Anatoly Ionov started his ice hockey career with Elektrostal and in 1957 joined Krylya Sovetov Moskva, winning his first Soviet Championships title with them in 1957. Ionov played with Krylya Sovetov until 1959 and then played the next four seasons again with Elektrostal. In 1964 Ionov joined CSKA Moskva and played there until 1970. He won five Soviet Championships titles (1964-66, 1968, 1970) and two European Champions Cup titles (1969, 1970) with them. Ionov ended his playing career again playing with Elektrostal in 1970-73. Internationally Ionov won Olympic gold in 1968 and was World and European Champion three times (1965, 1966, 1968). After his sporting career Ionov had a long career as a head coach of hockey club Elektrostal (now Kristall Elektrostal), at first from 1973-80 with the senior team and then from 1980-85 with the junior team. From 1985-98 Ionov worked as a manager of Kristall Elektrostal and from 1998 through 2009 he has been the president of Kristall Elektrostal.