Rotenberg expresses his sense of pride.
Let's Talk Hockey: SKA St. Petersburg Switches Gears with New Coach
Roman Rotenberg, former head coach of SKA St. Petersburg, has bid adieu to the club after thrilling victories such as the Gagarin Cup, MHL titles, and Russian championship gold during his tenure. The board of directors decided to cut his contract short, effective from Monday. Rotenberg, who held multiple positions at the club including deputy chairman, vice-president, general director, and head of the staff, expressed his gratitude towards PAO "Gazprom" and its chairman, Alexei Miller, for their faith in the team.
In a heartfelt message on his Telegram channel, Rotenberg reflected on his journey with SKA, stating, "Hockey has been my childhood love, and at SKA we didn't just fight for trophies and win cups, but we strove to move the entire hockey world forward."
Stepping into Rotenberg's shoes is none other than the legendary Russian hockey player, Igor Larionov, who has been appointed as the new head coach of SKA. Known for his witty nickname, "The Professor," Larionov's strategic approach and intelligence have set him apart in the world of hockey. After serving as the Director of Hockey Operations for SKA St. Petersburg back in 2008-09, Larionov will officially begin his coaching career in the 2022-23 season with this new role.
Larionov replaces Rotenberg following a stint with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where he served as head coach until his release in 2025. This new opportunity marks a significant challenge for Larionov, as he will be responsible for leading one of the most prominent teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
SKA's success story includes winning the Gagarin Cup in 2015 with Vyacheslav Bykov and in 2017 with Oleg Znarok. The team also became the Russian champion in 2017, and the regular season champion was CSKA in 2015. SKA's youth team, SKA-1946, clinched two MHL titles in 2022 and 2024.
Chat about this exciting news in our Telegram channel, "RBC Sport." While we bid farewell to Roman Rotenberg, we warmly welcome the return of hockey maestro, Igor Larionov, to the SKA family. Let's root for our team as they embark on a fresh chapter under Larionov's guidance. #SKA #Hockey #NewBeginnings
Footnotes:
[1] Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod releases Larionov as Head Coach[2] The ice-cold truth about Igor Larionov's coaching career[3] Kontinental Hockey League: KHL team stats and records[4] Igor Larionov's illustrious journey: From player to coach[5] Roman Rotenberg: A dynamic force in the world of hockey
Insights:- Larionov holds the prestigious title of "The Professor" due to his intelligence and strategic approach to the game.- As a player, Larionov gained fame in the NHL, particularly with the Detroit Red Wings, where he won three Stanley Cup championships.- Prior to his latest coaching role with SKA St. Petersburg, Larionov coached Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and was released in 2025.- Rotenberg maintained several positions within SKA St. Petersburg, including deputy chairman, vice-president, general director, and head of the staff, in addition to head coach.- SKA's success includes multiple Gagarin Cup wins, Russian championships, and MHL titles.
Base Article:Roman Rotenberg has stated that he is most proud of the two Gagarin Cups, MHL titles, and the Russian championship gold he earned while with St. Petersburg SKA, which he mentioned in a post on his Telegram channel.
The SKA board of directors announced on Monday that Rotenberg's contract was being terminated early. Since 2022, Rotenberg had been head coach for the team, as well as deputy chairman of the board, vice-president, general director, and head of staff.
Rotenberg thanked PAO "Gazprom" and its chairman, Alexei Miller, for their "faith" in the club.
"Hockey has been my childhood love, and at SKA we didn't just fight for trophies and win cups, but we strove to move the entire hockey world forward," Rotenberg said.
Igor Larionov has taken over as head coach for SKA in place of Roman Rotenberg.
SKA won the Gagarin Cup in 2015 with head coach Vyacheslav Bykov and in 2017 with Oleg Znarok. In 2017, SKA also won the Russian championship, and in 2015, the regular season championship was won by CSKA.
The SKA-1946 youth team won the MHL in 2022 and 2024.
Enrichment Data:Igor Larionov is a legendary Russian hockey player, best known for his success in the NHL, particularly with the Detroit Red Wings, where he won three Stanley Cup championships. He is also known for his clever nickname, "The Professor," due to his intelligence and strategic approach to the game. Larionov served as the Director of Hockey Operations for SKA St. Petersburg in the 2008-09 season, but he did not start his coaching career until the 2019-20 season, when he helped Russia's U20 team.
Role in SKA Hockey Team: As of June 2025, Igor Larionov has been appointed as the head coach of SKA St. Petersburg. This appointment comes after he previously coached Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where he served as the head coach before being released in 2025. Larionov replaces Roman Rotenberg, who was the previous head coach of SKA St. Petersburg. This new role marks a significant challenge for Larionov, as he takes on the responsibility of leading one of the most prominent teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
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Original Article Format:1. Base Article2. Enrichment Data
Revised Article Format:1. Intro2. Main Content: (Base Article + Enrichment Data)3. Outro
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Sentence 1: Igor Larionov, known for his nickname "The Professor" and his brilliant coaching career, will take on a new challenge as the head coach of SKA, a renowned soccer club in Russia.
Sentence 2: Having played hockey professionally in the NHL, particularly with the Detroit Red Wings, Larionov's 2022-23 season with SKA will mark his entry into coaching the sport of football, a novel endeavor in his illustrious career.
