Famous former defender of several clubs KHL Nikita Shields told RB Sport that with the head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov “AK Bars” will be a big favorite in the Eastern Conference next season.
The new deal with Bilyaletdinov runs until the end of the 2023/24 season.
– In fact, I had no doubt that Bilyaletdinov would stay. Ak Bars next season will be one of the main favorites in the East. For their part, the colossal experience of the head coach, as well as a good and balanced squad, which has undergone only minimal changes.
Ak Bars has been bolstered by quality players. Congratulations to the management of the club and the leadership of the republic for the fact that they have such a team, and Zinetula Bilyaletdinov will always delight our fans. His colleagues will have the opportunity to learn from this coach. Some media write that Ak Bars needs to strengthen the defense. But Bilyaletdinov, thanks to his experience, can turn a young player into a quality defender for many years. There are many examples. It’s great that Kazan signed such a coach, – said Shields.
Bilyaletdinov managed Ak Bars at the end of December 2022. Under him, the Kazan club took first place in the Eastern Conference, then reached the final of the Gagarin Cup, where they lost to CSKA in the series ( 3-4) in seven matches.
Bilyaletdinov won three Gagarin Cups with Ak Bars (2009, 2010, 2018) and led the Kazan team to the final twice (2015, 2023).
RB Sports
Source : MatchTV
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