Rustam Minnikhanov at his meeting with Zinetula Bilyaletdinov: Your name will stay in the history of Ak Bars hockey club forever

On April 11, at the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with the head coach of Ak Bars hockey club Zinetula Bilyaletdinov. President of Ak Bars hockey club Nail Maganov also took part in the meeting.

During the meeting, Bilyaletdinov confirmed his decision to leave a post of the head coach of Ak Bars hockey club.

Bilyaletdinov headed the team since 2004, with a break in the period of work in the Russian national team from 2011 to 2014. Under his leadership, the club won the Gagarin Cup three times, became the champion of Russia four times, the winner of the European Championship Cup and the Continental Cup.

President of Ak Bars Holding Maganov noted that the club regretted that Bilyaletdinov decided to leave a post of the head coach.

Minnikhanov also expressed his deep regret that Bilyaletdinov leaves the post, but he said that he respects his decision.

Tatarstan President thanked Bilyaletdinov for his great contribution to the formation of Ak Bars hockey team as the strongest one in the country, as well as for sports trophies and titles won over the years, for a well-organized training system for hockey players. Your name will stay in the history of Ak Bars hockey club forever, Minnikhanov said.

It was also announced that Bilyaletdinov will remain in the club as the honorary president of Ak Bars Hockey Academy named after Yuri Moiseev.