Yuri Zhirkov

Yuri Zhirkov
Zhirkov playing for Russia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov[1]
Date of birth (1983-08-20) 20 August 1983
Place of birth Tambov, Russian SFSR,
Soviet Union
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2][3]
Playing position Left Back / Left Winger
Club information
Current team
 Zenit St. Petersburg
Number 18
Youth career
1997–2001 Spartak Tambov
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Spartak Tambov 74 (26)
2004–2009 CSKA Moscow 139 (15)
2009–2011 Chelsea 29 (0)
2011–2013 Anzhi Makhachkala 46 (3)
2013–2016 Dynamo Moscow 54 (4)
2016– Zenit Saint Petersburg 47 (2)
National team‡
2004–2005 Russia U-21 9 (2)
2005–2018 Russia 87 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:50, 1 July 2018 (UTC)

Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (Russian: Ю́рий Валенти́нович Жирко́в, IPA: [ˈjʉrʲɪj vəlʲɪnˈtʲinəvʲɪtɕ ʐɨrˈkof]; born 20 August 1983) is a Russian footballer who plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg.

A left-sided player who can play full-back or winger, Zhirkov began his career at local Spartak Tambov before joining top-flight CSKA Moscow in 2004. Domestic and European success followed, and in 2009 he moved to English Premier League club Chelsea for £18 million. After two seasons, he returned to Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala, who sold him to Dynamo Moscow in 2013. He then signed for Zenit in January 2016.

Zhirkov has earned over 75 international caps since 2005. His performance at UEFA Euro 2008, in which Russia reached the semi-finals, was recognised with his inclusion in the Team of the Tournament and award as well as Futbol's Russian Footballer of the Year. He was also selected to the Russian squads for Euro 2012, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where Russia hosted the tournament.

Early life

Zhirkov was born in Tambov on 20 August 1983. His father, Valentin Ivanovich Zhirkov, worked at the Revtrud factory and his mother was a postwoman. Yuri was the second child in the family. The family lived in poverty, struggling to buy basic goods such as food and clothes. He skipped training to help his family grow vegetables during the summer so they could have adequate food during the winter. His first coach was Valery Sharapov, who signed him for the Tambov Regional Children and Youth Sports School.[4]

Club career

Zhirkov started his career at Spartak Tambov, where he scored 26 goals in 74 matches playing as a winger before leaving for CSKA Moscow

CSKA Moscow

Zhirkov joined CSKA Moscow in January 2004. His first official match was on 7 March 2004 in the Russian Super Cup against Spartak Moscow. CSKA's 3–1 victory gave him his first trophy. Zhirkov made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 27 July against Neftchi Baku. He also appeared in the third qualifying round against Rangers.

Zhirkov playing for CSKA Moscow

Zhirkov made his debut in the CIS Cup against Gomel and was replaced in the 70th minute. The final score was 2–2. In his second match, against Pakhtakor Tashkent, he played all 90 minutes, with the final score being 2–1. In the last qualifying match against Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda, which also ended 2–1, Zhirkov played all 90 minutes. After the cup, Yuri Adzhem claimed Zhirkov had a good chance to receive a permanent place in the squad.

Although Zhirkov missed the first match against Benfica, he participated in the return match. He also played in both matches against Partizan, and made a save in the second game. After defeating Auxerre and Parma, CSKA made its way to the final. On 18 May 2005, against Sporting CP at Sporting's own Estádio José Alvalade, Zhirkov scored a goal in the 65th minute to give CSKA a 2–1 lead. The score would end 3–1, making CSKA the first Russian club to win the UEFA Cup.[5]

Zhirkov participated in all six matches of the group stage in the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League. On 6 December 2006, he scored a brilliant goal against Hamburger SV which would later be selected as the best goal of the competition by UEFA's official magazine.[2] In the 2007–08 season, however, CSKA lost almost every game in Europe.

Zhirkov began his participation in the following season of European competition on 18 September 2008, against Croatian club Slaven Belupo. CSKA came from behind to win their first match 2–1. In the next match, CSKA defeated Deportivo de La Coruña 3–0. Zhirkov provided goal assists against Nancy, Feyenoord and scored in the game with Lech Poznań. It was his third goal in European competition.

In 2009, Zhirkov participated in three matches in European competitions, two against Aston Villa and one against Shakhtar Donetsk. In the second match, he scored his first goal in the 2009 tournament. In the third match, he was cautioned by the referee and therefore missed the next game.

Chelsea

On 6 July 2009, Zhirkov joined Chelsea on a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of £18 million,[6][7] exceeding the £15 million Arsenal paid for Andrey Arshavin in January 2009, thus making Zhirkov the most expensive Russian football player of all-time.[8] Zhirkov scored on his debut in a friendly against Milan, the eventual match-winner.[9] After regaining fitness from a knee injury, he made his competitive debut at left back against Queens Park Rangers in a League Cup tie on 23 September.[10]

After battling a knee injury he made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 25 November against Porto, playing as a left back and setting up Nicolas Anelka's goal in a 1–0 win. Zhirkov made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Joe Cole against West Ham United on 20 December 2009.[11]

Zhirkov playing for Chelsea against Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on 19 October 2010

He made his first Premier League start in a 2–1 victory over Fulham on 28 December. Due to Ashley Cole's injury against Everton on 10 February, which ruled him out for three months, Zhirkov became first-choice left-back.

Zhirkov was one of Chelsea's best players in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Internazionale, denying several scoring opportunities from Inter's forwards, but Chelsea were defeated 1–0 on the night and 3–1 on aggregate.[12] In March 2010, he won two penalties for Chelsea against Aston Villa, both converted by Frank Lampard, as Chelsea won 7–1.

On 13 April 2010, Zhirkov put in a man of the match performance against Bolton Wanderers, despite suffering an injury which required four stitches in his head and had his head bandaged for the remainder of the first half, following a clash with the Bolton captain Kevin Davies.[13] During his first season with Chelsea, the club won the Premier League and FA Cup double, making it the club's most successful season ever. His only goal for Chelsea came on 19 October 2010, a volley in a UEFA Champions League match against Spartak Moscow.[14]

Zhirkov also started for the first team as a replacement for the injured Ramires against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge and Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, providing two crucial assists. On 1 March, he came on as a substitute in the 71st minute, replacing Florent Malouda against title rivals Manchester United. Zhirkov won a penalty in the 78th minute, taken and scored by Frank Lampard, which proved to be the match-winner. He also hit the post, with the ball being deflected into the net by United centre-back Nemanja Vidić. The final score was 2–1 in favour of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.[15]

Anzhi

Zhirkov with Anzhi in 2011

On 14 August 2011, Chelsea announced the departure of Zhirkov to Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be around £13.2 million.[16] Zhirkov signed a four-year contract with the Russian team.[17][18] Zhirkov's first Anzhi goal came in a 2–1 win against Amkar Perm on 29 October 2011, hitting a rebound from a corner into the back of the net.[19]

In his last match for Anzhi, on 1 June 2013, he played the entire match as they lost the Russian Cup final to his former team CSKA Moscow in a penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw. Both Zhirkov and Jucilei missed their penalties.

Dynamo

On 6 August 2013, Anzhi listed their entire squad up for sale as they announced plans to restructure the business, focusing on youth development. The first players to leave were Igor Denisov, Aleksandr Kokorin and Zhirkov on 15 August 2013, who all joined Dynamo Moscow for undisclosed fees.[20]

Zhirkov played 14 league matches in his first season, scoring three goals: one in a 2–0 win against Krylya Sovetov Samara on his 29 September debut, and two in a 4–2 win over former club CSKA on 9 March.[21]

On 2 October 2014, in added time at the end of their UEFA Europa League group stage match against PSV, substitute Zhirkov scored the only goal of the match for Dynamo.[22]

Zenit

On 26 January 2016, Zenit Saint Petersburg announced they signed a two-year contract with Zhirkov. If Zenit and Dynamo would be not able to agree on a transfer fee during the winter 2015–16 transfer window, he would have joined Zenit in July 2016 as a free agent, after his Dynamo contract expired.[23] However, the two clubs agreed on transfer fee and he joined Zenit on 30 January.[24]

International career

Zhirkov playing for Russia in 2011

Zhirkov made his debut for Russia on 9 February 2005, starting a 2–0 friendly defeat to Italy in Cagliari.[25]

Zhirkov was named in the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament after helping the team to the semi-finals.[26] In October 2008, Zhirkov was named as one of the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award, given to the top player in Europe.[27]

On 18 November 2009, Zhirkov received his first red card for the national side – he was sent off late in the game for a second bookable offence in the dying minutes of Russia's 0–1 away loss to Slovenia in the second leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off after pushing a Slovenian substitute.

In August 2011, Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match against Serbia in Moscow nearly every time he contacted the ball; he was even bombarded with a cigarette packet near the corner area. The fans were angered by his move to Anzhi.[28]

Zhirkov was confirmed for Russia's Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012,[29] playing in all three of Russia's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.

On 2 June 2014, Zhirkov was included in Russia's 2014 World Cup squad.[30] In the final preparation match for the tournament, his 61st cap, he scored his first international goal with a volley to open a 2–0 win over Morocco.[31] He featured in one match at the finals, playing 71 minutes of the opening 1–1 draw against South Korea before being replaced by Aleksandr Kerzhakov.[32] Russia again exited the tournament at the group stage.

Zhirkov scored a second international goal on 29 March 2016 in a friendly 4–2 loss to France at the Stade de France.[33]

Zhirkov was not included in Russia's squad for Euro 2016,[34] but returned for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup where he was in the starting line-up for all three of the team's matches. On 24 June 2017, he was sent off in Russia's final group match as they were beaten 1–2 by Mexico in Kazan.[35]

On 11 May 2018, he was included in Russia's extended 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.[36] On 3 June 2018, he was included in the finalized World Cup squad.[37]

He announced his retirement from the national side following the World Cup.[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 May 2018
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Spartak Tambov 2001 PFL 4000––40
2002 371020––3910
2003 331630––3616
Total 74265000007926
CSKA Moscow 2004 Russian Premier League 256201001[lower-alpha 1]0386
2005 20260131–393
2006 27161811[lower-alpha 2]1424
2007 29251801[lower-alpha 3]0433
2008 2832061–364
2009 10131311[lower-alpha 4]0173
Total 139152434844121523
Chelsea 2009–10 Premier League 17040402[lower-alpha 5]0270
2010–11 12010712[lower-alpha 6]0221
Total 2905011140491
Anzhi Makhachkala 2011–12 Russian Premier League 23110––241
2012–13 23240120–392
2013–14 00–––00
Total 4635012000633
Dynamo Moscow 2013–14 Russian Premier League 14300––143
2014–15 24010102–352
2015–16 16020––180
Total 5433010200675
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2015–16 Russian Premier League 902020–130
2016–17 21110601[lower-alpha 7]0291
2017–18 1711070–251
Total 4724015010672
Career total 389494639679154060
  1. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup
  2. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup
  3. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup
  4. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup
  5. ↑ Two appearances in the League Cup
  6. ↑ One appearance in the League Cup, one appearance in the FA Community Shield
  7. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup

International

As of match played 1 July 2018[39]
Russia
YearAppsGoals
200540
200630
200790
2008120
200960
201050
201190
201270
201340
201431
201550
201651
201780
201870
Total872

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.6 June 2014Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia Morocco1–02–0Friendly
2.29 March 2016Stade de France, Paris, France France2–32–4

Personal life

Family

Zhirkov has a sister and two brothers.[4] The younger brother, Nikolai, plays for the CSKA Youth Team. Zhirkov married on 1 February 2008 to a Russian model, Inna.[40] On 8 September 2008, their son Dmitriy was born.[40]

Accidents

Zhirkov has had two automotive accidents in his life. The first accident occurred in January 2005 in Tambov. Zhirkov, driving on a high speed track, hit a pole while trying to avoid a merging racer. His airbags deployed, leaving him with only minor injuries.[41] On 18 December 2008, Zhirkov was in an accident in Kaliningrad. He left this accident unharmed.

Honours

CSKA Moscow

Chelsea

Zenit Saint Petersburg

Russia

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream. p. 452. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. 1 2 "Yuri Zhirkov profile". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 Harvey, Oliver (12 January 2011). "Zhirkov's family was so poor he skipped training to grow food for the winter". The Sun.
  5. ↑ "Sporting 1–3 CSKA Moscow". BBC Sport. 18 May 2005. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  6. ↑ ZHIRKOV DEAL COMPLETED. chelseafc.com (7 July 2009)
  7. ↑ Newman, Benjamin. (30 June 2009) City snub: Greedy Samuel Eto'o demands a £13 million sign-on fee to leave Barcelona. 101greatgoals.com. Retrieved on 27 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Gray, Ashley. (6 July 2009) United cult hero Kanchelskis tips Chelsea new boy Zhirkov to shine as brightly as Arshavin. Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved on 27 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Zhirkov's Debut Goal Enough As Chelsea Sneak Past A.C. Milan. Goal.com. Retrieved on 27 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Chelsea vs QPR. goal.com
  11. ↑ "West Ham United 1 – 1 Chelsea". ESPN Soccernet. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Chelsea 0–1 Inter Milan (agg 1–3)". BBC News. 16 March 2010.
  13. ↑ Banks, Tony (14 April 2010). "Nicolas Anelka's timing is champion for Chelsea". Daily Express.
  14. ↑ "Spartak Moscow 0–2 Chelsea". BBC News. 19 October 2010.
  15. ↑ "Second Half Salvo Sinks United". ESPN Soccernet. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Zhirkov Departs". Chelsea. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Chelsea agree deal to sign Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku". BBC News. 6 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "Anzhi Makhachkala sign Yuri Zhirkov from Chelsea". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 August 2011.
  19. ↑ Anzhi vs. Amkar Perm' – 29 October 2011 – Soccerway. Uk.soccerway.com (29 October 2011). Retrieved on 27 January 2016.
  20. ↑ Doyle, Mark (15 August 2013). "Dinamo Moscow swoop for Anzhi trio Denisov, Zhirkov & Kokorin". Goal.com.
  21. ↑ "Y. Zhirkov". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  22. ↑ Van Portvliet, Richard (2 October 2014). "Dínamo bate PSV nos descontos" [Dynamo beat PSV in added time] (in Portuguese). UEFA. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  23. ↑ Юрий Жирков продолжит карьеру в «Зените» (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 26 January 2016.
  24. ↑ Юрий Жирков и Александр Кокорин присоединились к «Зениту» (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 30 January 2016.
  25. ↑ "Italy v Russia". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  26. ↑ (in German) FC Chelsea verpflichtet Zhirkov von ZSKA Moskau
  27. ↑ "England trio on Euro award list". BBC. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  28. ↑ "Zhirkov booed by fans in Moscow". BBC News. 11 August 2011.
  29. ↑ "Advocaat announced the finalized Euro Squad" (in Russian). 25 May 2012.
  30. ↑ Состав национальной сборной России на ЧМ-2014 (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 2 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "Yuri Zhirkov rounds off Russia's warm-ups in style against Morocco". The Guardian. Associated Press. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  32. ↑ Oliver, Pete (18 June 2014). "Russia 1–1 South Korea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "France 4-2 Russia". BBC Sport. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "Zhirkov and Kerzhakov miss Russia cut". FIFA. 21 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "Host Russia exits Confederations Cup after loss to Mexico". American Broadcasting Company. 24 June 2017.
  36. ↑ "Расширенный состав для подготовки к Чемпионату мира" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 11 May 2018.
  37. ↑ Заявка сборной России на Чемпионат мира FIFA 2018 (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 3 June 2018.
  38. ↑ "ЮРИЙ ЖИРКОВ: "ЗАВЕРШАЮ КАРЬЕРУ В СБОРНОЙ"" (in Russian). Sport Express. 10 July 2018.
  39. ↑ "Yuri Zhirkov". European Football. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  40. 1 2 Gripper, Ann (6 July 2009). "Yuri Zhirkov profile: 10 things you need to know about the Chelsea signing". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  41. ↑ Gray, Ashley (8 July 2009). "Yuri the electrician set to spark Chelsea after coming from Russia with love". Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  42. ↑ "Yuri Zhirkov: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  43. ↑ "Super Cup 2016 live scores, results, Soccer Russia - FlashScore".
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