Yuri Zhirkov is a Russian left-sided player who performed well in a number of positions. He can play as a left-back, a left winger and a left midfielder. He began his career in the youth team at Spartak Tambov in his native Russia. Yuri Zhirkov made his professional bow at Tambov and he was in the first team for three years before signing for fellow Russian side CSKA Moscow.

Zhirkov began to gain European recognition with his performances for CSKA Moscow. He won the Russian Cup, Russian Premier League, Russian Super Cup and UEFA Cup titles at CSKA Moscow before leaving Russia for the first time when it comes to his professional football career. The Russian signed for Premier League heavyweights Chelsea in 2009 after the London club paid £18m to sign him from CSKA Moscow.

At Chelsea, Yuri Zhirkov scored once in 29 Premier League games over the course of his two-year spell at Stamford Bridge before returning to Russia.Zhirkovsigned for Anzhi Makhachkala whom he played for until Dynamo Moscow came calling in 2013. He spent two years at Anzhi before signing for Dynamo Moscow on the back of the financial issues at Anzhi. Zhirkov moved from Dynamo Moscow to Zenit Saint Petersburg during the 2016 winter and he was at the club for five years until his release last summer.

On the international stage, Yuri Zhirkov made over a century appearances for his country from his debut in 2015. One of the most memorable highlights of his international career was when he was named as a recipient of a place in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2008. He was part of the Russia team that reached the semifinals before they were knocked out by eventual champions Spain. Yuri Zhirkov was also made the Russian Player of the Year in 2008.