Yuri Žirkov
Юрий Жирков

Personal information
Full name	Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov[1]
Date of birth	(1983-08-20) 20 August 1983 (age 28)
Place of birth	Tambov, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2][3]
Playing position	Left Winger/Left Back/Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Anzhi Makhachkala
Number	81
Youth career
1997–2001	Spartak Tambov
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2003	Spartak Tambov	74	(26)
2004–2009	CSKA Moscow	139	(15)
2009–2011	Chelsea	48	(3)
2011–	Anzhi Makhachkala	26	(2)
National team‡
2005–	Russia	51	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:26, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 04:33, 31 May 2012 (UTC)~

Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (Russian: Ю́рий Валенти́нович Жирко́в, Jurij Valentinovič Žirkov; born 20 August 1983 in Tambov, Soviet Union) is a Russian footballer who plays for Anzhi Makhachkala and the Russian national team.

Early life[link]

Yuri Valentinovich 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 had to help his family grow vegetables during the summer so that his family 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[link]

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

CSKA Moscow[link]

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

Zhirkov won the 2004–05 UEFA Cup with CSKA, and scored in the final as the team beat Portuguese side Sporting 3–1. His goal against Hamburger SV in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07 was chosen as best goal of the competition by UEFA Magazine "Goal". He made six appearances in the group stages, scoring once.

Zhirkov playing for CSKA Moscow

He made his debut in the Commonwealth of Independent States Cup against FC Gomel and was replaced in the 70th minute. The final score was 2–2. In his second game, against FC 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, Yuri played all 90 minutes. After the Cup, Yuri Adzhem claimed that Yuri had a good chance to receive a permanent place in the squad.

Although Zhirkov missed the first game against S.L. Benfica, he participated in the return game. He also took part in both games vs. FK Partizan and made a save in the second game. After beating Auxerre and Parma CSKA made its way to the final. On 18 May 2005 in Lisboa at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Zhirkov scored a goal in the 65th minute and CSKA took the lead 2–1. The final score in that game was 3–1, making CSKA the first football club from Russia to win the UEFA Cup.

Zhirkov participated in all six games of the group stage in the 2006 Champions League. On 6 December 2006 he scored a brilliant goal against Hamburger SV, which was 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 NK Slaven Belupo. CSKA came from behind to win their first match 2–1. In the next game, CSKA beat Deportivo, 3–0. Zhirkov provided goal assists against AS Nancy, Feyenoord and scored in the game with Lech Poznań. It was his third goal in European competition.

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

Chelsea[link]

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

On 6 July 2009, Zhirkov joined Chelsea on a four-year contract for a reported fee of £18m,^[5][6] exceeding the £15 million that Arsenal paid for Andrei Arshavin in January 2009, thus making Zhirkov the most expensive Russian football player of all time.^[7] He scored on his debut, in a friendly against AC Milan, that ended as the winning goal.^[8] After regaining fitness from a knee injury, he made his competitive debut at left back against Queens Park Rangers in a Carling Cup tie on 23 September.^[9]

After battling a knee injury he made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 25 November against F.C. Porto playing as a left back and setting up the goal of his teammate Nicolas Anelka in a 1–0 win. Zhirkov then made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Joe Cole against West Ham United on 20 December 2009.^[10]

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 automactically became first choice left back.

He was one of Chelsea's best players in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Inter Milan denying several scoring opportunities from the Italian side's strikers, but it wasn't to be for Chelsea as they were defeated 1–0 on the night and 3–1 on aggregate to end their European dreams again.^[11] In March 2010, he won two penalties for Chelsea against Aston Villa, both converted by Frank Lampard, as Chelsea won 7–1.^[12]

On 13 April 2010, Zhirkov put on the man of the match performance against Bolton Wanderers despite receiving an injury which lead to him getting four stitches in his head and had his head bandaged for the remainder of the first half after a clash with the Bolton captain Kevin Davies.^[13] During his first season with the club they won the 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]

He 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 the 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, and the ball was deflected into the net by Nemanja Vidić, the Manchester United center back. The final score was 2–1 in favour of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.^[15]

Anzhi Makhachkala[link]

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] He set up debutant Samuel Eto'o in the 80th min with a cross after a darting run down the wing as Anzhi Makhachkala Drew 1–1 with Rostov away from home. Zhirkov's first Anzhi goal came against Amkar Perm on 29 October 2011, hitting a rebound from a corner into the back of the net.

Career statistics[link]

As of 14:15, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

International career[link]

Zhirkov in Russia national team

Zhirkov has currently won 41 caps for the Russia national football team since his debut back in 2005. and was named in the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament.^[19] 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.^[20] 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 2nd leg of the 2010 World Cup playoff after pushing a Slovenian substitute. Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match against Serbia in Moscow, almost every time he contacted the ball and even bombarded with a cigarette packet near the corner area.^[12] He was confirmed for the finalized UEFA Euro 2012 squad on May 25, 2012.^[21]

Personal life[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2009)

Family[link]

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

Accidents[link]

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

Honours[link]

Club

CSKA

• UEFA Cup: 2005
• Russian Premier League: 2005, 2006
• Russian Cup: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
• Russian Super Cup: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2009–10
• FA Cup: 2010
• Premier League Asia Trophy: 2011

International

Russia

• UEFA European Football Championship: 2008 bronze medalist

Individual

• UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament
• Footballer of the Year in Russia (Futbol): 2008
• Nominee for Ballon d'Or 2008

References[link]

External links[link]

• UEFA Profile
• ESPN Profile
• FIFA profile
• Premier League profile
• BBC Sport profile

v t e Russia squad – UEFA Euro 2008 semi-finalists 1 Akinfeev 2 V. Berezutskiy 3 Yanbaev 4 Ignashevich 5 A. Berezutski 6 Adamov 7 Torbinskiy 8 Kolodin 9 Saenko 10 Arshavin 11 Semak (c) 12 Gabulov 13 Ivanov 14 Shirokov 15 Bilyaletdinov 16 Malafeev 17 Zyryanov 18 Zhirkov 19 Pavlyuchenko 20 Semshov 21 Sychev 22 Anyukov 23 Bystrov Coach: Hiddink

v t e Russia squad – UEFA Euro 2012 1 Akinfeev 2 Anyukov 3 Sharonov 4 Ignashevich 5 Zhirkov 6 Shirokov 7 Denisov 8 Zyryanov 9 Izmailov 10 Arshavin (c) 11 Kerzhakov 12 A. Berezutski 13 Shunin 14 Pavlychenko 15 D. Kombarov 16 Malafeev 17 Dzagoev 18 Kokorin 19 Granat 20 Pogrebnyak 21 Nababkin 22 Glushakov 23 Semshov Coach: Advocaat

Oleg Shatov

Personal information
Full name	Oleg Aleksandrovich Shatov
Date of birth	(1990-07-29) July 29, 1990 (age 21)
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	FC Anzhi Makhachkala
Number	27
Youth career
	FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006	MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg (futsal)
2007–2012	FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast	127	(16)
2012–	FC Anzhi Makhachkala	8	(0)
National team‡
2010–	Russia U-21	8	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:28, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2011

Oleg Aleksandrovich Shatov (Russian: Олег Александрович Шатов; born July 29, 1990) is a Russian professional footballer. Currently, he plays for FC Anzhi Makhachkala. He made his professional debut in the Russian First Division in 2007 for FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast.^[1]

Career statistics[link]

As of 3 February 2012

Club	Div	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast	D2	2007	8	2	—		—		8	2
		2008	26	1	1	0	—		27	1
		2009	28	2	2	0	—		30	2
		2010	35	4	1	0	—		36	4
		2011-12	30	7	2	0	—		32	7
	Total		127	16	6	0	0	0	133	16
Anzhi Makhachkala	D1	2011-12	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			127	16	6	0	0	0	133	16

References[link]

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