Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin
Name: Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin
Nationality: Russian
Date and Place of Birth: Born May 29, 1981 in Saint Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad, USSR)
Playing Position: Attacking midfielder, striker
Current Club:
Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russian Premier League)
Club Career:
2000 – present Zenit Saint Petersburg
International Career:
2002 – present Russia (current national team captain)
About Andrei Arshavin:
Andrei Arshavin's professional football career started at Zenit Saint Petersburg's farm club Zenit-2 in the Russian Second Division in 1999 and after making an impression there he made his full Zenit debut in 2000 in an Intertot Cup game against English side Bradford City. More than competent in several attacking roles, Arshavin took a while to find his most natural position and ultimately settled as an attacking midfielder/support striker playing off a main centre forward, often from the left or right flank.
His abilites as both a creator and scorer of goals saw him crowned Russian Player of the Year in 2006 and subsequently help Zenit to their first post Soviet breakup league title in 2007 when he scored ten goals and made eleven assists in their Premier League winning campaign.
Arshavin came to more widespread popularity in the rest of Europe after he inspired Zenit St. Petersburg's run to winning the 2008 UEFA Cup, putting in many starring performances throughout their campaign, not least of which came in the demolition of Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and Rangers in the UEFA Cup final. Depsite being suspended for the first two games of Euro 2008, Arshavin went on to cement his superstar status with several high class, eye catching performances for Russia as they fought their way to eventual semi-final defeat at the hands of Spain.
Arshavin's club future has been in doubt since Euro 2008 with the player looking for a new opportunity in the major European leagues of Spain or England with both Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur showing interest in securing his talents for the 2008/2009 season.
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