Sergei Leontiev

Sergei Leontiev (Russian: Сергей Леонтьев; also transliterated as Sergey Leontyev) is a Russian paintball team founder, former player and sporting executive. He established Russian Legion, an organisation that developed from recreational paintball in Moscow into an international professional tournament team.[1][2]

Leontiev was responsible for the team's ownership, management, recruitment and training programme during its expansion into European and American professional paintball. Russian Legion subsequently competed under several names, including Boston Red Legion and Moscow Red Legion.[2][3]

Paintball career

Formation of Russian Legion

Leontiev founded Russian Legion in Moscow during the mid-1990s.

The organisation's published history dates its establishment to 1995, while former player and coach Maxim Preobrazhenskiy recalled the team's early recreational activities beginning in 1996.[1][2]

The original group played recreational woodland paintball before adopting competitive tournament formats.

In a June 2006 interview with Russia's National Banking Journal, Leontiev recalled that he had initially participated as a player before concentrating on team ownership, management and coaching.[3]

According to Preobrazhenskiy, Russian Legion began competing internationally in 1998.[2]

International competition

Russian Legion developed an international tournament programme during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In May 1999, the team finished second in the amateur seven-player division at the Mayhem Masters in the United Kingdom.[4]

The organisation subsequently expanded into American professional competition.

Russian Legion won the 2004 Paintball Sports Promotions Northeast Open in Division 1 X-Ball and finished second in professional X-Ball at the 2004 Paintball World Cup.[1]

Boston Red Legion

In 2005, Russian Legion entered the American National Xball League under the name Boston Red Legion.

The Boston designation reflected the team's participation in the NXL's city-based franchise structure rather than the creation of an unrelated organisation.

A 2013 Russian retrospective identified Leontiev as the person responsible for acquiring the Boston franchise and developing Russian Legion's participation in American professional competition.[5]

The team continued to maintain its Russian identity while competing internationally.

2006 championship

Boston Red Legion won the 2006 NXL professional championship and the Paintball World Cup.[1][2]

The championship represented a major achievement for the organisation Leontiev had established during the 1990s.

The team included Russian players alongside international professionals recruited for its American competition programme.

Team management and coaching

Leontiev played a central role in the management and competitive development of Russian Legion.

In his June 2006 interview, he described responsibilities including:

Team ownership and management.
Developing training programmes.
Selecting players.
Supervising practice matches.
Making tactical and strategic decisions.

He characterised the organisation as a long-term investment in developing the Russian Legion brand rather than simply a recreational sporting activity.[3]

Leontiev also discussed the team's professional structure, including arrangements for international players competing with the organisation.

Appointment of Maxim Preobrazhenskiy

Following the 2007 season, Leontiev appointed Maxim Preobrazhenskiy as Russian Legion's head coach.

Preobrazhenskiy had previously played for the team, including during its successful 2006 season.

In an August 2012 interview, Preobrazhenskiy discussed his appointment and Leontiev's role in the team's management and development.[2]

Russian Legion subsequently won the 2009 and 2010 Paintball World Cups during Preobrazhenskiy's coaching tenure.

Russian Legion organisation

Under Leontiev's ownership, Russian Legion developed from a domestic tournament team into an organisation competing in major international championships.

The team participated in European tournaments, the Paintball Sports Promotions circuit and the National Xball League.

Its programme incorporated professional coaching, structured training and the recruitment of players from Russia and other countries.[2][3]

Russian Legion also established training facilities used for competitive paintball development in Russia.

The Russian Paintball Federation has documented the Russian Legion training centre's involvement in coaching, refereeing and player development programmes.[4]

References

External links