A Russian Ronaldinho’s Time at Chelsea: Yuri Zhirkov

Back in June of 2009, there was a lot of excitement buzzing around Stamford Bridge. Guus Hiddink, who was the interim manager of Chelsea and also managed the Russian national team, had recently led Chelsea to victory in the FA Cup. As he prepared to leave his role at Chelsea, Hiddink had one last request for the team owner, Roman Abramovich – he wanted him to sign Yuri Zhirkov.

At the time, Zhirkov was a relatively unknown player, though he had made an impression with his performance for Russia in the Euro 2008 tournament. Fans were open to the idea of signing Zhirkov, but when rumors started to circulate that he was nicknamed “the Russian Ronaldinho,” the hype surrounding the potential signing reached a fever pitch. Continue reading “A Russian Ronaldinho’s Time at Chelsea: Yuri Zhirkov”

Yuri Zhirkov, Remembering the Russian Superstar

 

The hype train was well and truly circling Stamford Bridge in June 2009.


Interim manager Guus Hiddink, who was also in charge of Russia at the time, had just led Chelsea to FA Cup glory. Before he boarded his horse to ride off into the sunset, he had a final message for owner Roman Abramovich. Even though the 25-year-old CSKA Moscow wingback had impressed Russia at Euro 2008, he wasn’t exactly a household name at the time. Although his nickname, “the Russian Ronaldinho,” first came to light, that hysteria quickly escalated. Continue reading “Yuri Zhirkov, Remembering the Russian Superstar”

Young Talent from Dynamo Moscow Is Being Considered by Chelsea

Chelsea football club has expressed interest in taking up a Russian teenage footballer from Dynamo Moscow. Arsen Zakharyan might be signed up by Chelsea this summer though it is not apparent when the move would happen. The teenager also wants to come over to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are busy picking up young talents for the forthcoming summer months. These include international young footballers such as Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos, and David Datro Fofana.

 

Zakharyan is an attacking midfielder 19 years of age. He has won six Russian caps till now. This promising young talent is on the Chelsea club’s radar. Though this Premier League club is eager to pick up this player, he is one among several young talents who are on their radar. It is not yet apparent that he would be part of the club this summer. Zakharyan on the other hand has been featuring for Dynamo regularly. He is also keen to switch over to London. In all the competitions he has made 22 appearances, six assists, and three goals. Continue reading “Young Talent from Dynamo Moscow Is Being Considered by Chelsea”

Remembering Yuri Zhirkov’s Time at Chelsea

 

In 2009, the hype train was ruling around Stamford Bridge. Guss Hiddink, the interim boss, who had also been the manager of Russia at that time, had led Chelsea to the glory of the FA Cup and as he climbed on the horse ride off to the sunset, he had a message for Roman Abramovich, the owner and that was to sign Yuri Zhirkov.

The Moscow wing-back wasn’t a household name during that time, even though he had impressed at Euro 2008 while playing for Russia. Fans have been open-minded. However, once he was given the nickname ‘the Russian Ronaldinho’, the hysteria was in overdrive. The interest of Abramovic had been piqued and an £18m was rapidly concluded in July, making the Russian player the most expensive Russian footballer of all time. This is a record that hasn’t been broken yet. It led to a two-year spell with Chelsea that still divides opinion. Continue reading “Remembering Yuri Zhirkov’s Time at Chelsea”

                         ZHIRKOV BELIEVES CHELSEA HAVE THE NEXT JADON SANCHO

 
When you’re being described as the ‘next Jadon Sancho’, you must be a pretty special. That label has been given to Charlie Webster, an 18-year-old making his way through Chelsea’s ranks. The English midfielder is regarded as one of the best youngsters in the club’s academy and has many admirers, including Manchester City hero Kevin De Bruyne. It is believed Webster is close to agreeing a new contract at Stamford Bridge and that’s good news for Chelsea fans, as Borussia Dortmund have been monitoring his progress. The German giants have a reputation for signing the best young players in Europe.


Born in Hampshire, Webster has been on Chelsea’s books since U10 level after a spell in the Pezzaz Street Soccer Academy, an advanced coaching school for children who’ve been identified as having the potential to become a footballer from a very young age. Players as young as four are snapped up by the academy and several youngsters have gone on to get contracts at the likes of Fulham, Oxford, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol City and Reading. Webster is already regarded as one of Pezzaz’s success stories. Continue reading “                         ZHIRKOV BELIEVES CHELSEA HAVE THE NEXT JADON SANCHO”

ZHIRKOV: 2010 FA CUP FINAL REVIEWED

Russian star Yuri Zhirkov was an unused substitute as his Chelsea side beat Portsmouth in the 2010 FA Cup final to win the 2009/10 FA Cup. Yuri Zhirkov and Chelsea were able to add the FA Cup title to their Premier League title for a fantastic double at the end of the 2009/10 season.

In the 2010 FA Cup final, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti opted for Englishman Ashley Cole as his left-back ahead of Yuri Zhirkov. Russian star Zhirkov had played second fiddle to Cole in the left-back department since his arrival from CSKA Moscow in the Russian top flight. Zhirkov rarely got the chance to start games whenever Cole is fit especially in the Premier League. Continue reading “ZHIRKOV: 2010 FA CUP FINAL REVIEWED”

      ZHIRKOV PREDICTS HOW CHELSEA COULD LINEUP UNDER NEW MANAGER POTTER

Chelsea look set to make Brighton manager Graham Potter their new boss following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel after the Englishman reportedly verbally agreed to join the club and started saying his goodbyes to those at the Seagulls.

Their former player Yuri Zhirkov suggests how he may choose to line up against London rivals Fulham this weekend as he seeks to arrest his new side’s current slump. Continue reading “      ZHIRKOV PREDICTS HOW CHELSEA COULD LINEUP UNDER NEW MANAGER POTTER”

ZHIRKOV: CHELSEA CAREER IN FOCUS

Russian star Yuri Zhirkov became a Chelsea player in the summer of 2009. His transfer to Chelsea was confirmed on July 6, 2009. The Blues paid around £18m to secure his transfer from CSKA Moscow in the Russian top flight thus making him the most expensive Russian footballer at the time. The previous record was held by Andrei Arshavin who left Russian team Zenit Saint Petersburg to sign for Arsenal at the start of 2009 in a deal believed to be around £15m.

Yuri Zhirkov put pen to paper on a four-year deal when he signed for Chelsea during the summer’s transfer window in 2009. His impact at Chelsea was instant after he scored on his debut for the club against Italian side AC Milan in a pre-season friendly and his goal turned out to be the difference between the two teams. He had to wait for his competitive debut due to injury. Continue reading “ZHIRKOV: CHELSEA CAREER IN FOCUS”

       ZHIRKOV SAYS KENEDY SHOULD LEAVE CHELSEA TO GET MORE PLAYING TIME

According to Brazilian journalist Mateus-Guia Alvinegro, Kenedy is the subject of interest from Botafogo over a possible move in the summer transfer window. A Estrela solitaria are keen on reinforcing their wide-attacking options in the coming weeks, with the Chelsea wing-back emerging as a viable candidate.


Kenedy has been with Chelsea for nearly seven years but has failed to nail down a spot for himself in the first-team squad. The 26-year-old joined the Blues in August 2015 after a successful trial, but he has spent only one full season with the west London club, his debut campaign in England. Continue reading “       ZHIRKOV SAYS KENEDY SHOULD LEAVE CHELSEA TO GET MORE PLAYING TIME”

       NAPOLI READY TO OFFER €25M TO SIGN ARMANDO BROJA, ZHIRKOV LOVES HIM

As reported by Calcio Napoli24, in a new twist to the Armando Broja transfer saga, Napoli are ready to pay Chelsea €25 million to secure the signing of the striker. The 20-year-old has reportedly agreed on personal terms with West Ham United, but the Hammers are yet to reach an agreement on a transfer fee with the Blues. Broja is a Chelsea youth product but has not been able to make a breakthrough in their first team, making just one senior appearance for them. The Albanian striker was sent out on loan over the last two seasons, to Vitesse Arnhem and Southampton, respectively, where he has flourished.


For Vitesse, in the 2020/21 season, Broja scored 11 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions before he impressed for the Saints, netting nine times for them in 38 matches. The 20-year-old has now returned to Chelsea for the pre-season campaign but looks destined for an exit. Continue reading “       NAPOLI READY TO OFFER €25M TO SIGN ARMANDO BROJA, ZHIRKOV LOVES HIM”