Actually, he was forced to change his patronymic when he became a coach. Nobody cares what a player's full name is, but the coach must be addressed respectfully. It was considered that no Soviet footballer should ever use "Izrail" as a respectful form of address. Viktor asked his dad and he said, "You go ahead and do what you must, but don't ask me to change my name, too." And no, Viktor didn't escape antisemitism.
Lives in NJ now
ReplyDeleteActually, he was forced to change his patronymic when he became a coach. Nobody cares what a player's full name is, but the coach must be addressed respectfully. It was considered that no Soviet footballer should ever use "Izrail" as a respectful form of address. Viktor asked his dad and he said, "You go ahead and do what you must, but don't ask me to change my name, too."
ReplyDeleteAnd no, Viktor didn't escape antisemitism.
looks like Brad Pitt in this pic
ReplyDelete