On Wednesday, the famous striker of Dynamo Vladimir Kozlov turns 80 years old!
Vladimir Vladimirovich was born in Moscow and came through the CSKA Moscow youth academy. He began his senior career at Lokomotiv, and in 1967, he transferred to Dynamo Moscow, where he scored in his very first match to secure a derby victory against Torpedo. In just 10 years with the White-Blues, Kozlov scored 73 goals in 217 matches and remains the sixth-highest scorer in the club's history.
He was one of the most technically skilled forwards of his time, with an impeccable understanding of combination play and an exceptional shooting technique. He could easily beat half an opposing team single-handedly, but he more often preferred to create combinations with his teammates.
Unfortunately, injuries marred the talented forward's career, forcing him to retire at the age of 30, having won two USSR Cups and silver medals in the national championship with Dynamo Moscow.
That same year, 1976, he received a higher education in physical education, and later graduated from the coaching school and immediately began passing on his experience to young Dynamo players at the club's academy. Over many years of fruitful work, he developed such players as Vasily Kulkov, Vladimir Beschatnykh, brothers Alexey and Oleg Morozov, and Anton Shunin. Both of his twin sons also graduated from the Dynamo academy, and one of them, Alexey, even made it to the main team.
Vladimir Vladimirovich still works for the Lev Yashin Academy as a junior coach and is actively involved in the Dynamo veterans' movement.
We congratulate Vladimir Vladimirovich on his anniversary and wish him good health, inexhaustible optimism, vitality, peace of mind, and Dynamo victories!