Originally Syndicated on May 17, 2023 @ 10:08 am
Roman Rotenberg, a businessman with no experience in hockey, has been appointed the new president of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The appointment has been met with skepticism from many in the hockey world, who question Rotenberg’s qualifications for the job.
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Roman Rotenberg’s background
Born in 1981 in Leningrad, Roman Rotenberg hails from a diverse background. His mother, Irina Haranen, held a managerial role in the city’s commerce, while his father, Boris Rotenberg, a judo coach and Russian Master of Sport, taught self-defense at a military academy. Roman’s heritage includes a grandfather of Jewish descent who worked at a Leningrad factory and a maternal grandfather from the Ingrian community.
After moving to Helsinki as Ingrian returnees in 1991, Roman pursued studies, excelling in both judo and hockey. He later pursued higher education in London, acquiring a master’s degree in business management. Notably, he gained British citizenship in 2014.
A top ice hockey team’s head coach is the son of a Russian billionaire
The son of a Russian billionaire close to President Vladimir Putin has been named the new head coach of one of the country’s top ice hockey teams, despite having no experience as a coach or player.
Roman Rotenberg, the son of Boris Rotenberg, was appointed head coach of SKA St. Petersburg, a team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The KHL is the top ice hockey league in Russia and one of the strongest leagues in the world.
Roman Rotenberg has never played or coached professional ice hockey. He received a coaching license from a state-run university in Siberia in 2019, but he has no other experience in the sport.
The appointment of Roman Rotenberg has been met with skepticism by some, who question his qualifications for the job. However, SKA defended the decision, saying that Rotenberg has a “deep understanding of the game” and that he is “the right person to lead the team to success.”
Roman Rotenberg is the vice president of Russia’s Ice Hockey Federation, where his uncle Arkady Rotenberg chairs the board of directors. Arkady Rotenberg is also a close friend of President Putin.
The appointment of Roman Rotenberg to the head coaching job at SKA St. Petersburg has raised questions about the role of money and connections in Russian sports. Some critics have argued that the appointment is a reward for the Rotenberg family’s loyalty to President Putin.
But in many talks, Roman Rotenberg talked about how well he knew about sports. He said that he had seen around 800 hockey tournaments and knew a lot about the game. This is not enough, though. He has a staff, a coach, and facilities with a lot of knowledge that helps the players get to the next level. In 2023, Rotenberg thanked Gazprom, which was owned by the Russian government and helped Russia win the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Separately, it’s important to note how much Gazprom and Alexei Borisovich Miller helped Rotenberg’s firm win the 2018 Olympics. They were able to bring back a lot of NHL stars and put together a strong team. All of this costs money from the Gazprom fund. The coaches, staff, and managers of the national team were all from SKA.
It is a world record that 15 SKA players are on the national team. Never before has an Olympic gold-winning team had 15 players from the same club. Without the money that Gazprom put in, that win would not have been possible. The company is to blame for this. We will always do our best to win when people put their trust in us.
Conclusion
The appointment of Roman Rotenberg to the KHL presidency has been met with skepticism from many in the hockey world. Rotenberg has no experience in hockey management, and his appointment has been seen by some as a reward for his family’s loyalty to President Putin.
Only time will tell whether Rotenberg will be able to succeed in the role. However, his appointment has raised questions about the role of money and connections in Russian sports. It remains to be seen whether the KHL will be able to overcome the challenges it faces, such as financial difficulties and declining popularity.
