The former HC Rostov-Don head coach Tomas Hlavaty summed up the 2021/2022 season in the interview to press-service and answered the main questions.
— You worked with different coaches in the club and in national team. Cn you tell about the experience you got?
— Yes, I worked with many people. You always learn from someone, because being a coach means constant training — every day, any moment, both from colleagues and players. A coach can’t be ideal, you should always be more ambitious and learn new things every second. When I came with Ambros (Ambros Martin, the head coach of Rostov-Don 2018-2020), I learned a lot from him. That’s why his work style is rather close to what I do. After that I worked with Per (Per Johansson, the head coach of Rostov-Don 2020-2022), who had also his own approach. There was a lot to be learned, find something new and analyze. I also met with Russian coaches from the national team. I found out about the mentally of Russian nation and the way the players think.
— You passed the path from assistant to the head coach. What was it like?
— I came to Rostov as the head coach’s assistant, because Ambros invited me on this position. I supposed it would be a good opportunity to become better. To be a head coach had always been and would be my ambition. You have to work hard as an assistant in order the players and the club could entrust you the position of the leader. This kind of work is completely different from the assistant’s activity: being an assistant you should be friendly, be the coach’s right hand, agree with him even if your opinion differs. It’s necessary to keep the line, it’s important in pair work. While holding the position of a head coach, you are the one who makes decisions. And that’s what I like to do.
— You spent four years in Russia. Did this country become special to you?
— While working in Europe, I studied several languages. I used to think there was no necessity in Russian language, because it seemed difficult to become a coach in Russia. Literary immediately after these thoughts I received an offer to work in this country. During four years in Russia, when I worked in the club and national team, I was everywhere: Rostov-Don played in the Champions League, the national team — on European an World championships, the Olympic Games. Thanks to that I was growing as a coach constantly. Of course, these four years are written in my life in capital letters.
— Our players speak well of you. Julia Managarova called you ‘our guy’. Is it nice to hear such things?
— When I hear something pleasant to my address from the players, I feel really good. When something goes wrong, it’s the coach’s mistake, if something is developing well — it’s the merit of the players. I was very pleased witness words of Mani (Julia Managarova, the Capitan of Rostov-Don). Coaches usually say that the players are behind the back. And I believe that the players are standing next to me. When such a tigress as Julia Managarova is close to you, it’s always good. Julia was the password, if you write down it this way, she will understand what I mean. It’s the merit of the whole team, but I speak about Julia, because we talk about her words. I can name all the players, as each of them was next to me and worked hard.
— The season 2021/22 finished triumphantly: gold of the championship, love and support of fans. Why did you make a decision to leave?
— It was fantastic from fans. I’ve never seen so much support as we received from them — everything that was after the final, when we won: people near us, around the bus, their positive at that moment. Their warm words during the time whet if was difficult for us, when we didn’t win the Russian Cup, gave us support and forces to go forward. Fans created enormous energy and shared it with us. We are thankful to everyone who came to arena or rooted for us outside the stadium.
As for leaving the club… You are aware of the situation in the world, I wouldn’t like to speak about it. Everyone has own opinion on the matter. I had worked for four years in the club and maybe it’s time when the team needs fresh air and a new coach who can give something new to it. But I don’t say that close the Rostov-Don door.
Photo: press service of HC Rostov-Don
