Name: Alexander Kergakov
Patronymic: Anatolyevich
Birthday: November 27, 1982 (age 36)
Place of birth: Kingisepp, Leningrad region.
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Eastern horoscope: Dog
Career: Athletes
Alexander Kerzhakov - the name has always aroused respect among rivals and colleagues. The famous football player has established himself as a stable player. But it is worth noting that Alexander’s path to becoming was not easy. Difficulties only strengthened the character, which manifested itself both on the field and in life. More than once a famous surname will flash in the news, because the man did not quit his life’s work, but only changed the direction of his activity.
Childhood and youth
The future star of domestic football, Alexander Kerzhakov, was born on November 27, 1982 in the city of Kingisepp, in the Leningrad region. Dad, Anatoly Rafailovich, an amateur league footballer in his youth, and mother, Tatyana Veniaminovna, were happy about the appearance of the boy. Later, five years later, the family welcomed a new addition: Sasha’s brother, Mikhail, was born.
The father really wanted his sons to become professional players, so he instilled in them a love of football from an early age. Brothers Alexander Kerzhakov and Mikhail Kerzhakov first trained under their father. For Sasha, training became very serious and regular, so at the age of eleven he entered the Zenit specialized children's and youth sports school in St. Petersburg. Experienced coach Sergei Romanov began working with the young football player, who identified the makings of a striker in Alexander.
Kerzhakov himself recalled his years of study at the boarding school as difficult. He missed home very much, sometimes cried, and asked his mom and dad to come to him more often. Sasha’s peers were not at the sports school, and he had little contact with older guys. It happened that it became too sad and lonely, the guy got ready and went to his godmother, where he could sleep peacefully and eat better.
As time passed, Alexander was given a service apartment in St. Petersburg, where he moved his parents from his hometown of Kingisepp. When Alexander Kerzhakov began to earn good money, he moved his mother and father to a new apartment and sent him on a well-deserved rest. The younger brother, Mikhail, like Alexander, became a professional player, but in the position of goalkeeper. Now he is listed in the ranks of the St. Petersburg Zenit.
Career
The year 2000 became significant in the life of the still very young and little-known football player Kerzhakov. Kerzhakov began the new millennium playing for the Zenit club, his favorite team from childhood, where the talented guy was invited by the club’s coach. However, it so happened that Alexander spent most of the matches in reserve. After changing the coach to Valery Gazzaev, the young forward received a little more freedom, immediately delighting the fans and coach with his first goals.
Being a very assertive and characterful young man, by 2001 he became one of the thirty-three best Russian football players and entered the main team. That same year, Alexander won bronze in the domestic championship. Three years later, Zenit is already a silver medalist, thanks to Kerzhakov.
In 2004, Kerzhakov more than once became the most productive scorer in European Cups. With the arrival of new coach Dick Advocaat to the team, Alexander again began to play more and more matches in the reserve. Perhaps even then he was considering a move to the Spanish club Sevilla.
In the new team, Kerzhakov again showed himself excellently, bringing victories and scoring goals, winning bronze at the Spanish Championship. For Alexander, 2006 brought not only a medal, but also the title of ZMS of Russia.
In 2008, the footballer returned to his homeland, joining the Moscow Dynamo team and in 2009 he demonstrated his skills, scoring in every second game. By the beginning of 2010, the scorer victoriously returned to his home club Zenit and brought his team the title of Champions. By 2013, he became the top scorer in the history of Russian football, with 208 successfully scored goals behind him.
Kerzhakov ends his career in 2020 with a large number of titles won and brilliantly played games. Currently, Kerzhakov is an expert on the Match TV channel.
Football career
After graduating from sports school, Alexander Kerzhakov joined the amateur football club Svetogorets and trained under the former head of the Zenit school, Vladimir Kazachenko. According to the results of the 2000 pre-season tournament, Alexander was recognized as the best forward. He proved himself excellent and received a long-awaited invitation to the St. Petersburg club Zenit. He played in this team for 6 years.
In 2000, then 19-year-old Sasha was invited to the Russian national football team by coach Oleg Romantsev. The first year, Kerzhakov briefly replaced the main players, went with the national team to the World Cup in Japan in 2002, but spent very little time on the field. The next coach, Valery Gazzaev, gave the young athlete more freedom and playing time, which resulted in Alexander’s first goals for the national team.
Almost immediately, Alexander, thanks to his drive and character, made it into the main team and already in 2001, for the first time, he was included in the list of 33 best football players in Russia, where he stayed for 5 years. As a member of Zenit, Kerzhakov won bronze at the Russian Championship in 2001, and silver in 2003.
In 2004, he became the Premier League's top scorer. He was also repeatedly included in the list of the club’s best players based on the results of European Cups. However, with the arrival of new coach Dick Advocaat at Zenit, Alexander began to be given less playing time on the field, largely due to the player’s desire to change clubs.
The Spanish club Sevilla noticed not the most powerful (height - 176 cm, weight - 75 kg), but speedy and cold-blooded forward during matches against Zenit and after some time wished to acquire the footballer. As a result of negotiations, Kerzhakov signed a 5-year contract worth € 5 million in 2006.
Alexander felt quite comfortable in his new surroundings, performing well in his first matches. He made a significant contribution to Sevilla's victory in the Spanish Cup and UEFA Cup in 2006-2007. As part of this club, Kerzhakov won a bronze medal at the Spanish Championship. In 2006, a successful year for the football player, he received the honorary title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia.
When Sevilla was headed by Manolo Jimenez, a difficult period began in the sports biography of Alexander Kerzhakov - he was practically not allowed on the field. Most of the time the footballer sat on the bench, and sometimes even remained in the reserves.
After several months of such ordeals, the striker decided to return to Russia again, which he did in 2008, strengthening Dynamo Moscow, where he was invited by his former Zenit teammate Andrei Kobelev. It was not possible to play the first season effectively, however, the Dynamo team took bronze medals at the 2008 Russian Championship. The following year, Alexander Kerzhakov demonstrated all his talents, scoring 12 goals in 24 matches.
The beginning of 2010 was marked by the forward's triumphant return to Zenit. It became triumphant not only because the striker returned to his native land, but also because already in his first season he turned out to be the best player in the Russian championship and brought the club the title of national champion.
For Zenit on May 29, 2011, Alexander scored his 100th anniversary goal, and 2 years later the forward’s 200th goal flew into the enemy’s goal. And on September 28, 2013, Kerzhakov became the top scorer in the entire history of Russian football, scoring a total of 208 goals.
Despite his controversial career over the entire period of his participation in the national team, Kerzhakov performed the qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup brilliantly. The fans especially remembered the 2 goals against the Israeli team and the subsequent resounding victory. One, but decisive, goal in the match with Portugal was worth a lot.
In December 2020, Alexander Kerzhakov entered into a rental agreement until the end of the current season with the Swiss Zurich, because in the summer he had a quarrel with the coach of the “blue and white” Andre Villas-Boas, and he forbade the athlete to appear at Zenit’s location.
Moreover, neither party paid the player’s salary. At this time, rumors appeared that Alexander would try on the role of presenter on the Match TV channel. But the footballer understood that he couldn’t lose shape, and an older player shouldn’t count on another team. As part of Zurich, the striker won the Swiss Cup, but the club was relegated from the top national league.
Biography
Initially, he was involved in various sports, in particular kickboxing and karate. At the age of 7, he went to the football section of Vasily Ivanovich Butakov, who, according to Kerzhakov, “worked at a factory and in his free time walked around the yards, collecting children”[2]. At the Zenit football school, where brother Alexander already studied, Mikhail became a goalkeeper.
From school he was taken into the Zenit reserve team in the summer of 2004, where he soon became the first goalkeeper. During the off-season, at a training camp in Spain, he was the first goalkeeper of the main team (Vyacheslav Malafeev and Kamil Chontofalski were in their national teams). With him, Zenit won the Marbella Cup tournament.
Since 2003, he was regularly called up to the Russian national football team among youths born in 1987. Since 2006 - joined the Russian youth team.
After graduating from secondary school in 2004, he entered the Lesgaft Academy of Physical Culture, but then moved to the Russian State Pedagogical University named after. Herzen, where he completed his studies as a teacher of preschool children. [ source not specified 3500 days
]
In 2008, he was rented by Ulyanovsk Volga.
"Volgar-Gazprom"
He spent the next season on loan again - in the Volgar-Gazprom club, with which Zenit had previously signed a cooperation agreement[3].
"Alania"
In 2010, he was loaned to Alania Vladikavkaz[4], and the terms of the lease did not prohibit him from playing against Zenit[5]. The player himself was interested in this deal, since he had no chance to break into the first team after the appearance of Yuri Zhevnov in the Zenit lineup[6]. On April 25, 2010, he made his debut in the Premier League in a match with Rostov, which ended in a 1:0 victory for Alania[7]. On May 10, 2010, Alania hosted Spartak Moscow and defeated it with a score of 5:2. Kerzhakov defended the entire match, and in the 90th minute parried a penalty kick from Welliton[8]. In the second round match in Moscow, he also did not allow Ibson to score. On November 1, in an away match with Zenit (0:3), he conceded two goals from Alexander Kerzhakov.[9] After returning from the loan, he did not enter into a new contract with Zenit[10].
"Volga"
On December 27, 2010, as a free agent, he moved to Volga from Nizhny Novgorod[11], signing a contract for 2 years[12]. On October 22, 2012, in a match with Krylia Sovetov (1:0), he saved a penalty in the 87th minute.
"Anji"
On June 19, 2013, he became an Anzhi player, having concluded a long-term agreement with the Makhachkala club[13].
Return to Zenit
On June 16, 2020, it was announced that Kerzhakov had moved to Zenit, the contract was for 4 years[14]. He made his debut for the club on September 23 in the away match of the 1/16 finals of the Russian Cup against Volga Tver (3:0). On September 29, he played a home match in the Champions League against Ghent (2:1). On October 3, he made his debut in the Russian Championship, keeping a clean sheet in the home game against Rostov. In the 2016/17 championship he made his debut in the home match of the 5th round against Amkar (3:0), in the same game he played for the first time together with his brother Alexander as part of Zenit.[15]
"Orenburg"
On February 10, 2020, he moved to the Premier League club Orenburg on loan until the end of the season.[16] At the end of the loan, he returned to the St. Petersburg club.
Charity
It is known that Alexander Kerzhakov devotes a lot of effort and energy to charity. In the spring of 2015, he, together with his wife Milana and businessman Ivan Nikiforov, established the Stars for Children charity foundation. The foundation's activities are aimed at helping children from poor and disadvantaged families. Company employees provided targeted assistance, organized summer vacations, and resolved issues related to obtaining an education.
In addition, the foundation actively helped the St. Petersburg children's hospice and was involved in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. The activities of the institution were constantly expanding. In 2020, the Alexander Foundation signed an agreement with the State Hermitage and became its only corporate partner.
In 2018, when changes occurred in the personal lives of the spouses, Milana Kerzhakova announced that “Stars for Children” would henceforth have no connection with her name. The woman decided to collaborate with the Life Line foundation, which is supported by Victoria Lopyreva, Mitya Fomin, figure skaters Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov.
“I was silent until the last moment”: Alexander Kerzhakov spoke about divorce for the first time
In May 2020, Milana Kerzhakova announced that she was breaking up with her husband. At the end of June, the football player’s wife announced that Alexander did not allow her to communicate with her son. Soon, Yana Rudkovskaya said that the athlete’s wife was undergoing treatment for drug addiction. The producer urged Kerzhakova to find a common language with the child’s father.
Milana confirmed that she was undergoing treatment for drug addiction and apologized to her subscribers. Alexander Kerzhakov wrote on his blog that he was proud of his wife and would try to help her cope with the disease.
On October 23, a court hearing was held to determine Artemy’s place of residence. The day before, the footballer broke his silence for the first time and commented on the conflict with Milan to Komsomolskaya Pravda. Alexander noted that he did not strive for publicity: “I was silent until the last moment and did not want to endure this whole story. But Milana did not want to solve our situation peacefully. Milana was in a different mood just a week ago. Yana Rudkovskaya called me and said that Milana had come to see her in Moscow and asked to organize a meeting for us to try to come to an amicable agreement,” the athlete noted.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kerzhakov Aleksandr (@a.kerzhakov11) on Jul 21, 2018 at 8:03am PDT
Alexander added that he was happy about the upcoming conversation and would be glad to resolve the matter peacefully: “We agreed to meet on the 18th, but on the evening of the 17th Milana wrote to Yana that the meeting was cancelled. Milana said that the lawyer advised her not to see me until the trial.” The footballer believes that the son should stay with his father for his own safety:
“I have all the evidence of her alcohol abuse, calls, videos.
Milana recently told me (on the record) that if the situation with the loss of a loved one repeats in her life, she will most likely use drugs again. "I am such a person! I have such a reaction to life’s problems,” Milana said. How can I trust her after this? For me, the safety of the child is the most important thing. My son is only one and a half years old, and where he lives and with whom affects his development,” Kerzhakov is sure.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Milana Tyulpanova (@milana_tulpanova) on Jul 3, 2018 at 3:01am PDT
Kerzhakov said that Yana Rudkovskaya took part in his negotiations with his wife: “Yana constantly tried to reconcile and help us, she was convinced that after Milana underwent treatment, she should enter a normal work and life schedule, and then everything should go Fine. Yana constantly cited her situation as an example, saying that it was not for judges and lawyers to educate Artemy, but for Milana and me.
Plus, Yana had many hours of conversations with Milana. She wanted to help not bring everything to trial, to war. God knows, I also had hope that Milana and I would come to an agreement,” added the footballer.
Alexander Kerzhakov married the daughter of influential senator Vadim Tyulpanov in 2020. In April last year, Milana gave birth to the athlete’s son, Artemy. A few days before the boy was born, Milana’s father suddenly died. Soon rumors appeared that the young mother moved with her son to her mother, not wanting to tolerate her husband’s infidelity. The athlete himself claims that the move took place by mutual agreement and at the request of Milana.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kerzhakov Aleksandr (@a.kerzhakov11) on Jul 11, 2018 at 1:50am PDT
On this topic: “What does your mother tell you?” Alexander Kerzhakov is accused of cruelty to his wives
Photo: Persona Stars
@a.kerzhakov11
@milana_tulpanova
The ex-wife of Alexander Kerzhakov - Maria Golova
The forward met his future wife on New Year's Eve 2005. Masha was born and raised in the small town of Monchegorsk, which is located beyond the Arctic Circle. After school, the girl decided to connect her life with economics and finance, so she came to go to college in the city on the Neva. She translated, danced and played various sports games.
The ex-wife of Alexander Kerzhakov, Maria Golova, turned the football forward’s head. The novel developed rapidly. After the girl became pregnant, the young lovers officially registered their relationship.
The happy life lasted for 5 years. The wife did not pay attention to rumors about Alexander's infidelity. One day, Maria came home and found her husband in bed with another woman. She filed for divorce, which took place at the end of 2010.
The woman is now married to another man. The daughter did not recognize her new husband, so it was decided that the daughter would live with Alexander and his wife.
Biography[ | ]
Initially, he was involved in various sports, in particular kickboxing and karate. At the age of 7, he went to the football section of Vasily Ivanovich Butakov, who, according to Kerzhakov, “worked at a factory and in his free time walked around the yards, collecting children”[2]. At the Zenit football school, where brother Alexander already studied, Mikhail became a goalkeeper.
From school he was taken into the Zenit reserve team in the summer of 2004, where he soon became the first goalkeeper. During the off-season, at a training camp in Spain, he was the first goalkeeper of the main team (Vyacheslav Malafeev and Kamil Chontofalski were in their national teams). With him, Zenit won the Marbella Cup tournament.
Since 2003, he was regularly called up to the Russian national football team among youths born in 1987. Since 2006 - joined the Russian youth team.
After graduating from secondary school in 2004, he entered the Lesgaft Academy of Physical Culture, but then moved to the Russian State Pedagogical University named after. Herzen, where he completed his studies as a teacher of preschool children. [ source not specified 3500 days
]
In 2008, he was rented by Ulyanovsk Volga.
"Volgar-Gazprom"[ | ]
He spent the next season on loan again - in the Volgar-Gazprom club, with which Zenit had previously signed a cooperation agreement[3].
"Alania"[ | ]
In 2010, he was loaned to Alania Vladikavkaz[4], and the terms of the lease did not prohibit him from playing against Zenit[5]. The player himself was interested in this deal, since he had no chance to break into the first team after the appearance of Yuri Zhevnov in the Zenit lineup[6]. On April 25, 2010, he made his debut in the Premier League in a match with Rostov, which ended in a 1:0 victory for Alania[7]. On May 10, 2010, Alania hosted Spartak Moscow and defeated it with a score of 5:2. Kerzhakov defended the entire match, and in the 90th minute parried a penalty kick from Welliton[8]. In the second round match in Moscow, he also did not allow Ibson to score. On November 1, in an away match with Zenit (0:3), he conceded two goals from Alexander Kerzhakov.[9] After returning from the loan, he did not enter into a new contract with Zenit[10].
"Volga"[ | ]
On December 27, 2010, as a free agent, he moved to Volga from Nizhny Novgorod[11], signing a contract for 2 years[12]. On October 22, 2012, in a match with Krylia Sovetov (1:0), he saved a penalty in the 87th minute.
"Anji"[ | ]
On June 19, 2013, he became an Anzhi player, having concluded a long-term agreement with the Makhachkala club[13].
Return to Zenit[ | ]
On June 16, 2020, it was announced that Kerzhakov had moved to Zenit, the contract was for 4 years[14]. He made his debut for the club on September 23 in the away match of the 1/16 finals of the Russian Cup against Volga Tver (3:0). On September 29, he played a home match in the Champions League against Ghent (2:1). On October 3, he made his debut in the Russian Championship, keeping a clean sheet in the home game against Rostov. In the 2016/17 championship he made his debut in the home match of the 5th round against Amkar (3:0), in the same game he played for the first time together with his brother Alexander as part of Zenit.[15]
"Orenburg"[ | ]
On February 10, 2020, he moved to the Premier League club Orenburg on loan until the end of the season.[16] At the end of the loan, he returned to the St. Petersburg club.
Former common-law wife of Alexander Kerzhakov - Ekaterina Safronova
In 2012, the bombardier met a young woman named Ekaterina. She was the wife of the famous hockey player Kirill Safronov, with whom she raised her daughter. Soon after the first meeting, Alexander Kerzhakov’s former common-law wife, Ekaterina Safronova, left her husband.
The star of football battles treated his chosen daughter well. It was decided not to marry, despite the appearance of a son in the family.
At the beginning of 2014, it became known that the football player began raising the boy himself, accusing his former lover of drug abuse. Nowadays, a woman has no right to approach her child closer than 100 meters.
International career of Alexander Kerzhakov
He began his international career as a member of the Russian national under-18 team, in whose ranks he played 12 matches and scored 10 goals. From 2001 to 2003 he played in the Russian youth team, scoring 2 goals in 4 meetings. Since 2002 he has been called up to the main team. He made his debut in a friendly match against Estonia on March 27, 2002. Became one of the youngest players at the 2002 World Championship. He played here for only 7 minutes, replacing Valery Karpin in the match against Belgium.
The next time I went to a major international tournament was only in 2012. Then Kerzhakov was considered the main forward of the Russians at the European Championships in Ukraine and Poland. He appeared in the starting lineup in all three matches of the group stage, but did not play to the end in any of them, simultaneously setting an anti-record for the number of inaccurate shots in one match (8).
Two years later, he tried to rehabilitate himself with the Russian squad at the final tournament of the World Championship in Brazil. Kerzhakov scored a goal in the first match against South Korea, but did not make any difference in the remaining matches, and the Russians were eliminated after the group stage. On September 2, 2014, he scored a double in a friendly match against Azerbaijan and with 30 goals became the top scorer in the history of the Russian team.
Alexander Kerzhakov's wife - Milana Kerzhakova (Tulpanova)
The football star met his future wife in 2014. Soon after their first meeting, the lovers began to live together. Alexander Kerzhakov’s wife, Milana Kerzhakova, supported her chosen one in court.
It is known that the girl’s father is a St. Petersburg senator. Milana was educated in the UK. She chose journalism for herself, but now the attacker’s wife takes care of the house and raises children. The girl danced at a professional level.
Children of Alexander Kerzhakov
The children of Alexander Kerzhakov are being raised by him and his current wife Milana. They come to all their star daddy’s matches and actively root for him. The footballer often spends weekends with his offspring. On holidays, he takes his children outside the city to play on the grass.
Alexander often takes part in charity events. It provides financial support to children from disadvantaged families. Kerzhakov often comes to the hospice of his native St. Petersburg to support sick children. In 2014, the football player organized a Foundation that raises funds for the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy.
Son of Alexander Kerzhakov - Igor Kerzhakov
The little boy was born in early 2013. Soon after this, the football player contacts law enforcement agencies. He talks about his wife's substance abuse. Soon the public learned that the woman was being treated in a mental hospital.
By court decision, the son of Alexander Kerzhakov, Igor Kerzhakov, began to live with his father and his new wife Milana, whom he calls mom.
The boy is very sociable. The star decided that he needed to communicate with his peers, so he began attending kindergarten. In his free time, Igor liked to play football with his dad. He often comes to football battles in which Alexander plays. The boy is actively rooting for him.
Son of Alexander Kerzhakov - Artemy Kerzhakov
The baby was born on a sunny April day in 2020. The parents decided to name their offspring after the calendar. On this day Tanya and Elena celebrated their name days. The only male name was Artemy. So Alexander and Milana gave it to the baby.
Soon, the son of Alexander Kerzhakov, Artemy Kerzhakov, will celebrate his first anniversary - he will turn one year old. For now, there is nothing more joyful than being in the circle of your family. In particular, Tyoma loves to play ball with his brother.
Daughter of Alexander Kerzhakov - Daria Kerzhakova
The popular football player became a father for the first time at the end of 2005. Maria Golova gave birth to a girl. Now the girl lives with her beloved father and his new wife, whom Dashenka calls Mila.
Currently, Alexander Kerzhakov’s daughter, Daria Kerzhakova, is in 7th grade at one of the best St. Petersburg gymnasiums. She studies well, and the girl especially likes to learn the basics of mathematics and physics. In her spare time from studying, she enjoys reading books in the fantasy genre. Currently, she is reading books about the young wizard Harry Potter.
Dasha does not miss a single match with her father’s participation. She, being on the podium, actively supports the Zenit team. Alexander considers the girl his muse, who invariably becomes a symbol of victory.
Anatoly Kerzhakov: It’s a pity that Sasha didn’t break the record in Brazil
The Sovsport.ru correspondent talked to Anatoly Rafailovich Kerzhakov, the father of the best scorer in the history of the Russian national team.
Kerzhakov Sr. is happy for his son and is a little sad that the record did not take place at the World Cup. There, the Russian team's goals were so needed.
“THANK YOU VERETENNIKOV”
“Of course, it’s very nice that Sasha surpassed Vladimir Beschastnykh’s record, but I didn’t have such joy that I had tears in my eyes,” admits Anatoly Rafailovich. – Football is a team game. Partners help score goals - they play combinations and lead Sasha to strike. If it were an individual sport, where you do everything yourself, then, of course, you could be especially proud. It’s nice to break records, but I think it’s a little incorrect in football to be too happy about it. We need to think about partners. Sasha’s goals – for Zenit and for the national team – are a joint effort. Both him and the guys.
– Alexander himself reacted to the event with humor. “I missed the mark the 27th and 28th time!”
- It’s okay, it’s okay! – the father approves of his son’s joke. – Thanks to Oleg Veretennikov that Sasha has another guideline. Makes you pull yourself up. Veretennikov has a record of 143 goals in the championship.
– Is Sasha the next record holder?
-Yes, because Sasha has 137. Write it like that: thanks to Oleg Veretennikov for pushing Sasha.
– These goals were easy for Sasha against Azerbaijan, don’t you think?
- Yes, don’t say it! So quickly, at the very beginning.
– It’s a pity, not at the World Championships.
- Certainly! Everyone dreams of scoring at the World and European Championships.
– Was Sasha hit hard by the failure of the national team in Brazil?
- Yes. The guys were very upset. Such is the life of a professional athlete. This is not only our pain - all the teams who wanted to play successfully at the World Cup, but could not, are in the same situation. There's nothing you can do - this is the World Cup...
– Capello made all six substitutions in the game with Azerbaijan, but Sasha remained on the field until the end. Maybe Fabio wanted your son to score a hat-trick?
- Hardly. It seems to me that the last thing Capello will think about is Sasha’s records. It’s unlikely that he even knew about it before the match. Who cares? Sasha, me, my family.
"SONS ON THE RIGHT PATH"
– Alexander touchingly celebrated the goals, dedicating them to the boy Lesha, who, unfortunately, passed away. He visited Lesha in August at a Moscow hospice... - Yes, Sasha’s mother and I didn’t know about this during the game. Only after the match did we learn the sad news. Sasha recently went to see the boy - he was so happy about him! Very, very sorry.
“Many people were deeply moved by that story. When a famous football player gives up his business and rushes to another city - not even to help the child, but at least just to please him...
- Yes Yes! It’s good that Zenit agreed to meet us halfway and allowed us to go. It seems to me that anyone here would meet him halfway.
– Less well known is another story about how your other son, Anzhi goalkeeper Mikhail, gave money for an operation to a sick child in Makhachkala.
– Yes, Misha told us about this.
– Are you proud of your sons?
- Of course, what a lie. We are proud that our guys are on the right path. There is nothing bad to say. I think every normal person should do this. I don’t want to speak for everyone, but these are normal actions of normal people.
– How is Misha doing at Anzhi?
– So far, nothing at all. He plays constantly. On September 20, Anzhi will be visiting Khimik in my homeland in Dzerzhinsk - I was born and played there. I will definitely watch from the stands and root for him. The son will play in the stadium where his father started! How does fate work out, huh?
“RUSSIAN PEOPLE LIKE TO FORGIVE”
– Let's return to the Russian team. What are your impressions of the defeat of Azerbaijan?
– It was interesting to see what kind of team we have after the World Cup, to figure out how they will prepare for the Euro, which of the newcomers will emerge. There were no strong emotions from the game itself.
– Were you upset that, according to the most optimistic estimates, only 3,500 spectators attended the match?
– To be honest, it didn’t surprise me. Everyone took the failure at the World Cup very painfully, so something similar was to be expected at the first game. You can’t force the audience into the stadium!
– “Soviet Sport” is trying to encourage people to change their anger to mercy and support the national team in the match with Liechtenstein.
– It seems to me that the attendance will be higher - after all, it is an official qualifying match. The people must come. The Russian people love to forgive. Now the qualification for the Euro is all new.
– If the national team played in your homeland in Dzerzhinsk, would many people come?
- Oh! Of course! There, last year CSKA played in the Cup, I also came to that game. Full stadium! Can't get to the match. What’s interesting is that Khimik will host CSKA again this year. But this is not the most interesting news of the Cup draw for me, but the fact that Zenit is flying to Makhachkala!
- Exactly! Again the duel of the Kerzhakov brothers!
- Yes Yes Yes! Sasha called his mother and said: “You know, we are playing with Anzhi!” She replies: “I know. Misha has already called!” That's all we have. Again brother against brother.
Awards
- Three-time Russian champion
- Three-time silver medalist of the Russian Championship
- Three-time bronze medalist of the Russian Championship
- Two-time winner of the Russian Super Cup
- Winner of the Russian Cup
- Winner of the UEFA Cup (with Sevilla)
- Winner of the Spanish Cup and Super Cup (with Sevilla)
- Winner of the Swiss Cup (with Zurich)
Video
Achievements and records
Team
"Zenith"
- Russian Champion (3): 2010, 2011/12, 2014/15
- Silver medalist of the Russian Championship (3): 2003, 2012/13, 2013/14
- Bronze medalist of the Russian Championship (2): 2001, 2016/17
- Russian Cup Winner (1): 2009/10
- Premier League Cup Winner (1): 2003
- Winner of the Russian Super Cup (2): 2011, 2016
"Seville"
- UEFA Cup winner (1): 2006/07
- Copa del Rey winner (1): 2006/07
- Spanish Super Cup winner (1): 2007
"Dynamo"
- Bronze medalist of the Russian Championship (1): 2008
"Zurich"
- Swiss Cup winner (1): 2015/16
"Svetogorets"
- Winner of the Russian Championship among exercise therapy: 2000 (MRO "North-West")
Personal
- Top scorer of the Russian Championship: 2004.
- The list of 33 best football players of the Russian Championship (9)
: № 1 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011/12), № 2 (2009), № 3 (2001, 2005, 2012/13). - Footballer of the Year in Russia according to the RFU: 2010.[63]
- Best young footballer of the Russian Premier League (winner of the “First Five” award): 2002.
- Member of the Grigory Fedotov Club (2006).
- Leader (since 2013) of the Club of 100 Russian scorers (member since 2006).
- Member of the Igor Netto Club (2009).
- Honored Master of Sports of Russia (2007).
- “TOP 50. The most famous people of St. Petersburg”: 2006[64]
Records
- Zenit's top scorer in the history of the club.
- The best scorer in the history of Russian football.
- Top scorer of the Russian national team (30 goals)
- The best Russian scorer in European competition (30 goals).
