadians and tied with the Swedes. Therefore, the gold medals for the second time went to the USSR team.

Anatoly Firsov's blow at this tournament was devastating. He scored 12 goals and gave 4 assists. As a result, he became the top scorer on the list and first in the “goal + pass” system. Firsov entered the symbolic team and was recognized as the best striker of the tournament.

Firsov's third Olympics

In 1972, the already experienced Firsov went to his third Olympics. This time in final stage 6 teams participated and played a match against each other.

Soviet hockey players started with a confident victory over the Finns 9:3. However, already in the second round they misfired. The match with the Swedish team did not foretell any special problems. Especially when after the end of the second period the score was 2:0 in favor of the USSR team. However, in the decisive twenty minutes, the Scandinavians turned the game in their favor and hit Vladislav Tretyak's goal three times. The result is a draw, 3:3. The USSR and Swedish national teams had equal points.

In the third round, the Soviet team crushes the Americans - 7:2, and the Scandinavians beat the Poles - 5:3. The fourth round was decisive. The USSR beats Poland - 9:3, and the Swedes lose to the Czechs - 1:2. In the final round, Firsov's team crushes Czechoslovakia - 5:2, and the Swedes lose again and take only fourth place, being left without any Olympic medals.

Unstoppable Firsov

When he was a player, Firsov was nicknamed “a goalkeeper’s nightmare,” and this was indeed true. The secret of success was simple. Discipline, discipline and more discipline. He never contradicted head coach Anatoly Tarasov, who led both CSKA and the USSR national team. And the mentor constantly tried him in different combinations and with different partners, constantly moving him from one flank to another. Forced me to solve new problems almost every day. Firsov was distinguished by his brilliant ability to implement the ideas of the head coach.

Even today, old fans remember Firsov’s unsurpassed dribbling, famous feints and passes. With their help, he made fools of even eminent and venerable rivals, both ours and foreign. Many say that Firsov learned his most famous trick from a foreign hockey player. Whether this is so is unknown. What is certain is that this technique became world famous thanks to him.

Firsov also became famous for his famous click. His blow was of monstrous force. Boards hockey rink were bursting at the seams, and sometimes they weren’t the only ones. The story became famous when, in a match with the Samara “Wings of the Soviets” in the USSR Championship, the forward threw the puck towards the goal with such force that it broke the helmet of the opposing goalkeeper Aleksand Sidelnikov. She also cut his forehead. The goalkeeper had to be urgently hospitalized by the emergency medical team. The goalkeeper was carried away from the hockey rink in an unconscious state. Fortunately, this injury did not affect Sidelnikov’s health. But Firsov provided the Czech goalkeeper with a constant headache. They say that Vladimir Dzurilla shuddered and cowered with every swing of the Soviet forward, not to mention the click.

But the most popular story related to Firsov took place at the World Championships in 1967. The tournament took place in Vienna, Austria. In the group, Soviet hockey players were head and shoulders above many teams. With a score of 16:1 they beat Germany, 12:0 - East Germany, 8:2 - Finland, 7:2 - USA, 4:2 - Czechoslovakia, 9:1 - one of the main competitors, the Swedish team.

The fate of the title was decided in the game with the Canadians. There were no abundance of goals in this meeting, the Soviet athletes attacked hard, but the goalkeeper of the overseas team, Seth Martin, worked real miracles on the court. The shots of the USSR national team did not reach the goal.

Already in the middle of the match, a desperate Firsov, going to his next shift, threw the puck at the goal of the Canadian team without looking. How surprised he was when all his partners jumped on him with congratulations a second later. The puck, fired at the Canadian goal at random, ended up behind the back of a sincerely shocked Martin. This moment became a turning point in the match; the Canadians never recovered from the shock and lost 1:2. And in the final meeting they also lost to the Swedes - 0:6.

At that tournament, Firsov once again became top scorer. He had 11 goals and 11 assists.

Working in the system

Firsov was a truly unique player. For example, experts note that he is one of the few hockey players in the world who played as a midfielder. Although such a role does not officially exist in hockey. Even today, only the goalkeeper, defenders and forwards remain.

Such an experiment was invented by the unsurpassed trainer Anatoly Tarasov back in the 60s. Firsov had to implement this plan. Tarasov called his game structure a “system”; Firsov was the connecting motor in it, the main key figure.

They say that Tarasov saw his “system” in a dream, just like Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev saw the periodic table of chemical elements. Moreover, even in a dream, the athlete with number 11 played in the position of midfielder. This is exactly the number that appeared on Firsov’s sweater.

Subsequently, it turned out that Tarasov’s “system” works successfully only in one case. If such an all-rounder as Firsov plays in the midfielder position. Therefore, the idea of the famous mentor was forgotten for many years.

The Swedes tried to return to it at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, America. At first everything went well. IN group stage The Scandinavians, guided by Tarasov's methodology, alternately beat the Canadians - 5:2, the Czechs - 2:1 and the Germans - 7:1.

However, in the quarter finals they suffered a sensational defeat from the Belarusian team - 3:4, which had previously lost all their matches in the neighboring group. Apparently, they never found their own Firsov in the Swedish national team.

Firsov was an outstanding hockey player. During his career, he won the world championships 8 times and became the European champion 8 times. At these championships he played 62 games, in which he scored 64 goals. He became the champion of the USSR 9 times, won silver medals twice and bronze once. He won the USSR Cup 5 times and the European Hockey Champions Cup 6 times.

In total, he played 474 matches in the USSR championship matches, in which he scored 346 goals. Phenomenal result. Read more about this and many other details sports career Firsov tells in his autobiographical book “Light the Light of Victory”.

At the same time, Firsov had to leave the national team in the prime of his career. Back in 1972, he shone in the attacking line of the top three along with Kharlamov and Vikulov, and a month after the triumphant tournament he was expelled from the national team.

The 31-year-old forward became a victim of intrigue and undercover games. The mentors of the USSR national team, Anatoly Tarasov and Arkady Cheryshev, left the team after the Olympics in Sapporo. They were replaced by the no less famous Vsevolod Bobrov, who had a tense and hostile relationship with Tarasov. New coach got rid of all the favorites of the previous mentor. First of all, from Anatoly Firsov.

For the hockey player this came as a complete surprise and a serious blow. He was in excellent shape, but was forced to end his career, finding himself unnecessary to the national team. Just on the eve of the super series of Soviet hockey players with Canadians, which took place in 1972.

Overseas journalists were perplexed for a long time, as they could not understand why Firsov did not appear on the site. Everyone in Canada knew him, many loved and respected him, and the National Club hockey league The Montreal Canadiens even offered a long-term contract. However, at that time it was impossible for a Soviet hockey player to receive official permission to play for a foreign club, and Firsov had no intention of secretly escaping the country.

The result of the super series was good, but not outstanding. Of the eight matches, the Canadians won half of the meetings, the USSR team only three. One game ended in a draw. It is likely that for a more confident performance, the Soviet hockey players just lacked Firsov, who at that time was in excellent shape and could amaze more than one opponent with his unsurpassed dribbling.

After finishing his sports career, Firsov began working hockey coach. First in CSKA, then in the Polish Legia. However, he never achieved any serious success. Many believe that he lacked toughness in this position. Character traits that he failed to adopt from Tarasov.

After failure with senior teams Anatoly Firsov worked at the CSKA youth sports school for many years. The children loved and respected him, and saw him as a mentor they could look up to both in sports and in life. He led the USSR youth team and, together with Anatoly Tarasov, was the head of the all-Union Golden Puck tournament.

Personal life

More distinguishing feature the hero of our article - he was an exemplary family man. At the age of 18, Anatoly Firsov got married. His wife Nadezhda spent her whole life with him, 40 years in a strong marriage. She passed away in 2000. Her death was a serious blow and shock for him. From which he could no longer recover. Nadezhda Sergeevna died in April, and Anatoly Firsov died in July. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. He outlived his wife by only three months. He was buried at the Staroskhodnenskoye cemetery in the Moscow region, in the Khimki region. Together with his wife.

In 1998, Firsov received official international recognition. He was included in the list of members of the International Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, which is located in Toronto, Canada.

Today I am opening a series of posts “Legends of Soviet Hockey”. And immediately there was a stupor. Where to start? After all, everyone, I emphasize, every player of the USSR national team is a legend. Each of them made an invaluable contribution to the development of not only ours, but the entire world of hockey.

I decided to start with Anatoly Firsov. Why from him? Yes, simply because Anatoly Vasilyevich Firsov was one of the first whose games I fell in love with at the age of 5-6. And the fuse was specific. I was only nine years old when he finished his career. But to this day, I not only remember his Name (as I remember the names of Alexander Ragulin, Vyacheslav Starshinov or the same Polupanov and Vikulov), I remember his game! Incredible, but I really remember.

2012 marked the 40th anniversary of that same super series between Canadian and our “amateur” hockey players. Now they write and talk about her more and more. This, of course, makes me happy. In fact, I really want the modern generation to not only know, but also be proud of those who turned this series into a real triumph of Soviet hockey.

But, precisely on the fortieth anniversary of this date, the very popular Canadian hockey publication “The Hockey News” identified the ten best Soviet hockey players who never played in the NHL.

The first place on the list was taken by three-time Olympic champion Anatoly Firsov. Despite the fact that he was not in the national team during this famous series (more on that below). Those. not Kharlamov, not Tretiak, but a hockey player whom Canadian spectators had never really seen.

Here's the whole list

Anatoly Firsov
Vladislav Tretyak
Valery Kharlamov
Vsevolod Bobrov
Alexander Maltsev
Valery Vasiliev
Alexander Yakushev
Boris Mikhailov
Vyacheslav Starshinov
Alexander Ragulin

And here is what “The hockey news” writes about Anatoly Firsov:

“It’s a pity he wasn’t there. Canadian spectators would probably be delighted by his play and, especially, by the fantastic “skate-stick-skate” feint, of which he is the author and excellent performer.

His quick thinking on the ice and skating speed made him the best Soviet hockey player in history."

Where there was ice, Firsov was there. Biography of Anatoly Firsov.

Anatoly Firsov is a Muscovite. Born February 1, 1941. He was the third and youngest child in the family. My father went to the front and never returned. So, all the worries about raising children fell on the mother’s shoulders. But there was also a yard. And the same boys with whom the future Olympic champion spent his childhood.

I fell in love with hockey immediately. He started his career as a defender. And all because he didn’t have skates. And then the yard rule said: “You don’t have skates, or you’re the smallest, or you play very poorly, you are welcome to be a defender.”

My mother gave me my first skates when I was 10 years old. And then without boots... Normal clubs were only in a dream... And so, thick bent wire or cut out of a piece of plywood. It was easier with a puck... a tin can replaced both the ball and the puck.

But this is all nonsense. The main thing is ice. And where there was ice, there was Tolya.

Anatoly Vasilyevich himself believed that the one for whom these difficulties were “dahusim” continued his path to big sport. I agree 100%. Moreover, I am convinced that it was these difficulties that nurtured both will and character in Firsov.

How did you progress? young hockey player Hard to say. But a year later he was taken to the boys’ team of the Krasny Bogatyr plant. And although he was the youngest on the team, he was respected (note, I write without quotes)

It’s clear that Tolya was in seventh heaven. Real competition, real uniform, skates with boots, stick. True, instead of a puck there is a ball. At that time, Canadian ice hockey was just gaining momentum in the country, but bandy was very popular.

At the age of 13, he was “lured” to the Spartak school, where his stellar career began. But, already in ice hockey. It was, of course, difficult to readjust right away. And the platform is small, and the boards are large, and the puck is not a ball and the stick is different. But Firsov is Firsov. However, he is not the only one. Many of those who later became ice hockey stars started with Russian hockey.

I am missing my years at Spartak, and not because I was a fan of CSKA all the time, I just can’t put Anatoly Vasilyevich’s entire biography into one post. I will only say that Spartak gave a lot to Anatoly and all his life he was grateful to his partners and coaches.

Star Trek Ice by Anatoly Firsov

How did he get to CSK? I am sure that most hockey fans adhere to one version: “CSK, having the so-called. “an administrative resource,” simply taking away promising young people from different clubs in the country.” I will not argue. Apparently, this majority is right-wing.

But whether it was like this or otherwise is not important now. It is important that I got to Tarasov. And it was Tarasov who “forced” him to become the best hockey player in the world in the late 60s and early 70s.

What does “forced” mean? It's simple.

Despite the physical “substandard” of the 21-year-old guy (he clearly lacked muscle mass), Tarasov saw potential in him and did everything to reveal this potential. AND grueling workouts and “nagging” and seemingly undeserved punishments.

However, it worked! Firsov could do everything on the ice! Excellent speed, technique, throw...

ABOUT! The famous Firsovsky click! The goalkeepers panicked when they saw Anatoly's swing. And there was a reason. Waiting for a projectile to arrive at you at a speed of 200 km/h... It’s not very pleasant, you’ll agree. Sidelnikov (Krylyshek goalkeeper) can tell you in more detail about the feeling when the puck flew into his forehead and broke his helmet.

Almost all fans in the world know about the famous FF (Firsov feint) stick-skate-stick. It’s a pity that I can’t show you a video of this trick being performed by the author himself, but to have an idea of what it is, look at how Pavel Bure performed it.

The famous throw and FF are often written about when Anatoly Vasilyevich is remembered. But this is still not enough for greatness. And when I wrote that Firsov could do everything, I meant not only technical data.

I ran fast, but I thought even faster
he saw the field perfectly
was a great passer
in a game with a minority it was great to kill time

And here’s what his friend and rival, Czechoslovak hockey player Josef Cerny, said about him:

“He is wise and cunning like a fox, he knows many paths to his cherished goal. For every move you make, for every attempt to outwit him, Anatoly has an answer, a witty and unexpected feint.”

Hockey is a team game

Talking about the Firsov phenomenon, I simply cannot help but mention his partners. And I think that in this regard Anatoly Vasilyevich was very lucky.

In 1965, Tarasov created a simply cool Vikulov-Polupanov-Firsov link. These guys shone both in CSK and in the USSR national team.

They understood each other perfectly. Isn’t this the main thing in team play?

On the one hand, there is a clear, well-functioning mechanism and strict implementation of tactical tasks, on the other, constant improvisation.

And okay, when such class is shown by mature players (Firsov was already 24 years old), but when by 18-year-olds?!

The World Championships in Vienna, the Olympics in Grenoble... Then they talked not only about Firsov, the whole trio rang.

And with all due respect to the talent of the great hockey player, I think that without such partners it would have been much more difficult to achieve such popularity. Most likely, I would have achieved it. But it’s more difficult :)

And he achieved a lot! Achievements of A.V. Firsova

Three-time Olympic champion. 1964 (Innsbruck), 1968 (Grenoble), 1972 (Sapporo)
Eight-time world champion
Seven-time European champion
Three times at the World Cup in 1967, 1968 and 1971 he became the best striker
Best Forward of the Olympic Games in Grenoble
In 1998, his name was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame ( International Federation Ice Hockey) and the Hall of Fame of Russian Hockey.

Partners about Firsov

Victor Kuzkin
“After Veniamin Alexandrov, CSK had only one such versatile hockey player - Anatoly Firsov”
Victor Polupanov and Vladimir Vikulov
“First of all – “Batyanya”. He taught us not only techniques and tactical tricks. He taught the main thing: constant concentration and speed of thinking

Why is this, Vsevolod Mikhailovich??

Tarasov left after the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo. Vsevolod Bobrov took his place. And it’s hard to say what didn’t suit number 11 Bobrov in the game, but Firsov was removed from the team.

Everything would be fine here. Change of generations, age (although Anatoly was only 31 years old). But how it was done raises a lot of questions.

This happened in April 1972. Our team toured Scandinavia before the World Cup. Firsov did not go to these games. His absence aroused enormous and understandable interest among fans and journalists.

And either the journalists were too annoying or something else, but Bobrov told them a terrible story about a terminally ill idol of millions. It turns out he has stomach cancer and only has a few days left to live.

Bobrov could not help but understand that such statements would not go unnoticed. And, accordingly, the deception will be revealed. Is this a joke? No, such things are not jokes! And especially with journalists. What then? Don't know!

As a result, what Vsevolod Mikhailovich probably counted on happened. Firsov said that he would not work with the coach who buried him.

In short, the motive itself is clear, but the implementation... Why is this so?

I won't give up hockey.

After finishing his career, Firsov did not leave hockey. I tried to coach the USSR youth team, was a coach at CSK, and worked at the Polish Legia. But a great player does not always mean a great coach. Especially in a team of masters. This requires not only knowledge and professional experience, it requires something more. Which I don’t know myself. In general, it didn’t work out.

And yet he became a coach. In 1987, he began coaching children. Together with Tarasov, he prepared young talents for the Golden Puck tournament...

I could also write about the post-sports period in the life of a great athlete, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to write about his miserable pension, I don’t want to write about his addiction to alcohol, and I don’t even want to write about his parliamentary activities.

Otherwise, you will have to describe another person. Let's better watch another video about Anatoly Firsov. The drive is extraordinary

Briefly about interesting things

Firsov is the first hockey player to bend his stick.
There were even disputes about this with Tarasov, who believed that a great player should throw well with both his left and right hands.
Incredible goal for the Canadians
All publications wrote about this curious, but so necessary goal against the Canadians at the World Championships in Vienna in 1967. They are still writing. Here it is, look.

Anatoly Vasilyevich himself recalled this goal very often and considered it the most significant in his entire career. In fact, he became a turning point in that difficult game. In a nutshell, it was like this:
After a rather indistinct and chaotic attack, Firsov got ready for a shift and, already at the side, simply launched the puck towards Seth Martin's goal. He threw it and threw it (I didn’t even see where) and was about to wave it over the side... But, I didn’t have time. The partners didn’t give it. It’s hard to see in the video, but in fact the Canadians’ defender touched the puck and ruined everything…. Canadians.
“Oh, if only I could deal with my enemies the way Anatoly Firsov, who sits in the 5th row, does with goalkeepers...”
These are the words of Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky directly from the stage. Firsov loved the theater very much. And among his true friends there were great actors, including Vysotsky.
I don’t know, maybe his love for theater influenced him and the acting lessons that his actor friends gave him helped him so much, but Firsov became an excellent actor on ice. He very realistically portrayed a grimace of pain. Which gave the judge reason to send the opponent to the penalty box without hesitation. Well, yes! And that was it. Tricky though...
Almaz Firsova
On August 31, 2000, a diamond weighing 181.59 carats was found. He was named in honor of the great athlete Anatoly Vasilyevich Firsov
Skakun - Firsov
Anatoly Firsov was popular not only in the USSR, but also abroad. True, as they say, I love you, but with a strange love... One of the Swedish fans called his Firsov... horse
How the Volga was stolen
Popularity and love from fans is still a good thing. And many people in the country loved and respected him. Including thieves.
One night there was a call.
- Tolya, I’m sorry, I stole your Volga... But don’t worry, when I found the documents in the glove compartment and found out that it was your car, I left it on the corner of the alley. Sorry.
Firsov thought it was a joke, but when he looked out the window and didn’t see the car, he realized it wasn’t.

That's all. See you.

The most beloved hockey player of Anatoly Tarasov, a master of the “stick-skate-stick” technique and one of the greatest players not only in the country, but also in the world, Anatoly Vasilyevich Firsov brought real pleasure to all hockey fans, showing a witty and graceful game. The path to the top was not an easy one, but Firsov managed to reach heights that rightfully give him the rank of one of the best.

Firsov Anatoly Vasilievich

01.02.1941 – 24.07.2000

Player career:

"Spartak" Moscow (1959-1961).
CSKA (1961-1973).

In the USSR championships - 474 matches, 346 goals.

Team Achievements:

Olympic champion 1964, 1968, 1972.
World champion 1964-1971.
European champion 1964-1971.
Champion of the USSR 1963-1966, 1968, 1970-1973.
Silver medalist of the USSR championships in 1967, 1969.
Winner of the USSR Cup 1966-1969, 1973.

Personal achievements:

Best striker of the World and European Championships 1967, 1968, 1971.
Top scorer at the World and European Championships in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971.

Coaching career:

Coach of CSKA (1972-1977).
Head coach of the USSR youth team (1976-1977).
Coach of Legia Poland (1977-1980).

From Russian hockey to Canadian hockey

Anatoly Firsov began playing Russian hockey in the factory team “Red Bogatyr”. It was there that he learned excellent maneuverability and mastered excellent skating. The young man’s talent was noticed, and Firsov was invited to Spartak Moscow, where he played for three years. And in 1961, Anatoly was drafted into the army, and he ended up in CSKA under the leadership of Tarasov.

The coach considered the young recruit not physically prepared enough, so at first the intensive training seemed too difficult, but gradually Firsov got used to the stress and managed to win the favor of the mentor.

The “stick-skate-stick” technique was taught to the hockey player through grueling practice. Many masters never mastered this technique, but Firsov mastered it quite quickly and literally a week later began using it in games, leaving his opponents astray.

Gold Team Leader

Taking a leadership position in such a team full of masters was not easy, but he found his place among the country's outstanding hockey players. Tarasov assigned Firsov a unique role as a “teacher”, placing Anatoly in the top three with the young Viktor Polupanov and Vladimir Vikulov - and he was right.

The hockey players worked so well with each other that even at the World Championship they didn’t break up the top three, although Firsov had an excellent opportunity to play with the then already famous and.

Anatoly joined the USSR national team for the first time in 1962, and made his debut at the World Championship only in 1964 - not the earliest age for a hockey player, but Firsov managed to occupy his niche and conquer the world in his own way, with his young and talented partners. Usually the troika is given the surname of its center forward, however, along with the troikas of Almetov and Starshinov, the Firsov troika appeared - in honor of its left forward.

Anatoly Firsov - three-time Olympic champion as a member of the USSR national team

Anatoly Vasilyevich was an extraordinary player, he was constantly looking for fresh solutions, coming up with witty moves and combinations. His partners always had to be on guard in order to have time to read Anatoly’s plan before their rivals and successfully implement it. Firsov was never satisfied with what he had done and practiced more and more new exercises, seemingly tirelessly.

Despite his rather modest physical characteristics, he did not shy away from a power struggle and could fight back. In the game, Firsov was careful and did not strive for hard techniques, but Anatoly had enough strength to play really hard if necessary.

Firsov was recognized as the best striker of the world championships three times and became the top scorer four times. However, not everything in his career was smooth sailing. The worst year was 1968. First, while on vacation in Varna, he cut his leg on glass, which for quite a long time did not allow him to fully begin training, and a little later, an unpleasant incident in the garage, when a car crushed his hand, took the hockey player out of combat for some time.

But this did not break Firsov. With a cast and weight on his belt, unable to hold a stick, he trained on the ice, performing strength exercises, played basketball with one hand and soon began to delight fans again with his magnificent actions and sharp combinations.

After hockey

Firsov no longer made it to the Canada-USSR Super Series. After the Olympics in Sapporo, Tarasov and Chernyshev resigned, they were replaced in the coaching post, and Anatoly Firsov and his friend Vitaly Davydov, who became three-time Olympic champions, were “unhooked,” as Firsov himself put it, from the national team. This practically ended the playing career of Anatoly Vasilyevich.

After Firsov, he worked as a coach for CSKA for five years, then took the helm of the USSR junior team and was involved in the Golden Puck children’s tournaments, but he was too decent to peacefully coexist with the decrees “from above”, and therefore often conflicted with the “wishes” of the authorities.

Anatoly Firsov - coach

In 1988, he became a people's deputy of the USSR in a single-mandate constituency in Moscow. Social activity took a lot of time, and Firsov could no longer visit often hockey matches, giving yourself completely to work. After the abolition of the Supreme Council, Anatoly Vasilyevich headed a sports boarding house in Switzerland and dreamed of bringing boys from Russia there, but this idea never came true.

IN last years In his life, Firsov returned to hockey again, and not only as a spectator, but also as a member of the veteran team. However, Anatoly Vasilyevich’s health no longer allowed heavy loads. The last time he took to the ice was at the 2000 World Championships in St. Petersburg, and in July he passed away.

Heritage

Firsov was remembered hockey world not just a hard-working hockey player, but a creator, a real improviser, who acted mainly by instinct, which never let him down. Tarasov noted not so much his speed of skating and technique, although he was an amazing master in this, but the speed of thought with which he assessed every situation.

Nine-time USSR champion, eight-time world champion, three-time Olympic champion. In 474 matches at the national championships, Firsov scored 346 goals, and in 67 matches at the world championships, European championships and Olympics he scored 66 times. Even now, his game would fit perfectly into modern hockey, and he would still be one of the best hockey players peace.