# Viktor Tikhonov

> Soviet ice hockey coach (1930–2014)

**Wikidata**: [Q392127](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q392127)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Tikhonov_(ice_hockey,_born_1930))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/viktor-tikhonov

## Summary
Viktor Tikhonov was a Soviet ice hockey coach and former ice hockey player who lived from 1930 to 2014. He is best known for his nearly five-decade career in ice hockey spanning from 1949 to 1996, during which he became one of the most decorated coaches in Soviet sports history.

## Biography
- Nationality: Soviet Union / Russia
- Known for: Directing ice hockey teams as a coach over a career spanning 1949–1996
- Field(s): Ice Hockey (playing and coaching)
- Work Period: 1949–1996

## Contributions
Viktor Tikhonov dedicated 47 years to ice hockey as both a player and coach. His professional involvement began in 1949 and continued through 1996, covering the majority of the Soviet Union's existence and extending into the post-Soviet Russian Federation era. He earned recognition as both a Master of Sport of the USSR and a Merited Coach of the USSR, prestigious athletic and coaching titles within the Soviet sporting system.

## FAQs

**What was Viktor Tikhonov's role in ice hockey?**
He served as both an ice hockey player and later as an ice hockey coach responsible for directing teams.

**How long did Viktor Tikhonov's career last?**
His professional work period in ice hockey spanned from 1949 to 1996, totaling 47 years in the sport.

**What sporting titles did Viktor Tikhonov hold?**
He held the titles of Master of Sport of the USSR and Merited Coach of the USSR, both prestigious honors in the Soviet athletic system.

**What awards did Viktor Tikhonov receive?**
He received numerous Soviet and Russian state decorations including the Order of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of Friendship of Peoples, Order of Honour, and Order of Friendship, along with multiple military and commemorative medals.

## Why They Matter
Viktor Tikhonov's significance lies in his extraordinary longevity and influence in Soviet ice hockey over nearly five decades. His career bridged two distinct political eras—the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and the Russian Federation—making him a rare figure who shaped the sport across a transformative period in the region's history. The breadth of his awards, ranging from the highest Soviet decoration (Order of Lenin) to multiple Russian Federation honors, reflects his sustained prominence. His recognition as both a Master of Sport and Merited Coach demonstrates rare achievement at every level of the sport.

## Notable For
- Career spanning 47 years in ice hockey (1949–1996)
- Recipient of the Order of Lenin, the highest Soviet decoration
- Held both Master of Sport of the USSR and Merited Coach of the USSR titles
- Decorated with the Order of the October Revolution and Order of the Red Banner of Labour
- Received the Order of Friendship of Peoples (Soviet) and both the Order of Honour and Order of Friendship (Russian Federation)
- Awarded the Medal "For Battle Merit" for military service
- Received the Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands"
- Held the Jubilee Medal commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Lenin's birth
- Awarded military service medals for Veterans of the Armed Forces of the USSR
- Received four Jubilee Medals for Armed Forces anniversaries (40, 50, 60, and 70 years)

## Body

### Identity and Background
Viktor Vasilyevich Tikhonov (1930–2014) was a Soviet ice hockey coach and former ice hockey player. His career unfolded primarily within the Soviet Union, a former Eurasian country that existed from 1922 to 1991, and continued into the modern Russian Federation established on December 25, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

### Career Timeline
Tikhonov's professional engagement in ice hockey began in 1949 and concluded in 1996. This work period encompassed his time as both an ice hockey player and as a coach directing ice hockey teams. His career thus spanned the majority of the Soviet era and the early years of the post-Soviet Russian state.

### Soviet Awards and Honors
Tikhonov received some of the highest civilian and military decorations available in the Soviet Union:

**State Orders:**
- **Order of Lenin** — established April 6, 1930, this was the highest decoration awarded by the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991
- **Order of the October Revolution** — established October 31, 1967
- **Order of the Red Banner of Labour** — established September 7, 1928
- **Order of Friendship of Peoples** — established December 17, 1972

**Military Decorations:**
- **Medal "For Battle Merit"** — established October 17, 1938
- **Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR"** — established May 20, 1976

**Commemorative Jubilee Medals:**
- **Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"** — established December 18, 1957
- **Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"** — established December 26, 1967
- **Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"** — established January 28, 1978
- **Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"** — established January 28, 1988
- **Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin"** — established November 5, 1969

**Other Soviet Awards:**
- **Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands"** — established October 26, 1956

### Russian Federation Recognition
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Tikhonov continued to receive state recognition from the Russian Federation:
- **Order of Honour** — a state award established March 2, 1994
- **Order of Friendship** — a state award established March 2, 1994

### Sporting Titles
Within the Soviet athletic system, Tikhonov earned two significant honors:
- **Master of Sport of the USSR** — a Soviet athletic title established in 1935
- **Merited Coach of the USSR** — an honorary sporting title established March 24, 1956, and awarded until 1992

### Digital Presence and Documentation
Tikhonov's legacy is documented across 31 sitelinks in knowledge bases, with his Wikipedia entry specifically titled "Viktor Tikhonov (ice hockey, born 1930)" to distinguish him from potential namesakes.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Eurohockey.com
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Library of Congress Authorities
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013