Footballer Alexander Kerzhakov: personal life, career, achievements, records

One of the best strikers of the Russian national team and St. Petersburg's Zenit, Kerzhakov Alexander Anatolyevich was born on November 27, 1982 in a small town in the Leningrad region called Kingisepp.

First steps in football

From an early age, Alexander Kerzhakov worked hard at sports. His father, the former football player of the Dzerzhinsky "Chemist", day after day purposefully planted his son's love for the great game of millions. Soon, according to the recommendations of Anatoly Kerzhakov, Sasha was admitted to the St. Petersburg Sports School under the command "Zenith".

From the age of 11 the boy lived in a football boarding school. His first coach was the legendary Soviet player Sergei Romanov. At that time, Alexander was not very interested in big football, but he did his best in class at the SDSHORE school. In 1996, there was a case when pupils of sports schools were given free tickets for the decisive match of the Russian championship, in which "Alania" and "Spartak" met. However, Alexander, along with his comrades, sold them off their hands, and bought money for their money.

Professional career

After the successful completion of the sports school, Alexander Kerzhakov received a good contract from the amateur club Svetogorets, led by the former head teacher of the Sports School Vladimir Kazachenok. As part of the team, the rookie already in the first season became the best scorer of the championship.

For his native "Zenith" Alexander Kerzhakov started playing in 2000. The first match for the club was a visiting meeting with the Volgograd "Rotor", ended with a headless draw. The striker scored his debut goal for the St. Petersburg team in the summer of 2001 at the gate of the capital Spartak. This goal allowed Zenit to even the score.

In the next season Alexander was unanimously recognized as the opening of the Russian championship, thanks to which he received a place in the national team at the World Cup in Japan and Korea. In 2004, Kerzhakov won the scoring season with 18 goals, after which the famous European clubs became interested in him.

In the winter of 2006, the forward moved to the Spanish "Seville" for 5 million euros. The first goal of a Russian for a new club had to wait just 3 matches, before the game with the "Levante". In 2007, thanks to Kerzhakov's winning goal, Sevilla hit the semi-final of the Uefa Cup, bypassing the powerful Tottenham Hotspur by personal meetings. Under Juande Ramos, Alexander had a constant gaming practice, compiling the company in attack, then Kanoute, then Fabiano. The situation radically changed with the arrival on the post of head coach Manolo Jimenez, who for a long time planted a Russian on the bench. Such a course of affairs of the attacker did not suit, because in the best of times Sevilla was interested in both PSG and Manchester United.

In 2008, Alexander Kerzhakov returned to the Russian championship, but this time to the Moscow "Dynamo". The first season for the capital club for the striker was a lump: like and played in almost every match, but the balls did not go into the goal (7 goals for 27 meetings). Nevertheless, gradually the effectiveness of the attacker began to return, so it was not a surprise for his transition back to his native Zenit.

Return to St. Petersburg took place in January 2010. In "Zenith" Kerzhakov began to score on the move. His 100th goal for the team striker zakolotil French "Auxerre", and in the debut match in the League Champion against "Anderlecht" and did mark a hat-trick. In the first season after returning Alexander won with Zenit not only the Cup of Russia, but also the regular championship.

In April 2011, the striker broke the club performance record, ahead of the legendary Lev Burchalkin. For the last 4 seasons for "Zenith" Kerzhakov scored 55 goals.

Russian team

For the national team, Alexander has been performing since 2002. Then the 19-year-old striker was summoned to the team by Oleg Romantsev. However, the debut World Cup for Kerzhakov was a failure, as for the whole of Russia. The team crashed out of the group with a bang, and Alexander himself spent on the field in a matter of minutes. Scoring goals striker began only under Valeria Gazzaev. In a friendly match against the Swedes Alexander managed to equalize the score (1: 1). For the next qualifying round Kerzhakov scored 3 goals, and then for as long as 2.5 years did not differ even once. It's not strange, but from 2005 to 2007, the native of Zenit struck only the gates of Liechtenstein, Andorra, Luxembourg and Estonia. On a successful for Russia European Championship 2008 Kerzhakov did not hit at all because of low performance.

At the Brazilian mundiale in 2014, the striker scored only once - the national team of South Korea (1: 1). Nevertheless, Alexander Kerzhakov is considered one of the best and most useful attackers of Russia for today.

Personal life

In his 32 years forward "Zenith" is the father of two children: Igor and Daria. At the moment, divorced, is in a relationship with the daughter of St. Petersburg senator Milana Tulipova.

Alexander has a younger brother, Mikhail Kerzhakov, who is the main goalkeeper of "Anji".

In 2002, the footballer published his own book "Up to 16 and older", which became his autobiography. A few years later - in parallel with the sport - I started a restaurant business, in which I succeeded a lot by opening two cafe "Lukomorye" in St. Petersburg.

In 2010 he played himself in the film "Freaks".

Sports achivments

In the "Zenith" striker three times became the owner of the Cup of Russia and twice champion of the country (see below in the photo). Alexander Kerzhakov was repeatedly recognized as the best sniper of the Premier League and the most useful football player of the attack. In addition, in his active UEFA Cup and the Super Cup of Spain in the "Seville".

For the current match, Kerzhakov is unconditionally the best scorer not only of Zenit and the national team, but also the most scoring forward in the history of Russian football (221 goals).