Herman Titov is once again in the spotlight, even if he`s not coaching a major club. His achievements with “SKA-1946” – last year`s Kharlamov Cup victory and reaching the 2025 final with a powerful comeback – are significant accomplishments. They demonstrate that Herman Mikhailovich has not lost his passion for coaching and leads his team with a strong hand.
He could, of course, have made another return to the KHL, but evidently, such a move would require more substantial reasons. His entire career, both as a player and a coach, has been a series of comebacks, some truly astonishing and even unique, starting with his very first, at the threshold of professional hockey.
His most recent return involved a demotion; the offer to coach “SKA-Junior” after stints with “Spartak,” “Avangard,” “Traktor,” and “Avtomobilist” was not considered a top-tier position. However, an unexpected promotion soon followed: he took charge of “SKA-1946” midway through the first round of the 2023-2024 MHL playoffs. The team was on the brink of elimination, and the new head coach could have easily found himself back in Krasnogorsk. Yet, Titov and his colleagues masterfully navigated the situation with distinction – his players responded, and they completed the remainder of the season almost flawlessly, culminating in a victorious final series against “Loko.” In his first full season, Titov remarked, “from late October, the team played the brand of hockey I envisioned. There was a coherent picture on the ice. It was clear that this team was prepared for significant challenges.”
It could be said that everything has aligned almost perfectly for Titov in St. Petersburg. Perhaps this is his true calling; his initial coaching experience with Novokuznetsk “Metallurg” already demonstrated Herman Mikhailovich`s skill and passion for working with young players. Back then, Titov openly stated that playing on such a young team primarily offered an opportunity for growth – and the rookie coach indeed achieved good progress with the players. A decade ago, Titov was frequently featured in the media, partly due to the intriguing mystery surrounding his figure, having firmly settled in Canada since the early 90s. While he did return to his native “Khimik” for two seasons in the mid-2000s, he then faded from public view, and everyone was curious about the experience he would bring back to Russian hockey as a coach.
The impression he made was mixed: it was noted that Titov articulated his thoughts clearly, dedicated himself fully to his work, and possessed a substantial base of knowledge and skills. However, a prolonged detachment from the realities of Russian hockey proved to be a significant challenge, and no one was willing to wait indefinitely for a new coach to implement his preferred style of play. When Titov took charge of “Spartak,” which had returned to the KHL, in May 2015, he received many accolades, but he had yet to realize that his time was limited – in this regard, Herman Mikhailovich was largely influenced by his past perceptions of coaching. Furthermore, simply understanding that the era had changed does not guarantee a quick adaptation to new realities, nor does it imply that all ideas can or should be implemented at an almost sprint-like pace.
When he left “Spartak” in October 2016, he expressed regret over the lack of time. In Omsk, Titov also failed to fully implement his system, and in Chelyabinsk, his tenure was restricted to a mere four months – by the time players began adapting to the new coach`s demands, the club management deemed his allotted time exhausted. Titov would later state that his players never truly embraced his ideas; in “Traktor,” this disconnect between plans and their execution was most apparent. The specialist`s coaching future became genuinely concerning – a pattern emerged: he arrived with hope, only to depart with disappointment. Moreover, Herman Mikhailovich himself openly admitted that coaching was challenging for him (in the mid-2010s, he confessed he “wasn`t sure about his coaching career”). This wasn`t an attempt to justify a particular failure or a sign of weakness; rather, it was an honest effort at self-reflection.
At “Avtomobilist,” he served on Bill Peters`s staff, and it became evident that Titov`s marketability as a head coach was gradually declining. The fact that he managed to “reboot” himself within the intricate SKA system is highly significant – he regained his confidence, affirmed that he was in the right place, and realized that his story was far from over. He was never afraid to start anew – a quality that consistently served him well.
…No disrespect to Titov, but even greater talents were lost, often irrevocably, on the cusp of professional teams. However, I cannot recall a single instance where a “lost” player returned three years later, except for Hera Titov. This story is remarkably rare, almost unique. Born in Borovsk, Kaluga region, his mother`s hometown and a “cosmic” town (where Konstantin Tsiolkovsky taught for several years), Herman grew up in Ramenskoye, where his parents met and worked. From childhood, he excelled equally in football and hockey, and even while training intensely with “Khimik,” he managed to play for Ramenskoye “Saturn” in the Moscow Region football championship.
Everything came effortlessly to him, and this relaxed attitude permeated not just his approach to sports but to life in general – perhaps this laid the groundwork for future challenges. Young Hera Titov was, to put it mildly, a talented but rather undisciplined youth. His coaches at the Voskresensk school grew weary of him, and one day, after a tournament in Minsk, it was supposed to be the end – the coach promised to release him if he didn`t get his act together. However, Titov was named the tournament`s best player. Vladimir Vasilyev, “Khimik`s” head coach, brought him into the senior team, and his football career ended (his father, who served as both mentor and older friend, helped him make the final decision). Yet, in the world of professional hockey, his head was so turned that after just one season, the “prodigy” (as Vasilyev called him) was dismissed.
He drifted for a year until conscription. While in the Armed Forces, he attempted to join SKA Kalinin but failed to make the team due to a complete lack of conditioning. Consequently, he was dispatched to master military science for two full years, enduring all the hardships of artillery service. This experience “straightened out his mind,” but three years away from hockey inevitably left their mark. When Vasilyev offered him his sole and final chance, Titov, by his own account, “clung to it with his teeth” and toiled with fervent dedication. Although he didn`t abandon all his bad habits (he smoked until the end of his playing career), from that point on, he never missed a single practice and never knew the word “hangover,” never allowing himself more than one day of indulgence.
He developed into a formidable center – indeed, more than just formidable, gaining strength and confidence alongside his team. “Khimik” at the turn of the 1990s deserved a championship title; the circumstances almost allowed it, but it was precisely “almost” – they fell short by the smallest margins in both the silver-winning 1989 and the bronze-winning 1990 seasons. In the early 90s, Russian hockey rapidly declined, and as a prominent center, German Titov earned a chance to join the national team. His call-up occurred in February 1991, when he donned the national team jersey alongside familiar “Khimik” linemates Dmitry Kvartalnov and Valery Zelepukin. However, Titov missed the 1991 World Championship, the 1992 Albertville Olympics, and the 1992 World Championship. It was only later, as a player for Finnish TPS, with two dozen national team appearances already under his belt, that he seized his opportunity and shone at the Russian national team`s sensationally first-ever World Championship victory in 1993 in Germany.
The line of Valery Karpov, German Titov, and Andrei Nikolishin hit its stride by the decisive games. In the quarterfinal against the host nation, goals from Karpov and Titov in the first and second periods established a lead (German`s goal ultimately proving to be the game-winner). In the semifinal against Canada, Titov scored Russia`s second goal and the seventh with five minutes remaining (Karpov also found the net). The tone for the final against “Tre Kronor” was set by Titov`s rush in the second minute and his shot over the sprawling Tommy Söderström; Nikolishin then followed up five minutes later.
Titov also became a Finnish champion. Across the ocean, the “Calgary Flames” awaited him, but Vladimir Yurzinov was extremely reluctant to release his star player, who had an exceptionally successful playoff run for TPS (5 goals and 12 assists – an SM-liiga record at the time) – Titov still had a year remaining on his contract. But German was determined; he couldn`t afford to miss this opportunity. With the “Flames`” assistance, he bought out his contract, repaying the debt to his new club while already in Canada. He credits Yurzinov, stating that if not for his season at TPS, where Titov significantly enhanced his physical conditioning, his time in North America would have been far more challenging. His relationship with his mentor remained strong; during the 1994 lockout autumn, Titov played in Turku again, and Yurzinov selected him for the silver-medal-winning Nagano 1998 Olympics (Titov played on a line with Alexei Morozov and Valery Zelepukin on the wings).
…Titov believes that almost any notable player from the Soviet top league could have succeeded in the NHL back then – their physical attributes, skating ability, technical prowess, and tactical preparation allowed for quick adaptation. (In Titov`s case, new teammates were surprised by the sheer power of the rookie`s legs, and he revealed that the secret lay in years of squats with a 100-kilogram barbell.) The crucial factor wasn`t even overcoming the natural difficulties of adaptation; it was landing with a good coach, and Dave King proved to be precisely that for Russian players. Not everyone was as fortunate as Titov, who earned King`s trust – had the “Flames” roster been stronger, they might even have contended for the Stanley Cup. However, Calgary had already claimed the ultimate prize in 1989, and their next final appearance wouldn`t come until 2004, by which time German Titov had long since moved on. The Russian player did not abandon his ingrained habits from youth even in the NHL, which for a time neither hindered him nor bothered those around him. Now, Titov admits that his overseas career could have been even more successful had he maintained a more disciplined regimen.
The saga with “Calgary,” which began so favorably and continued for a considerable time, concluded when new head coach Bryan Sutter, who exclusively favored a power hockey style, benched Titov precisely after a game where German had scored two goals and an assist – well, good fortune cannot last indefinitely. He had already established a reputation as a very consistent and respected player, a reputation he maintained during his time in “Pittsburgh.” Things became more challenging in “Anaheim,” and it wasn`t merely due to his age; this period was marked by two consecutive tragedies involving close family members, as German lost both his father and brother in quick succession. To compound matters, he himself nearly died from severe poisoning, requiring a year for recovery, and ultimately ended his playing career back with his beloved “Khimik” before its relocation to Mytishchi – in the year he was mistakenly thought to be turning 40.
…Such was his extraordinary destiny, which promised an equally remarkable continuation after his playing career. And indeed, it is unfolding that way – with its share of fluctuations, doubts, disappointments, and newfound successes. For young hockey players, German Titov serves as a living example of someone who accomplished much but could have achieved even more, a lesson the coach constantly reiterates to his players. A didactic tone is absent, however; his natural irony prevents any pedantry.
He was named, naturally, after cosmonaut number two, but he was never actually called “The Cosmonaut.” He once coincidentally met his famous namesake in Los Angeles. The other Titov, German Stepanovich, upon being introduced to his “double,” was slightly surprised but didn`t betray it. Many things happen in life, after all.
Dossier
Herman Mikhailovich TITOV. Born October 16, 1965, in Borovsk, Kaluga Oblast. Soviet and Russian ice hockey player, center, coach. Honored Master of Sports (1993).
Player Career
- 1982-1983 – “Khimik” (Voskresensk)
- 1986-1992 – “Khimik”
- 1992-1993 – TPS (Turku, Finland)
- 1993-1998 – “Calgary”
- 1994 – TPS
- 1998-2000 – “Pittsburgh”
- 2000 – “Edmonton”
- 2000-2002 – “Anaheim”
- 2003-2005 – “Khimik”
- In the elite domestic hockey (9 seasons) – 341 matches, 68 goals, and 84 assists.
- In super series – 13 games, 2 goals, and 5 assists.
- In NHL regular seasons (9 seasons) – 624 games, 157 goals, and 220 assists.
- In NHL playoffs – 34 matches, 11 goals, and 12 assists.
- In Finnish SM-liiga (2 seasons) – 61 games, 31 goals, and 12 assists.
- In Finnish SM-liiga playoffs – 12 games, 5 goals, and 12 assists.
- In the national teams of USSR, CIS, and Russia – 33 matches, 10 goals.
- At World Championships and Olympic Games – 14 matches, 5 goals, and 2 assists.
Achievements
- Olympic silver medalist 1998.
- World Champion 1993.
- Silver medalist of the USSR Championship 1989, bronze medalist 1990.
- Finnish Champion 1993.
Coaching Career
- 2013 – “Metallurg” (Novokuznetsk), assistant
- 2013-2015 – “Metallurg”
- 2015-2016 – “Spartak” (Moscow)
- 2017 – “Omskie Yastreby”
- 2017-2018 – “Avangard” (Omsk)
- 2018 – “Traktor” (Chelyabinsk)
- 2020-2022 – “Avtomobilist” (Yekaterinburg), assistant
- 2023-2024 – “SKA-Junior” (Krasnogorsk)
- Since 2024 – “SKA-1946” (Saint Petersburg)
Achievements (Coaching)
- Kharlamov Cup winner and MHL Champion 2024.
- MHL Finalist and silver medalist 2025.