Gazzaev Valery

Date of birth: 07.08.1954

Place of birth. Born in Ordzhonikidze (now Vladikavkaz), North Ossetian ASSR).

Player career. Started in 'Spartak' (Ordzhonikidze), (1970-1973, 1975), then played for SKA (Rostov-on-Don) (1974), 'Lokomotiv' (Moscow) (1976-1978), 'Dynamo' (Moscow) (1979-1985) and 'Dynamo' (Tbilisi) (1986).

Played 283 matches in the USSR championships, scored 89 goals.

Owner of the USSR Cup in 1984.

Member of the Grigory Fedotov club of strikers (117 goals).

Bronze medalist of the 1980 Olympic Games.

Two-time winner of the European youth championships (1976 and 1980).

Coaching career. Valery Gazzaev began his coaching career in 1989, leading 'Spartak' from Ordzhonikidze. In two years, the team transformed from an outsider to the leader of the First League of the USSR and won a ticket to the top league.

From 1991 to 1993, Valery Gazzaev led Moscow's 'Dynamo', but after not achieving significant success with this capital club, he resigned. The coach returned to his native Vladikavkaz and took charge of the newly formed team - 'Alania', with which he won the Russian championship in 1995, breaking the monopoly of Moscow 'Spartak'. Valery Gazzaev worked at 'Alania' for five years, but he could not achieve more with the modest team.

In 2001, he returned to Moscow 'Dynamo', but the second attempt at this club was unsuccessful as well. Only after taking over CSKA at the end of 2001 did Valery Gazzaev realize his coaching potential. By spring 2002, the 'army men' won the Cup of Russia for the first time, and a year later became champions of the country. Under Valery Gazzaev's leadership, CSKA never dropped below third place in the championship and never finished a season without winning a trophy.

In 2002-2003, Valery Gazzaev led the national team of Russia, which was then fighting for a place in the European Championship 2004. Starting the qualification with two victories, the Russian team then lost to Georgia and Albania, after which the coach left his position.

In the 2004/2005 season, CSKA under Valery Gazzaev won the UEFA Cup for the first time in the history of Russian football.

In the middle of the 2007/2008 season, due to the team's unsuccessful performance in both the Russian championship and the European cups, there was talk of Valery Gazzaev's imminent departure. However, CSKA president Evgeny Giner assured that he fully trusted the coach and had no intentions to dismiss him in the near future. But in July 2008 it was announced that by mutual agreement with the president of CSKA, Valery Gazzaev decided to leave the team, although he agreed to finish the season. The main reason for his departure was Valery Gazzaev's psychological fatigue.

On May 25, 2009, Valery Gazzaev was appointed head coach of 'Dynamo' (Kiev).

In one of his first interviews, he promised to win the Champions League in three years. In the group stage of the Champions League 2009/2010, 'Dynamo' under Valery Gazzaev gained five points and finished last in the group, leaving the European cups. In the 2009/2010 Ukrainian championship, 'Dynamo' under the Russian coach took second place, trailing 'Shakhtar' by six points (22 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses).

In the 2010/2011 season, 'Dynamo' could not pass to the group round of the Champions League, losing in qualifying to Amsterdam's 'Ajax', and went to play in the Europa League. The debut match against Belarusian BATE ended in a draw 2:2. At the post-match press conference, Valery Gazzaev hinted that he might leave the team. However, it later became known that the coach's resignation was not accepted.

On September 30, 'Dynamo' lost 0:2 away to Tiraspol's 'Sheriff' in the match of the second round of the Europa League group stage. The next day it became known that the president of 'Dynamo' Igor Surkis accepted the resignation of the head coach of the team.

On January 11, 2011, Valery Gazzaev was introduced as president of FC 'Alania' (Vladikavkaz). This was already the second arrival of the specialist at 'Alania' - he served as head coach of the team from 1994 to 1999, leading the Vladikavkaz team to the gold medals of the Russian championship in 1995. As head coach of the club, Gazzaev appointed his son Vladimir.

In 2012, he was a trusted person of the Prime Minister and presidential candidate of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

On November 14, 2012, Valery Gazzaev replaced Vladimir Gazzaev as head coach (combining the position of president of the club). In summer 2013, his son Vladimir replaced his father as head coach.

In February 2014, the football club 'Alania', managed by Gazzaev, ceased to exist.

In the 2016 elections, he was elected to the State Duma of the VII convocation, heading the North Caucasian regional group of the party list of the 'Fair Russia' party, which he joined on June 26, 2016. He was the deputy chairman of the committee on physical culture and sports.

Achievements. Champion of Russia 1995, 2003, 2005, 2006.

Silver medalist of the Russian championship 1996,