Yuri Zhirkov

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Personal information
Yuriy Zhirkov

Date of birth	August 20, 1983 (1983-08-20) (age 24)
Place of birth	Tambov, Russia, USSR
Playing position	Left winger
Club information
Current club	PFC CSKA Moscow
Youth clubs
	FC Spartak Tambov
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2001-2003 2004-present	FC Spartak Tambov PFC CSKA Moscow	104 (11)
National team²
2005-	Russia	19 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 2, 2007. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Yuriy Zhirkov (born 20 August 1983 in Tambov, USSR) is a Russian football (soccer) midfielder. He currently plays for PFC CSKA Moscow and Russia national team. He won the 2004-05 UEFA Cup with PFC CSKA Moscow. He mainly plays as an attacking left winger although he has played as an attacking left wing back in the past. His trickery and abundance of creativity makes him one of CSKA Moscow's and Russia's most prized assets. He has earned the nickname 'the Russian Ronaldinho' for his dribbling skills and audacity. He is also a very hard working player who often tracks back and is a solid marker and sliding tackler.

His goal against Hamburger SV in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07 was chosen as best goal of the competition by UEFA Magazine "Goal". His goal involves him chipping the ball past an opponent then again past a second opponent before dribbling from the half way line into the penalty box and shooting past the goal keeper. He made 6 appearances in in the group stages, scoring once.

Zhirkov has played 16 times for the Russia national football team, often starting in a 3-5-2 formation in the left wing.

[edit] External links

uefa.com short bios.
Goal of the gates of Hamburger SV

v • d • e Russia squad - UEFA Euro 2008

1 Akinfeev • 2 V. Berezutskiy • 3 Yanbayev • 4 Ignashevich • 5 A. Berezutskiy • 6 Adamov • 7 Torbinsky • 8 Kolodin • 9 Saenko • 10 Arshavin • 11 Semak • 12 Gabulov • 13 Ivanov • 14 Shirokov • 15 Bilyaletdinov • 16 Malafeev • 17 Zyrianov • 18 Zhirkov • 19 Pavlyuchenko • 20 Semshov • 21 Sychev • 22 Anyukov • 23 Bystrov • Coach: Hiddink