Julius Supler
Latvia- Julius Šupler: A Slovak Hockey Legend
- Success with Dukla Trenčín and the Slovak National Team
- International Experience and Club Achievements
- Second Term with the Slovak National Team and Return to Riga
- Recognition and Accolades
- Coaching Moscow CSKA and HC Donbass
- Personal Life and Quirks
- Family and Legacy
Julius Šupler: A Slovak Hockey Legend
Early Life and Coaching CareerJulius Šupler was born on October 27, 1950, in Poprad, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). He began his coaching career in 1979 with his hometown team, HK Poprad.
Success with Dukla Trenčín and the Slovak National Team
In the early 1990s, Šupler guided Dukla Trenčín to two Czechoslovak Coach of the Year awards. After Slovakia's independence, he became the head coach of the Slovak national team, serving from 1993 to 1996.
International Experience and Club Achievements
Šupler spent several seasons coaching in the Western Hockey League (WHL), one of the strongest junior leagues in the world. Upon his return to Europe, he led prestigious clubs such as Sparta Praha, Slovan Bratislava, and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He is particularly revered for his successful tenure with Riga-2000, where he oversaw some of the club's most memorable seasons.
Second Term with the Slovak National Team and Return to Riga
From 2006 to 2008, Šupler once again served as head coach of the Slovak national team. After the revival of Dinamo Riga in 2008, he became the club's head coach, leading them to significant success.
Recognition and Accolades
In November 2010, Šupler was named "Rigan of the Year" for his contributions to the city's positive image abroad. He left Dinamo Riga in 2011 after declining to renew his contract.
Coaching Moscow CSKA and HC Donbass
Šupler became the head coach of Moscow CSKA in the 2011/12 season. Despite leading the team to the playoffs, he was dismissed two games before the end of the regular season. In April 2012, he accepted the head coaching position at HC Donbass in Donetsk, Ukraine.
Personal Life and Quirks
Šupler is known for his eccentric personality and unusual wagers with his assistants and players. Notably, he tattooed himself after his team defeated Slovan Bratislava in a playoff series and dyed his hair following a betting game. In Riga, he famously fulfilled a wager by riding a white horse through the city as Napoleon after Dinamo Riga's victory over SKA in the Gagarin Cup.
Family and Legacy
Šupler built a house in Slovakia in the mid-1980s, which remains his family's home today. He is married with a son and daughter, both of whom are physicians.
