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Ilya KazakovRussian football commentator, journalist
Date of Birth: 03.08.1972
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Ilya Kazakov: A Renowned Sports Commentator and Journalist
- Entry into Sports Commentary
- Career at NTV+
- Departure from NTV+
- Career at 7TV and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
- Transition to VGRTK Sport
- Major Broadcasting Moments
- Writing and Media Collaborations
- Role as Press Attaché for the Russian National Team
- Television Documentaries
- - 2006: "In the Rhythm of Tango" - actor (commentator role)
Ilya Kazakov: A Renowned Sports Commentator and Journalist
Early Life and EducationIlya Kazakov, a prominent Russian football commentator, journalist, and press attaché for the Russian national football team, was born in Moscow. His passion for football began at an early age, with his favorite teams being Donetsk Shakhtar and, until 1998, CSKA Moscow.
Kazakov graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) in February 1996 with a degree in thermal physics engineering. Despite briefly working as an engineer at RKK Energia, his true calling lay elsewhere.
Entry into Sports Commentary
In February 1996, Kazakov responded to an open casting call for sports commentators on NTV+ and successfully passed their rigorous selection process. His career took off when he was asked to replace an absent colleague for a live report during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
Career at NTV+
At NTV+, Kazakov covered various sports, including sports news, hosted two original programs, and provided commentary for the popular "Football Club" show led by Vasily Utkin. His work also extended to the hockey project led by Dmitry Fedorov.
Departure from NTV+
Seeking greater creative freedom and a higher salary, Kazakov departed from NTV+ in 2001.
Career at 7TV and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
From December 2001 to 2003, Kazakov worked at the sports channel 7TV, anchoring weekly programs on the Russian Championship ("Tomorrow's Football" and "Football Business"). Alongside Dmitry Fedorov, he also covered the 2002 FIFA World Cup as part of a special talk show called "Measure Seven Times!"
Transition to VGRTK Sport
In June 2003, Kazakov joined the newly established VGRTK Sport channel (now known as Match TV), where he has remained a key figure. He hosted the program "Football of Russia" and provided commentary for numerous football matches.
Major Broadcasting Moments
Kazakov's broadcasting credits include:- Euro 2004
- 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
- 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa
- All CSKA Moscow matches in their victorious 2005 UEFA Cup campaign, including the final in Lisbon.
Writing and Media Collaborations
Kazakov has also collaborated with various publications, such as "Izvestia," "Vedomosti.Pyatnitsa," "Football," "Football-Review," Totalfootball, PROsport, and SPORTweek. Since 2006, he has been a columnist for the newspaper "Sport. Day by Day."
Role as Press Attaché for the Russian National Team
Since May 2005, Kazakov has served as the press attaché for the Russian national football team. He maintains close relationships with former and current coaching staff, including Guus Hiddink, Alexander Borodyuk, and Igor Korneev.
Television Documentaries
- 1990s: Documentaries on Valery Nepomnyashchy and Eduard Malofeev- 2003: "History of Russian Football. 1992-2002 гг." - author and journalist
