Andrey Arshavin
| |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, Second Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Zenit St. Petersburg | ||
Number | 10 | ||
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June, 2008 |
Andrei Arshavin (Russian: Андрей Сергеевич Аршавин) (born May 29, 1981 in Leningrad) is a Russian international football forward who currently plays for Zenit St. Petersburg. He is a versatile second striker who can also play as an attacking midfielder and winger. He is best known for his close control, vision, playmaking ability and speed.[1]
Club career
Arshavin graduated from Smena football school. In 1999 and early 2000 he played for Zenit's farm club, Zenit-2, in the Second Division.
In 2000, he was included in the Zenit squad, making his debut in a 3–0 away win over English side Bradford City in the Intertoto Cup.[2] He played in various positions on the field, starting as a right midfielder, then as an attacking midfielder and finally adopted the second striker's role playing on a flank or behind a target man. He won the Russian Premier League Award for the player of the season largely because of his ability to play well as a winger, playmaker and as a striker.
In the 2007 Russian Premier League season Arshavin guided his Zenit St Petersburg side to the title, starting all 30 matches - scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists along the way. It was the club's first league title since claiming the now defunct Soviet Top League in 1984. He also was a key player to Zenit's 2008 UEFA Cup triumph.
In June 2008, Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat announced that Arshavin wanted to leave the club.[3] On 26 June, Zenit St Petersburg confirmed that Barcelona had made an approach to sign Arshavin.[4]
International career
Arshavin debuted for the Russian national team on May 17, 2002 in a match against Belarus. His first goal with the squad came in a friendly match versus Romania on February 13, 2003 and since, he has managed to score in every competition which Russia has participated in. He was Russia's captain in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.
UEFA Euro 2008
Arshavin was included in Russia's Euro 2008 squad by manager Guus Hiddink, despite being unable to play in the first two group matches due to suspension.[5] He announced his return by setting up the first goal and scoring the second in Russia's final group game against Sweden at Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck, which helped his team qualify for the next round.
In the next match, the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Arshavin repeated the feat with his part in Russia's two goals in the second half of extra time, providing the cross for Dmitri Torbinski's goal and scoring his own four minutes later. Russia consequently reached the semi-finals with a 3–1 victory. For both of these games, UEFA awarded him Man of the Match.
Andy Roxburgh, the head of UEFA's technical delegation at Euro 2008 singled out Arshavin as one of the players of the tournament so far, even though he was suspended for the opening two matches.[6]
International goals
- Scores and results list. Russia's goal tally first.
Honours
Club
FC Zenit St. Petersburg
- Russian Premier League Cup: 2003
- Russian Premier League Champion: 2007
- Russian Super Cup: 2008
- UEFA Cup: 2008
National Team
- UEFA European Football Championship Semi-finalist: 2008
Individual
- Man of the Match: for his performance in the third Group Stage Game of Russia versus Sweden (June 18): UEFA Euro 2008
- Man of the Match: for his performance in the Quarter-final Game of Russia versus Netherlands (June 21): UEFA Euro 2008
References
- ^ "Zenit leave their hosts in 'shock'". UEFA. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ Wilson, Jonathan (2007-10-16). "Andrei Arshavin is Russia's artful dodger". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
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(help) - ^ Dunsmuir, Alistair (2008-06-21). "Zenit - Arshavin wants to leave". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
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(help) - ^ "Barcelona make Arshavin approach". BBC Sport. 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Arshavin banned for two Russia games". euro2008.uefa.com. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
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(help) - ^ "UEFA single Arshavin out as star performer". FourFourTwo. 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
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External links
- Andrei Arshavin – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Official Site of Andrei Arshavin
- Club profile
- Russia - Record International Players, RSSSF.