2. Childhood
Andrey Arshavin studied at
school № 18 in St.
Petersburg. His father
inculcated him interest in
football. Andrey’s father
Sergey played as an
amateur footballer.
3. Early career
Andrey began to play football when he was 7 years old. Andrey's mother Tatiana
Arshavin enrolled the son in the football school «Smena». His first coaches were
Sergey Gordeev and Viktor Vinogradov. He started to play for the adult team
«Smena» at the age of 16. At 18 years old, he played for the second team squad
«Zenit». In 2000 Yuri Morozov invited Arshavin in the first team of «Zenit».
Arshavin and FC Zenit
In 1999 Andrey started to play for the
reserve team of «Zenit». In 19 years old
made his debut in a 3–0 away win over
English side Bradford City in the Intertoto
Cup, coming on as a first half substitute for
Andrey Kobelev.
4. In 2008 he won the Russian super Cup, UEFA Cup and European super Cup. He was
named as the best player of the final of the UEFA Cup.
Andrey Arshavin played 310 official matches for «Zenit», scored 71 goals and won
the gold, silver and bronze medals of the Russian championship.
Arshavin and FC Arsenal
Arshavin made his debut for Arsenal against Sunderland on 21 February 2009 in
the Premier League.
5. On March 14, 2009 Andrey scored his first goal for Arsenal in the match of the
English Premier League against «Blackburn».
On 21 April 2009 Arshavin scored 4 goals in an away match of the English Premier
League against Liverpool. It was the first time Arshavin had scored four goals in
one match in his entire career. Arshavin is the first player, who managed to score
four goals in a single league match at Anfield Stadium.
Return to «Zenit»
On February 24, 2012, two minutes before the Russian transfer window closed,
Arshavin was loaned in the «Zenith» before the end of the 2011/2012 season.
The debut match of Arshavin after his returning was against CSKA Moscow.
6. Performances for the national team
Arshavin debuted for the Russian national team on 17 May 2002. He was Russia's
captain in a Euro 2008, where he won the bronze medal and was named in UEFA's
squad. He played 56 matches in Russian national team and scored 16 goals.
