 Zhirkov with Anzhi in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Tambov, RSFSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2][3] | ||
| Playing position | Left Winger/Left Back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Dynamo Moscow | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2001 | Spartak Tambov | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2003 | Tambov | 74 | (26) |
| 2004–2009 | CSKA Moscow | 139 | (15) |
| 2009–2011 | Chelsea | 29 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | Anzhi | 46 | (3) |
| 2013– | Dynamo Moscow | 5 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005– | Russia | 59 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2013 | |||
Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (Russian: Ю́рий Валенти́нович Жирко́в; born 20 August 1983 in Tambov,Soviet Union) is a Russian footballer who plays for Dynamo Moskva and the Russian national team.
Zhirkov has earned 58 international caps since 2005. His performance at Euro 2008, in which Russia reached the semi-finals, was recognised with his inclusion in the Team of the Tournament and award asRussian Footballer of the Year.
Early life
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
Zhirkov started his career at Tambov where he scored 26 goals in 74 games playing as a winger before leaving for CSKA Moscow
CSKA
Zhirkov joined CSKA in January 2004. His first official game was on 7 March 2004 in the Russian Super Cupagainst Spartak. CSKA's 3–1 victory gave Yuri his first trophy. Zhirkov made his debut in the Champions League on 27 July against Neftchi Baku. He also appeared in the third qualifying round against Rangers.
Zhirkov won the 2004–05 UEFA Cup with CSKA, and scored in the final as the team beat Portuguese sideSporting 3–1. His goal against Hamburger 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.
He made his debut in the CIS 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 clubNK 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
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 Arshavinin 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 League 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 againstEverton on 10 February, which ruled him out for three months, Zhirkov automatically 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 byNemanja Vidić, the Manchester United center back. The final score was 2–1 in favour of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.[15]
Anzhi
On 14 August 2011, Chelsea announced the departure of Zhirkov to Russian Premier League side Anzhi 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]
Dynamo
On 6 August 2013, Anzhi listed their whole 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
