Who is Vyacheslav Bykov to you? If you are one of those who remember the latter, then it is the coach that the Russian team failed at the 2011 World Cup. Most will, of course, remember the legendary Quebec, the comeback with Canada in the final, and the first gold in 15 years. Ufa and St. Petersburg knows Vyacheslav Arkadyevich as the person who brought these cities the first Gagarin Cup.

Today Bykov is a specialist. Willingly or unwillingly. Journalists call him, ask something, are interested in his opinion. For example, the day before he got into a conflict with Alexander Kozhevnikov. One Olympic champion did not like that the other was not categorically enough in relation to Switzerland, where he lived in recent years.

Bykov did not answer Kozhevnikov in his own way and curbed the mini-conflict. This is the whole of Vyacheslav Arkadyevich. He is a true diplomat. He does not offend anyone, does not say much. Probably, this is his human quality, the atmosphere in their team was retained. Many former wards of Bykov still remember him with kind words. What about continuous coaching?

Two Gagarin Cups, two gold, silver and bronze World Championships, and an Olympic, albeit without medals. This is the summary of Bykov-coach. If Vyacheslav Arkadievich had worked at the same pace as Bilyaletdinov or Znarok, maybe there would have been more titles. However, he only spent eight seasons in Russian hockey. The first cut fell on the period from 2011 to 2014, and the second is already going on for the seventh year …

Is it no wonder that every day that Bykov does not work as a coach of a club or national team, they find a job for him? Vyacheslav Arkadyevich is a champion of rumors and unfulfilled appointments. We decided to recall all (or almost all) of the news that has arisen regarding the conqueror of Quebec and Bern.

“The distinguished mentor has already arrived in Astana for negotiations with the Barys administration”, – Shaiba.kz reported after the resignation of Andrey Khomutov. Probably the main fake in the career of Vyacheslav Arkadyevich. Not only is he barely able to replace his long-time flightmate, but at the Astana airport they saw a “man who looks like Bykov”.

The fact that Bykov could be “on the same plane” became known after the fact of the disaster near Tunoshnaya. True, the champion coach crossed the line with a number of outstanding coaches, most of whom were foreigners. Anyone could replace Brad McCrimmon.

CSKA has already taken Rosneft under its wing. In addition to the newly signed Radulov, Ilya Bryzgalov, Mikhail Grabovsky and His Highness Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk became “army men” during the lockout. Valery Bragin predictably could not cope with this Formula 1 car. After his resignation at the peak of the season, he was replaced by Vyacheslav Butsaev and possibly Bykov. But he decided to stay with Zakharkin in the Polish national team.

Bykov is from Chelyabinsk, where he started his career as a player at Traktor, but didn’t train for a day with his local club. Was there a possibility? Sports.ru wrote about such a possibility in 2013, but there was no particular logic in it. Black and white had just lost to Dynamo Moscow in the final, and Valery Belousov’s positions were unshakable.

At the same time, it was reported that Bykov and Zakharkin will come to another club from the Chelyabinsk region. Allegedly, a contract has already been signed for the 2+1 system.

“Star tandem with the titles of world champions behind it and CHLAn offer was made that could not be refused. And the future of Magnitogorsk, contrary to popular belief, was by no means in the hands of the American Maurice, but in the hands of the largest businessman and sole owner of the club, Viktor Rashnikov. Who will coach the club, only he decides”— wrote Sportbox.

That’s right, Maurice is Canadian, not American. However, Bykov did not reach Magnitogorsk. Metallurg was led by Mike Keenan and made him champion on the first try.

Bykov’s name in relation to Traktor appeared for the second time two years later, when it became clear that Andrey Nikolishin’s days in Chelyabinsk were numbered.

“Of course there are many nuances, many “buts”. However, we would like to see our compatriot in his hometown.”– said the head of the club, Sergei Gomolyako.

However, the club already had little money, and Traktor chose the economy option in the person of Anvar Gatiyatulin. With him, black and white won two medals.

Again CSKA and again Nikolishin. Only this time, Bykov was supposed not to replace Andrei Vasilyevich, but to win competition from him for the place vacated after Kvartalnov. The media simply called these two names the new head coach of the “army men”, but later Igor Esmantovich took out a card with his namesake Nikitin. And I did not guess.

Vyacheslav Bykov and Alexander Krylov. Both sides do not hide the fact that there were negotiations between them four years ago. But the outstanding coach could not accept the offer of a new person for the hockey world. Instead, he appointed Avant-garde Canadian Bob Hartley. As in the case of CSKA, the alternative candidate brought Bykov the Gagarin Cup.

“When a team loses, there are rumors of dismissal, it’s disrespectful to a well-deserved coach. Can I lead Ak Bars? That’s not a question for me.”, – the club turned away from the option of working in Kazan before deciding to say goodbye to Znetula Bilyaletdinov. Bykov’s candidacy arose due to his involvement in the work of the club academy together with Zakharkin.

“During my time working in different clubs away from my relatives, we have to pay off the debts owed to the family! There are those life values ​​that need to be respected!”– This is how Bykov answered the question of why he again rejected Krylov.

It seems that now once and for all you have to forget about Bykov as a coach. Remember their achievements, review their team’s best matches, and even ask for an opinion. But definitely not finding new directions where it wouldn’t go. Vyacheslav Arkadyevich, 61, is an ordinary pensioner from Switzerland.