Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation. President of the Russian Soccer Union.
Born on December 8, 1958 in the village of Kurinskaya, Krasnodar Territory.
Graduated from the Leningrad River College, Leningrad Institute of Water Transport in Mechanical Engineering (1987), Law School of St. Petersburg State University (1999).
In 1977 - 1978 worked as a sailor on ships of the Leningrad sea port and North West River Shipping Company.
From 1983 he worked in the executive committee of the Kirov district of Leningrad as an instructor, head of the department, the secretary of the executive committee.
In 1990 he was elected as the to the District Council of the Kirov in Leningrad.
In 1991 he was elected head of the district administration.
From 1992 to 1996 he was deputy mayor of St. Petersburg and the chairman of the Mayor's Office of Social Affairs.
From 1995 to 2003. - President of ZAO "Soccer Club " Zenit ".
From 2001 to 2003 head of the Russian Soccer Premier League.
October 29, 2003 appointed the representative of the Government of St. Petersburg in the Federation Council. Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Youth and Sports, member of the Federation Council Committee on Federation Affairs and Regional Policy of the Federation Council and the Commission to oversee the activities of the Federation Council.
April 2, 2005 was elected President of the Soccer Football Union.
May 12, 2008 appointed Minister of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Russian Federation.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor (1994), Order of Friendship (2002), the Order "For Services to the Fatherland," 4th degree (2008).
Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation (2002).
