The final of the club volleyball season in Russia was remembered not only by the scandal with the head coach of the women’s Lokomotiv, but also by the unexpected defeat of the men’s Zenit on their native Kazan soil.

The offenders of the wards of Alexei Verbov in the semi-finals were the volleyball players of the Moscow Dynamo, who later won the championship. Second year in a row. The main libero of the team is the Finnish star Lauri Kerminen, who spends his entire cool career in Russia and admits that he really likes it. That is why no one was surprised when the volleyball player decided to stay in the club, despite the example of his compatriots from hockey.

It turned out that Lauri is simply more cunning and greedy. As soon as the contract ended, the Finn surprised with his new look.

A Finnish volleyball player is a rather exotic combination of words for many sports fans. The Suomi team has never been among the winners of major international tournaments, and its players are clearly not well known. However, more attentive Russian fans warmly treat the representatives of the “land of a thousand lakes” solely due to the success of coach Sammelvuo, who first at the club level, and later at the helm of the Russian national team, achieved memorable results.

Photo: © VK “Kuzbass”

Tuomas previously coached the Finnish team, in which the future team leader Lauri Kerminen took the first steps. The young man began his career in 2011 in the Kokkolan Tikkerit team, two years later he won his native championship, then he played for the French Nantes for one season and ended up in Kemerovo.

In Kuzbass, the libero quickly adapted and became a real favorite of the public. I must say that Lauri was also grateful to the Siberian hospitality.

– First of all, I would mention people. They are more open, sincere, smile more, unlike Europeans, Muscovites, – he said in the fall of 2018 to the Kuzbass club website.

Photo: © VK “Kuzbass”

This season has become the most successful for the volleyball player in the club. “Kuzbass” for the first time became the champion of Russia, and the Finnish athlete was the best in reception among all the players in the championship.

— Kerminen is a top player. I think it’s safe to say that he is one of the top ten liberos in world volleyball. Lauri has a lot of experience, he will help us in the Champions League games, as well as in the training process. It will be very useful for our attacking players to play against such a high-class libero every day,” said Dynamo head coach Konstantin Bryansky in the summer of 2020 after signing a contract with the Finn.

Thus, Lauri went on promotion, but in the first season for the Moscow club he could only play in international tournaments, as he was already the third legionnaire. According to the regulations, two foreign players can play in the Russian Super League.

Success in the Champions League did not happen, but Dynamo won the EKB Cup, and Kerminen held the tournament as the main libero. The next season again became triumphant in terms of results, but not in terms of emotions. After the victory in the final over Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, Lauri celebrated, but in his heart he rejoiced at the imminent return to his homeland, because for the last three months he had remained at the club only for the sake of money.

Photo: © VC “Dynamo”

In an interview with the Finnish Yle, the volleyball player admits that he made a mistake when he posted a photo on a social network after the final.

— There was a lot of criticism in the messages. For example, some called for me to be put in jail,” Kerminen shares the details of the correspondence.

Pressure from the Europeans on their athletes who remained in Russia is already a common thing. And in the case of the Finnish volleyball player, his continuation of his career at Dynamo looked logical. Still, he won all his main trophies in our country. But, as it turned out after the end of the championship, Lauri did not stay at all out of devotion.

— I wanted to leave the team immediately. First I contacted my manager and we discussed everything. Next, I went to the club president and the CEO to ask for the termination of the agreement. The next day I received information that I could leave, but it costs money. The amount was impressive. It was a complete shock. Since the amount was so huge, I had to stay in Russia for financial reasons, Kerminen admits in an interview.

Photo: © VC “Dynamo”

The volleyball player also complains that the International Volleyball Federation did not help the athletes in Russia in any way and did not suspend contracts, as was done in football. Obviously, if Lauri had the opportunity to leave without losing money, he would have done it instantly.

Given this fact, it is completely incomprehensible why the Finn is now trying to express his position. His opinion is no longer worth anything, because when he had the opportunity to leave the club, he literally sold himself for an amount he understood.

It is clear that Lauri wants to appear good to his fans, but it turns out quite the opposite. It is unlikely that the Finns will understand their compatriot, looking at the example of Hartikkainen and other hockey players who left the KHL instantly. And now the Russians, who once greatly appreciated him, will take up arms against the unique libero. But Kerminen simply sold the respect of the fans for money.