Ilnar Misbakhov: «That's probably the most interesting thing – watching their development»
30.06.2026
Reaktor Head Coach Ilnar Misbakhov speaks with the media for the first time since his appointment.
– Ilnar Misbakhov, how did you spend your vacation?
– I spent my vacation at home, without going anywhere. Time flew by. I tried to visit all my relatives, friends, and my mother in Naberezhnye Chelny. The rest of the time, I spent at home with my family. My wife is currently studying, and my daughter is taking exams.
– How do you feel about taking on this new position?
– When I was appointed, I was satisfied and happy. I feel a great sense of responsibility. It's a completely different job, now I have more responsibility. It's a completely different job. At the end of last season, I served as acting head coach for two months, and I felt the difference. When you're an assistant coach, your job is to help the head coach in any situation. When you become the head coach, you take on all the responsibility and make all the decisions yourself.
– What's the most fundamental difference – being a head coach rather than an assistant coach?
– Igor Viktorovich Fyodorov and I worked side by side. Now, in any situation, the decision is mine. When I'm reviewing players, I decide who to take and who, to tell that they're not going to be in the roster. These moments are uncomfortable, but they're part of coaching. The responsibility has increased significantly.
– Did you have a coach/mentor you looked up to? Whose style is your favorite?
– The first and foremost is Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov. I came to Nizhnekamsk at 16 from Naberezhnye Chelny – you could say, off the streets, because we didn't have a hockey arena; we played outside. Alexander Yuryevich helped me to join Neftekhimik-2 and gave me my start in hockey. He also hired me as a coach on his staff when I finished my hockey career. We worked together in Samara. So, I learned from him both as a player and as a coach. Then we worked for four years with Igor Fedorov. But we share the same system, Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov. The style is the same.
– What kind of hockey do you want to see from your team?
– Active and attacking hockey. Scoring a lot, conciding as less goals as possible and making fewer mistakes. The main thing is for the fans to enjoy it. Last season, we played well on the power play, leading the league in scoring. That's a very good result. But we also conceded a lot – both on the penalty kill and at even strength. We need to improve that.
– What's the special process of working with a youth team?
– New young players are constantly coming in. You work for three or four years, and then 15- or 16-year-olds come back, some even 17 – and it all starts again. You instill in them physicality, psychology, technical skills, and a system of play. And you watch them grow. That's probably the most interesting thing – watching their development.
– How do you handle player mistakes? Will risk-taking be strictly prohibited, or will you allow them to be creative?
– You let them play, have playing time. If a player constantly makes mistakes, you can't tell them to keep making mistakes. We're all about team results. Any mistake can impact the outcome of the entire team's game. You correct them, guide them, and even give them a few minutes to understand that they shouldn't do that. They have to learn from their mistakes. There's no other way. Hockey players have a system, a discipline. For example, you have to play strictly defensively. If you make a mistake, the team will concede a goal, perhaps because of you. You can't give up pucks in the neutral zone, but in the offensive zone, feel free to improvise and try to contribute. Nothing is forbidden there. Once you're in the zone, spread your wings.
– What are your goals for this season – both tournament and coaching?
– The club always has the highest goals. To make the play – in, to try to make the playoffs. And, of course, to develop our young players. They're still there. We strive to produce as many players as possible for the KHL level.
– You were a young player at this club yourself – what do you remember from that time?
– Well, those are the most vivid memories. I was 16 years old, I had just joined the Neftekhimik-2 team. Then, within two years, we won the Volga Region First League championship. And in two years, thanks to Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov, I reached the Super League level – now the KHL. A year spent in the Super League. Time flies. Those were good years.
– What will be the main indicator for you that the season was a success?
– We had a lot of guys go to the KHL last year, this year some will go to the VHL, to Naberezhnye Chelny, and, God willing, some guys will make it to the KHL. I think this is the most important indicator for a youth team coach. If our young players can reach the JHL level now and even make a positive impact there, that would be a big deal.
– What would you like to say to the fans who will be following the team this season?
– I wish for as many fans as possible to gather in the stands, to bring as many friends, classmates, relatives, and grandparents of our players as possible. As many as possible, because it's really nice to play in front of a nearly full stadium. We'd really like to play in front of a full stadium. And we, for our part, will do our best and bring you results and great, exciting games.
– I spent my vacation at home, without going anywhere. Time flew by. I tried to visit all my relatives, friends, and my mother in Naberezhnye Chelny. The rest of the time, I spent at home with my family. My wife is currently studying, and my daughter is taking exams.
– How do you feel about taking on this new position?
– When I was appointed, I was satisfied and happy. I feel a great sense of responsibility. It's a completely different job, now I have more responsibility. It's a completely different job. At the end of last season, I served as acting head coach for two months, and I felt the difference. When you're an assistant coach, your job is to help the head coach in any situation. When you become the head coach, you take on all the responsibility and make all the decisions yourself.
– What's the most fundamental difference – being a head coach rather than an assistant coach?
– Igor Viktorovich Fyodorov and I worked side by side. Now, in any situation, the decision is mine. When I'm reviewing players, I decide who to take and who, to tell that they're not going to be in the roster. These moments are uncomfortable, but they're part of coaching. The responsibility has increased significantly.
– Did you have a coach/mentor you looked up to? Whose style is your favorite?
– The first and foremost is Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov. I came to Nizhnekamsk at 16 from Naberezhnye Chelny – you could say, off the streets, because we didn't have a hockey arena; we played outside. Alexander Yuryevich helped me to join Neftekhimik-2 and gave me my start in hockey. He also hired me as a coach on his staff when I finished my hockey career. We worked together in Samara. So, I learned from him both as a player and as a coach. Then we worked for four years with Igor Fedorov. But we share the same system, Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov. The style is the same.
– What kind of hockey do you want to see from your team?
– Active and attacking hockey. Scoring a lot, conciding as less goals as possible and making fewer mistakes. The main thing is for the fans to enjoy it. Last season, we played well on the power play, leading the league in scoring. That's a very good result. But we also conceded a lot – both on the penalty kill and at even strength. We need to improve that.
– What's the special process of working with a youth team?
– New young players are constantly coming in. You work for three or four years, and then 15- or 16-year-olds come back, some even 17 – and it all starts again. You instill in them physicality, psychology, technical skills, and a system of play. And you watch them grow. That's probably the most interesting thing – watching their development.
– How do you handle player mistakes? Will risk-taking be strictly prohibited, or will you allow them to be creative?
– You let them play, have playing time. If a player constantly makes mistakes, you can't tell them to keep making mistakes. We're all about team results. Any mistake can impact the outcome of the entire team's game. You correct them, guide them, and even give them a few minutes to understand that they shouldn't do that. They have to learn from their mistakes. There's no other way. Hockey players have a system, a discipline. For example, you have to play strictly defensively. If you make a mistake, the team will concede a goal, perhaps because of you. You can't give up pucks in the neutral zone, but in the offensive zone, feel free to improvise and try to contribute. Nothing is forbidden there. Once you're in the zone, spread your wings.
– What are your goals for this season – both tournament and coaching?
– The club always has the highest goals. To make the play – in, to try to make the playoffs. And, of course, to develop our young players. They're still there. We strive to produce as many players as possible for the KHL level.
– You were a young player at this club yourself – what do you remember from that time?
– Well, those are the most vivid memories. I was 16 years old, I had just joined the Neftekhimik-2 team. Then, within two years, we won the Volga Region First League championship. And in two years, thanks to Alexander Yuryevich Sokolov, I reached the Super League level – now the KHL. A year spent in the Super League. Time flies. Those were good years.
– What will be the main indicator for you that the season was a success?
– We had a lot of guys go to the KHL last year, this year some will go to the VHL, to Naberezhnye Chelny, and, God willing, some guys will make it to the KHL. I think this is the most important indicator for a youth team coach. If our young players can reach the JHL level now and even make a positive impact there, that would be a big deal.
– What would you like to say to the fans who will be following the team this season?
– I wish for as many fans as possible to gather in the stands, to bring as many friends, classmates, relatives, and grandparents of our players as possible. As many as possible, because it's really nice to play in front of a nearly full stadium. We'd really like to play in front of a full stadium. And we, for our part, will do our best and bring you results and great, exciting games.
