Yuri Zhirkov

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 playing for CSKA Moscow

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. After the cup, Yuri Adzhem claimed Zhirkov had a good chance to receive a permanent place in the squad.

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. 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.

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.

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.Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (born 20 August 1983) is a Russian footballer who plays for Khimki.

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

Zhirkov has earned over 100 international caps since 2005. 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. 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.

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 skipped training to help his family grow vegetables during the summer so they 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.

Zhirkov made his debut for Russia on 9 February 2005, starting a 2–0 friendly defeat to Italy in Cagliari.

Zhirkov was named in the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament after helping the team to the semi-finals. 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.

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 second leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off after pushing a Slovenian substitute.

In August 2011, Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match against Serbia 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.

Zhirkov was confirmed for Russia's Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012, playing in all three of Russia's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.

On 2 June 2014, Zhirkov was included in Russia's 2014 World Cup squad.[30] 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 over Morocco. He featured in one match at the finals, playing 71 minutes of the opening 1–1 draw against South Korea before being replaced by Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Russia again exited the tournament at the group stage.

Zhirkov scored a second international goal on 29 March 2016 in a friendly 4–2 loss to France at the Stade de France.

Zhirkov was not included in Russia's squad for Euro 2016, but returned for the 2017 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 by Mexico in Kazan.

On 11 May 2018, he was included in Russia's extended 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. On 3 June 2018, he was included in the finalized World Cup squad. He started in the first two group-stage games, and then returned to the starting line-up in the first knock-out stage game against Spain in the Round of 16. However, his nagging injury forced him to get substituted at half-time of Spain game by Vladimir Granat, and he was not able to appear in the quarterfinal game against Croatia which Russia lost in the penalty shoot-out.

He announced his retirement from the national side following the World Cup. Despite that announcement, he was called up to the national team once again on 16 March 2019 for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Belgium and Kazakhstan. On 18 November 2020, he played his 100th match for Russia in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League.

On 11 May 2021, he was included in the preliminary extended 30-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On 2 June 2021, he was included in the final squad. He started Russia's opening game against Belgium on 12 June 2021, but had to be substituted in the first half due to leg injury. He did not appear in Russia's two remaining games due to his injury as they were eliminated at group stage.