A great friend of MK, one of the most authoritative domestic coaches and specialists, Boris Petrovich Ignatiev, has passed away
On the morning of January 27, very sad news came: after a long illness, at the age of 86, the former head coach of the Russian national team, winner of the 1988 European Championship with the USSR youth team, member of the board of directors of the Association of Domestic Football Coaches, former vice-president of the Children’s Football League, Boris Petrovich Ignatiev, died.
For some reason it seemed to me, or rather, I was sure that Boris Petrovich’s phone number was always in my address book. And it was a great happiness to be able to talk with him about football. From the very first day of my work as a sports journalist, I could call Boris Petrovich completely freely at any time, and in detail and patiently, in his calm voice, he explained even the most complex things so clearly and simply that only a specialist of the highest level could see and understand that there were no more questions left. And what’s even more important, not even professionally, but primarily in human terms: from the very first call, Boris Petrovich spoke to me (although I’m sure that I didn’t understand much at the time and sometimes asked not the smartest questions) very good-naturedly and respectfully, like an older comrade. And not only with me – with everyone who turned to him for advice or a request to explain something and teach something. Without undue modesty, we can say that it was Ignatiev who helped me grow. Thanks to our conversations, albeit not very often, especially recently, when he was no longer always feeling well, the intricacies of football became more clear to me. And now, when he is no longer there, it is impossible to even comprehend – emptiness and heaviness. It’s as if a piece of kindness, wisdom, and courage has left our world.
Boris Petrovich has done a lot for our football. His work was not always visible. And he did not always receive the reward he deserved. But without him, a lot would have turned out differently and, most likely, worse.
I have never heard anything bad about Boris Petrovich from anyone, no matter who I interacted with, be it a venerable coach or a famous football player, or a young specialist, or a fellow journalist. Not a single word. Only respect and gratitude. And this is almost incredible – in football, as in any other sport, there is only one first place, and there are different paths to victory. And how to go to it – everyone chooses for themselves.
Yes, Boris Petrovich was a very kind, very decent person and citizen. And at the same time, he never hesitated to talk about the problems of our favorite game, to which he devoted his entire life. As part of the “Coaching Kitchen” column created by “MK” together with the Association of Domestic Coaches, we talked a lot with him about why certain things happen in our football and what are the true reasons for its problems. However, Ignatiev understood world football just as well. Discussing the results of matches at the World and European Championships, analyzing the actions of teams and individual football players with him was always a true pleasure. And I simply cannot express in words how difficult it was later to fit these conversations into the confines of a newspaper page, limited in size – it was a real pain to reduce something in his words.
We have become very orphaned in recent months. We have not yet fully recovered from the departure of Nikita Pavlovich Simonyan. Now Boris Petrovich is gone. And it is very important not to forget, not to lose the legacy that they leave us. Among which the most important thing is selfless love and devotion to football.
The editors of Moskovsky Komsomolets express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Boris Petrovich Ignatiev. We are with you in this difficult hour.
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Boris Ignatiev is a graduate of Spartak Moscow. Having started his career at Torpedo Vladimir in 1973, three years later he was appointed coach and subsequently head coach of the USSR youth team. He worked in this position for more than 10 years. Under his leadership, the team won the 1988 European Championship. Boris Ignatiev led the USSR Olympic team, youth teams of the CIS and Russia. From 1996 to 1998 he served as head coach of the Russian national team. Later he worked in Russian and foreign clubs in various positions. He raised more than one generation of domestic football players and coaches. Until the last day he was a member of the RFU National Team Committee. Master of Sports of the USSR. Honored Trainer of the RSFSR.
Former head coach of the Russian national football team Boris Ignatiev has died
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Boris Petrovich, thank you for the football!
