"I have always been sincere in my attitude to business": hockey coach Riha died at the age of 62

On September 1, at the age of 62, famous ice hockey coach Milos Riha died.

According to media reports, the cause of death was thrombophlebitis caused by varicose veins.

For the past few weeks, the specialist has been undergoing treatment at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, where he was delivered on 18 August.

Then, practically nothing was known about the reasons for hospitalization.

It was only noted that recently his health condition has deteriorated sharply.

Prior to that, the specialist had had a coronavirus.

The son of coach Milos Riha Jr. did not specify the cause of death, only noting that the last month of his father's life was spent in a struggle.

“I thank the family and all those closest to us who were with us and tried their best.

And I would like to sincerely thank my father for everything he has always done for others.

I would like to ask the entire hockey movement, fans and friends to honor the memory of my father and remember him only in the best possible way, ”Riha Jr. quotes Sport Express with reference to the Czech edition of iSport.cz.

Riha's track record included a number of Czech teams, but he was especially close to Russian hockey.

From 2005 to 2006, the coach was headed by Chemist, later renamed Atlant.

From December 2007 to October 2010, he was in charge of Spartak.

After his dismissal, he returned to the Mytishchi team and, bringing it to the final, won silver medals in the Gagarin Cup.

Then the Czech worked in the St. Petersburg SKA and Omsk "Avangard".

In the summer of 2017, Riha took over at the helm of the Czech national team.

For three years, her best result was reaching the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup.

The specialist hoped to continue working in the national team, despite the cancellation of the 2020 planet championship.

At the same time, it was reported that his next place of work could be the Kazakhstani "Barys".

"Hero of our time"

Riha's premature death shocked the entire hockey world.

Forward of "Spartak" and the Czech national team Lukas Radil noted the importance of his figure not only for Czech, but also for Russian sports and the KHL.

According to the player, his coaching career was much brighter than that of most of his compatriots.

“Among other things, Milos was just a wonderful person.

The real part, the soul of the team.

This is a very big loss.

He was going to win the world championship with the team this year and once again prove to everyone that he is worth something.

This is the whole Riha.

He always said, “Don't think about the consequences.

Give everything, give yourself.

Only then will you feel the return, ”Radil recalled.

They expressed their condolences in connection with the coach's death to SKA, Spartak, Avangard, Salavat Yulaev and other teams.

The leadership of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) allowed the teams to spend a minute of silence in his memory.

Already intend to use the permission red-white in the first away and home matches of the new season.

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Many noted not only the coaching, but also the human qualities of Riha.

Thus, a member of the SKA board of directors, Alexander Medvedev, called him "a hero of our time", whose entire path was characterized by a passion for hockey and life.

“Wherever he worked, in the Czech Republic or Russia, he gave himself completely and enjoyed the authority of both the coaching community and the players.

He found approaches to all hockey players so that they could reveal their best qualities.

Rzhiga is a talented person with a sense of humor who could joke himself and understand jokes, ”TASS quotes Medvedev.

The ex-mentor of Wings of the Soviets Andrei Potaychuk admitted that it was hard for him to believe what had happened, given the fact that a month ago they talked and nothing foreshadowed a tragedy.

Rzhiga also had friendly relations with the current head coach of Spartak Oleg Znark.

“He was not like anyone else - emotional, ebullient, purposeful.

I was always captivated by his indifference to team results - he was ready to fight and fight for the victory himself and in the same way set his hockey players to fight.

It was difficult to play against his teams - you had to be prepared for the fact that the opponent would start working on the ice from the first to the last second.

Under Rzhig, players went to the match with glowing eyes, ”Znarok said.

Former head coach of the Russian national team Vyacheslav Bykov noted that the Czech left a big mark in hockey.

According to him, he possessed the character of a winner, and his energy was invariably transmitted to the wards, who went out on the ice, charged for the result.

“Pan Milos has always been an extraordinary person.

Impulsive, not indifferent to his work, to which he devoted his whole life.

Rzhiga has always devoted himself completely to the game.

All his actions and gestures were confirmed by the fact that he was on the same wavelength with the team, and the guys were charged with this and did their job better, "Bykov told the Championship.

Famous Russian functionary Leonid Vaysfeld noted Rzhiga's contribution to the game between SKA and Atlanta.

According to him, the specialist showed himself as a true professional who managed to bring the teams to a new level.

“This is a big loss for both the KHL and the entire world hockey. I remember Milosz as a cheerful person who was always sincere in his attitude to business. As for his work in the league, here one immediately recalls the times of his work in the St. Petersburg SKA and the Moscow region "Atlanta" ... Despite all the difficulties, Rzhiga did not betray his principles and demanded maximum return from hockey players in every game, "Weissfeld said. Sport24.