Ivanov Valentin Kozmich: biography of a Soviet football player and coach

Among the legends of Russian sport, Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, a Soviet football player, takes a special place. His name is inscribed in the history of European and world football not only as a talented player, but also as a wonderful coach.

Ivanov Valentin Kozmich: biography. Start

Born the famous Soviet football player in Moscow on November 19, 1934. His ancestors were from the Smolensk region, and, according to Ivanov, the head of the family was called Kuzma. But because of the error of the employee of the passport office, Kozmich's patronymic was written in his documents. Valentin Ivanov was the youngest child in the family, he had two brothers and a sister. The older brothers, Vladimir and Nikolai, helped their younger brother to fall in love with football for good.

In one of the Moscow courtyards on Aviamotornaya Street they assembled a football team, in which firstly Valentina Kozmich got the role of goalkeeper. But the boy's dream has always been ahead of the game, in the position of the attacker. Vladimir's elder brother agreed on meetings with teams of other households, surrounding streets and even districts. In these friendly matches the foundation of the sporting skills of the future great football player was laid.

At the end of the seven-year school, Ivanov Valentin Kozmich got a job as a worker, following in the footsteps of his brothers in the Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM). The institute had its own football team, which included Valentine. Speeches for the CIAM, he combined with the game in the yard team.

Beginning of a football career

After Valentin Ivanov started working at CIAM, one of his friends brought him to the youth team "Wings of the Soviets." This team was coached by Viktor Sergeevich Bushuyev, who became Ivanov's first mentor. Having no special skills in theory, this remarkable coach was devoted to football without reserve, spending all his time at the stadium in Meerovskiy proezd. This sports ground was the starting point in the big sport of such famous athletes as Alexander Sevidov, Alfred Kuchevsky, Eugene Groshev, the Kotov brothers. Final match for the Moscow Cup, in which the "Wings" met with "Spartacus", opened a young Valentine Ivanov road to a big football. During this match, the coaches of Moscow's Torpedo paid close attention to him.

Torpedo forever

In November 1952, Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, a Soviet football player, began his debut in a team that he did not change throughout his professional football career. This team was for him the Moscow "Torpedo". Withstood a serious test of competition from more experienced players, 18-year-old Valentin Ivanov joined the main team. In 1953, it was headed by the Honored Coach of the RSFSR Valentin Maslov. He had confidence in the young player, exposing him to the most crucial matches. Except for cases when Valentin Kozmich was injured or unwell, he always played in the main lineup of Torpedo, not missing a single game. By selfless labor and full dedication to the beloved cause, Ivanov earned a fair respect from his teammates and was appointed captain of the team. He did not remove the captain's armband for 9 years - from 1956 to 1965.

Success - in a team game

The sixties of the last century become for the Moscow "Torpedo" a period of glorious victories. In 1960 Avtozavodtsy achieved a double. They won the union championship and in a stubborn struggle won the USSR Cup. This success was achieved through a harmonious, competently built game of the whole team. Thanks to the efforts of Leonid Ostrovsky, Glory Metreveli, Victor Shustikov, Nikolai Manoshin and others, a clear tactical line was built, based on a culture of subtle passages, accurate short programs and masterful technique of selection and preservation of the ball. From 1954 to 1958, the center and the right edge of the torpedo attack were a pair of legendary Soviet football players: Valentin Kozmich Ivanov and Eduard Streltsov. Fast and maneuverable, they easily dealt with players defending the leading clubs of the Soviet Union.

What does the love of fans deserve?

In the history of domestic football, many players, whose game delivered a lot of positive emotions to dedicated fans. But not all of them managed to achieve such love and recognition, which was awarded to Valentin Ivanov. In the cheerleader environment, he was given the nickname of a ballerina. Such a comparison, Ivanov was able to achieve thanks to the ability to deal cleverly and technically with any rival, delivering that concern with his intricate actions. This contributed to his excellent technical training, the ability to accurately and timely give the transfer partner, and sometimes dangerous to break through on goal himself. The ability to perform equally targeted blows from both the left and the right foot took unawares many opposing goalkeepers. In addition to high individual skill Ivanov was also distinguished by a competent team game, being a thinker of acute combinations.

Game in the USSR national team

For the first time on the field in the first team of the national team Valentin Ivanov left March 6, 1955 in a friendly match against the national team of India. And on June 26, 1955, he scored his first goal for the team, it happened in a friendly game with Sweden, which the Soviet team beat with a score of 6: 0.

In 1956, Valentin Ivanov joined the national team at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. At this superiority the USSR team wins its first gold Olympic medals, and Ivanov is scored by goal in the gate of the national team of Indonesia in the repeated Olympic quarterfinals.

1958 became the debut for the performances of the national team at the world championships. The rivals of our team in the group stage were the national teams of England, Austria and Brazil. Our players managed to get victory over the Austrians, to draw with the English, but the match against the Brazilians was lost. In the repeated, full-dramatic replay the USSR team defeated the British. But in the quarterfinals, our team lost to the hosts of the championship - the Swedes. At this championship Valentin Ivanov twice hit the gate of opponents. His masterful game deserved a lot of enthusiastic reviews of foreign experts.

The European cup tournament in 1960, where the victory over the Yugoslav team was won in the final match, was crowned with a triumph for our team. Valentin Ivanov marked this tournament with two goals in the semifinal match against Czechoslovakia.

At the world championship in 1962 Valentin Kozmich becomes the best scorer of the Soviet team, on his account - 4 goals scored.

In 1964, the Soviet team again managed to reach the European Cup final. But he could not win. Soviet players lost to the Spaniards with a score of 1: 2. Valentin Ivanov was the captain of our team (this honorable duty he performed in the national team from 1963 to 1965).

Ivanov Valentin Kozmich: coaching career

In 1967, Valentin Ivanov finished his performances as a player and began his coaching career. Of course, he began to lead the family "Torpedo", listening to the requests of his colleagues - Eduard Streltsov and Valery Voronin, who promised him their support. The lack of coaching skills from Ivanov did not prevent Torpedo from winning bronze medals and becoming the owner of the USSR Cup in 1968. But in 1970, the club's management decided to remove Ivanov from the management of the club, appointing the more experienced Viktor Maslov as the head coach.

In 1973, Valentin Kozmich received a diploma from the Smolensk State Institute of Physical Culture. Just this year, "Torpedo" almost left the highest division of the championship, which was the reason for Ivanov's return to the coaching post. For the next five years, Valentin Kozmich coached the "Torpedo". But in the club there was such a situation when, by weaving small intrigues, people, far from football, achieved his resignation. Ivanov was very offended by this and transferred it very painfully. But Ivanov continued to improve as a football coach and became a graduate of the Higher School of Trainers.

Falls and take-offs on the coaching track

Not noticing any special successes in the team, the management came to the conclusion that it was better not to find Ivanov, and suggested that he again head "Torpedo". Another 10 years gave his beloved club Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, whose photo is presented in the article. But in 1991 the conflict broke out in the team, during which he expelled from the team young players caught in drinking alcohol. Discontent of the players grew into a loud scandal, because of which Valentin Kozmich had to leave the club. In 1992, he tries his hand as coach of the Moroccan team "Raja" and takes it to the second place in the championship.

Abroad, Ivanov did not stay long, and in 1993 returned to Russia, where he received the post of head coach of the team "Asmaral". In 1997, the Avtozavodskaya club, which was under the trusteeship and sponsorship of ZIL, was declared bankrupt and bought back by the chairman of the Luzhniki JSC Vladimir Alyoshin. Following the big ambitions, the new owners of the club, now called "Torpedo-Luzhniki" again invited to coach Valentine Ivanov. But alas, Valentina Kozmich failed to achieve success with the new team.

About family

Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, whose personal life has developed successfully, can be an example of an excellent family man. His wife was an outstanding athlete, champion of the Olympic Games in 1956 in gymnastics Lidia Ivanovna. Their wedding took place on December 3, 1959. For over 50 years, Lidia Gavrilovna and Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, who died on November 8, 2011, were happy in their marriage. Her cause was a progressive Alzheimer's disease, which tormented the illustrious football player in the last years of his life. Valentin Ivanov's son also linked his profession with football, becoming an arbiter serving matches not only of the Russian Premier League, but also judged matches of the 2004 European Championship in Portugal and the 2006 World Championships in Germany. An example for imitation may be Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, whose family has become one of the most famous sports dynasties.

Achievements and awards

Ivanov Valentin Kozmich, whose achievements became the pride of domestic football, became the owner of awards of various dignity, received for sporting successes and for a great contribution to the development of domestic and world football.

He was the best scorer of the World Cup in 1962, scoring 4 goals, and the European Championship in 1960 with two goals. The number of goals scored by him in the USSR championship, allowed him to enter the number of football players, scorers club Grigory Fedotov.

In the "Torpedo" he won bronze medals of the Allied championship in 1953, became the silver medalist of the championship in 1957, 1961 and 1964. And twice - the champion of the USSR, in 1960 and 1965.

Valentin Ivanov 12 times recognized as one of the best players of the Union championship.

International recognition

The leadership of FIFA and UEFA highly appreciated Valentin Ivanov's contribution to the history of world football. This was facilitated by his legendary performances at the world and European championships, where he became the champion and prize-winner, and also was one of the best scorer of the competitions. UEFA management Valentin Ivanov was awarded the Ruby Order "For Merit".