Yuri Zhirkov

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.

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.

Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (Ю́рий Валенти́нович Жирко́в; born 20 August 1983) is a Russian former footballer who played as a left-back and as a left-winger.

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.

His first coach was Valery Sharapov, who signed him for the Tambov Regional Children and Youth Sports School.

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

A left-sided player who can play full-back or winger, Zhirkov began his career at local club Spartak Tambov before joining top-flight CSKA Moscow in 2004.

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 has earned over 100 international caps since 2005.

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.

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.

In the 2007–08 season, however, CSKA lost almost every game in Europe.

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.

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.

Domestic and European success followed, and in 2009 he moved to English Premier League club Chelsea for £18 million.

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.

On 6 July 2009, Zhirkov joined Chelsea on a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of £18 million, exceeding the £15 million Arsenal paid for Andrey Arshavin in January 2009, thus making Zhirkov the most expensive Russian football player of all-time.

He was also selected to the Russian squads for Euro 2012, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where Russia hosted the tournament, and Euro 2020.

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.