Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (‹ThetemplateLang-rus is beingconsidered for deletion.› Russian:Ю́рий Валенти́нович Жирко́в,IPA:[ˈjʉrʲɪjvəlʲɪnʲˈtʲinəvʲɪdʑʐɨrˈkof]; born 20 August 1983) is a Russian formerfootballer who played as aleft-back and as aleft-winger.

Yuri Zhirkov

Zhirkov withKhimki in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov[1]
Date of birth	(1983-08-20)20 August 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Tambov,Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2][3]
Position(s)	Left-back /left-winger
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	(3)
2016–2021	Zenit Saint Petersburg	95	(4)
2022	Khimki	3	(0)
Total		440	(51)
International career
2004–2005	Russia U-21	9	(2)
2005–2021	Russia	105	(2)
Medal record Men'sfootball Representing Russia UEFA European Championship 2008
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A left-sided player who can play full-back or winger, Zhirkov began his career at local clubSpartak Tambov before joining top-flightCSKA Moscow in 2004. Domestic and European success followed, and in 2009 he moved to EnglishPremier League clubChelsea for £18 million. After two seasons, he returned to Russia withAnzhi Makhachkala, who sold him toDynamo Moscow in 2013. He then signed for Zenit in January 2016.

Zhirkov has earned over 100 international caps since 2005. His performance atUEFA Euro 2008, in which Russia reached the semi-finals, was recognised with his inclusion in the Team of the Tournament and award as well asFutbol's Russian Footballer of the Year. He was also selected to the Russian squads forEuro 2012, the2014 FIFA World Cup, the2018 FIFA World Cup, where Russia hosted the tournament, andEuro 2020.

Zhirkov was born inTambov on 20 August 1983. His father, Valentin Ivanovich Zhirkov, worked at theRevtrud 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. His first coach was Valery Sharapov, who signed him for the Tambov Regional Children and Youth Sports School.^{[citation needed]}

Zhirkov started his career atSpartak Tambov, where he scored 26 goals in 74 matches playing as a winger before leaving forCSKA Moscow^{[citation needed]}

Zhirkov joined CSKA Moscow in January 2004. His first official match was on 7 March 2004 in theRussian Super Cup againstSpartak Moscow. CSKA's 3–1 victory gave him his first trophy. Zhirkov made his debut in theUEFA Champions League on 27 July againstNeftchi Baku. He also appeared in the third qualifying round againstRangers.^{[citation needed]}

Zhirkov made his debut in theCIS Cup againstGomel and was replaced in the 70th minute. The final score was 2–2. In his second match, againstPakhtakor Tashkent, he played all 90 minutes, with the final score being 2–1. In the last qualifying match againstRegar-TadAZ Tursunzoda, which also ended 2–1, Zhirkov played all 90 minutes.^{[citation needed]}

Although Zhirkov missed the first match againstBenfica, he participated in the return match. He also played in both matches againstPartizan, and made a save in the second game. After defeatingAuxerre andParma, CSKA made its way tothe final. On 18 May 2005, againstSporting CP at Sporting's ownEstádio 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 theUEFA Cup.^[4]

Zhirkov participated in all six matches of the group stage in the2006–07 UEFA Champions League. On 6 December 2006, he scored a brilliant goal againstHamburger SV which would later be selected as the best goal of the competition byUEFA's official magazine.^[2] In the 2007–08 season, however, CSKA lost almost every game in Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Zhirkov began his participation in the following season of European competition on 18 September 2008, against Croatian clubSlaven Belupo. CSKA came from behind to win their first match 2–1. In the next match, CSKA defeatedDeportivo de La Coruña 3–0. Zhirkov provided goal assists againstNancy,Feyenoord and scored in the game withLech Poznań. It was his third goal in European competition.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, Zhirkov participated in three matches in European competitions, two againstAston Villa and one againstShakhtar 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.^{[citation needed]}

On 6 July 2009, Zhirkov joinedChelsea on a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of £18 million,^[5][6] exceeding the £15 millionArsenal paid forAndrey Arshavin in January 2009, thus making Zhirkov the most expensive Russian football player of all-time.^[7] Zhirkov scored on his debut in a friendly againstMilan, the eventual match-winner.^[8] After regaining fitness from a knee injury, he made his competitive debut at left back againstQueens Park Rangers in aLeague Cup tie on 23 September.^[9]

After battling a knee injury he made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 25 November againstPorto, playing as a left back and setting upNicolas Anelka's goal in a 1–0 win. Zhirkov made hisPremier League debut as a substitute forJoe Cole againstWest Ham United on 20 December 2009.^[10]

He made his first Premier League start in a 2–1 victory overFulham on 28 December. Due toAshley Cole's injury againstEverton on 10 February, which ruled him out for three months, Zhirkov became first-choice left-back.^{[citation needed]}

Zhirkov was one of Chelsea's best players in the Champions League round of 16 second leg againstInternazionale, denying several scoring opportunities from Inter's forwards, but Chelsea were defeated 1–0 on the night and 3–1 on aggregate.^[11] In March 2010, he won two penalties for Chelsea against Aston Villa, both converted byFrank Lampard, as Chelsea won 7–1.^{[citation needed]}

On 13 April 2010, Zhirkov put in a man of the match performance againstBolton 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 captainKevin Davies.^[12] During his first season with Chelsea, the club won thePremier League andFA Cup double, making it the club's most successful season ever. His only goal for Chelsea came on 19 October 2010, a volley in aUEFA Champions League match against Spartak Moscow.^[13]

Zhirkov also started for the first team as a replacement for the injuredRamires againstWolverhampton Wanderers atStamford Bridge andBlackburn Rovers atEwood Park, providing two crucial assists. On 1 March, he came on as a substitute in the 71st minute, replacingFlorent Malouda against title rivalsManchester 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-backNemanja Vidić. The final score was 2–1 in favour of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.^[14]

On 14 August 2011, Chelsea announced the departure of Zhirkov toRussian Premier League sideAnzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be around £13.2 million.^[15] Zhirkov signed a four-year contract with the Russian team.^[16][17] Zhirkov's first Anzhi goal came in a 2–1 win againstAmkar Perm on 29 October 2011, hitting a rebound from a corner into the back of the net.^[18]

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 andJucilei missed their penalties.^{[citation needed]}

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 wereIgor Denisov,Aleksandr Kokorin and Zhirkov on 15 August 2013, who all joinedDynamo Moscow for undisclosed fees.^[19]

Zhirkov played 14 league matches in his first season, scoring three goals: one in a 2–0 win againstKrylya Sovetov Samara on his 29 September debut, and two in a 4–2 win over former club CSKA on 9 March.^[20]

On 2 October 2014, in added time at the end of theirUEFA Europa League group stage match againstPSV, substitute Zhirkov scored the only goal of the match for Dynamo.^[21]

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.^[22] However, the two clubs agreed on transfer fee and he joined Zenit on 30 January.^[23]

On 13 January 2022, he signed a contract withKhimki until the end of the 2021–22 season, with an option to extend for an additional year.^[24] Zhirkov's contract with Khimki was terminated by mutual consent on 27 June 2022.^[25]

Zhirkov announced his retirement from playing on 12 February 2023.^[26]

Zhirkov made his debut forRussia on 9 February 2005, starting a 2–0 friendly defeat toItaly inCagliari.^[27]

Zhirkov was named in theUEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament after helping the team to the semi-finals.^[28] In October 2008, Zhirkov was named as one of the 30 nominees for theBallon d'Or award, given to the top player in Europe.^[29]

On 18 November 2009, Zhirkov received his firstred card for the national side – he was sent off late in the game for a secondbookable offence in the dying minutes of Russia's 0–1 away loss toSlovenia in the second leg of the2010 FIFA World Cup play-off after pushing a Slovenian substitute.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2011, Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match againstSerbia 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.^[30]

Zhirkov was confirmed for Russia'sEuro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012,^[31] playing in all three of Russia's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.^{[citation needed]} On 2 June 2014, Zhirkov was included in Russia's2014 World Cup squad.^[32] 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 overMorocco.^[33] He featured in one match at the finals, playing 71 minutes of the opening 1–1 draw againstSouth Korea before being replaced byAleksandr Kerzhakov.^[34] Russia again exited the tournament at the group stage.^{[citation needed]} Zhirkov scored a second international goal on 29 March 2016 in a friendly 4–2 loss toFrance at theStade de France.^[35][36] Zhirkov was not included in Russia's squad forEuro 2016,^[37] but returned for the2017 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 byMexico inKazan.^[38] On 11 May 2018, he was included in Russia's extended2018 FIFA World Cup squad.^[39] On 3 June 2018, he was included in the finalized World Cup squad.^[40] He started in the first two group-stage games, and then returned to the starting line-up in the first knock-out stage game againstSpain in the Round of 16. However, his nagging injury forced him to get substituted at half-time of Spain game byVladimir Granat, and he was not able to appear in the quarterfinal game againstCroatia which Russia lost in the penalty shoot-out.^{[citation needed]} He announced his retirement from the national side following the World Cup.^[41] Despite that announcement, he was called up to the national team once again on 16 March 2019 forEuro 2020 qualifiers against Belgium and Kazakhstan.^[42] On 18 November 2020, he played his 100th match for Russia in the2020–21 UEFA Nations League.^{[citation needed]}

On 11 May 2021, he was included in the preliminary extended 30-man squad forUEFA Euro 2020.^[43] On 2 June 2021, he was included in the final squad.^[44] He started Russia's opening game againstBelgium on 12 June 2021, but had to be substituted in the first half due to leg injury.^[45] He did not appear in Russia's two remaining games due to his injury as they were eliminated at group stage.^[46][47]

Zhirkov has a sister and two brothers. The younger brother, Nikolai Zhirkov, played for the CSKA Youth Team. Zhirkov married on 1 February 2008 to a Russian model, Inna.^[48] On 8 September 2008, their son Dmitriy was born.^[48] In 2010, their daughter Milana was born^[49] and in 2015 the pair had a second son.^[50]

Zhirkov has had twoautomotive 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.^{[citation needed]} On 18 December 2008, Zhirkov was in an accident inKaliningrad. He left this accident unharmed.

Yuri Zhirkov received his secondary education at school No. 19, after which he entered the school and began training in the specialty of an electrical technician. Upon graduation, he received a diploma of secondary technical education. In December 2008, Zhirkov graduated fromTambov State University^[51]

As of 28 May 2022

As of match played 12 June 2021^[52]

International goals

Russia's score listed first. Score after each Zhirkov goal.

CSKA Moscow

• Russian Premier League:2005,2006
• Russian Cup:2004–05,2005–06,2007–08,2008–09
• Russian Super Cup:2004,2006,2007,2009
• UEFA Cup:2004–05

Chelsea

• Premier League:2009–10^[53]
• FA Cup:2009–10

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League:2018–19,^[54][55]2019–20,^[56]2020–21^[57]
• Russian Cup:2015–16,2019–20^[58]
• Russian Super Cup:2016,^[59]2020^[60]

Russia

• UEFA European Championship bronze:2008^[61][62][63]

Individual

• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament:2008
• Futbol Footballer of the Year in Russia: 2008
• Russian Premier League Left Winger of the Year:2005,2006,2007,2008,2011–12
• Russian Premier League Left-back of the Year:2018–19,^[64]2019–20^[65]

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

• Yuri Zhirkov –UEFA competition record (archive)
• Yuri Zhirkov atESPN FC
• Yuri Zhirkov –FIFA competition record (archived)
• Yuri Zhirkov atPremier League
• BBC Sport profile
• Yuri Zhirkov at Soccerway
• Yuri Zhirkov at the Forbes