Aleksandr Kerzhakov

Aleksandr Kerzhakov () (born November 27, 1982 in Kingisepp) is a Russian Russia national football team footballer. The striker plays for the Spanish La Liga team Sevilla FC.

Football career

Aleksandr Kerzhakov graduated from Zenit football school. He spent the 2000 season in amateur club FC Svetogorets Svetogorsk, scoring 18 goals and helping them win the Northwest regional league.

In 2001 Kerzhakov moved to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, debuting in March and scoring his first goal in June against FC Spartak Moscow. He helped Zenit to the third position in the Russian Premier League in 2001 and the runners-up position in 2003. In 2004 Kerzhakov became the league's top scorer with 18 goals.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov played for Russia national under-21 football team in 2001-2003. He debuted for the Russia national football team in 2002. Kerzhakov was part of the Russia squads at 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2004 UEFA European Football Championship. Kerzhakov, along with Andrei Arshavin, made for a very reliable partnership in both club and Russian national team because of his sheer pace, technique and goal scoring instincts. He has scored 16 goals in his 23 matches for Zenit in the UEFA Cup.

On December 28, 2006 Kerzhakov completed his 5 million Euros transfer from Zenit to Sevilla FC signing a 5½ year contract worth 15 million Euros. Aleksandr did not have a very good relationship with Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat. He played his first match with Sevilla FC on January 14, 2007. He scored for Sevilla in the UEFA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur, in which Sevilla won 4-3 on aggregate. They went on to win the cup, beating RCD Espanyol on penalties.

Upon his transfer to La Liga he was overlooked by Russian national team coach Guus Hiddink, who didn't call Kerzhakov for the friendly with the Netherlands in February 2007. However, after a very successful start of his Sevilla career, manager Hiddink re-called the player to the national squad, and he was in the starting eleven against Estonia on March 24, 2007. He showed that he belonged on the team by scoring 2 goals in the 2-0 victory. Then, on June 2 2007, Kerzhakov notched a hat-trick as Russia routed Andorra 4-0 in their Euro 2008 Group E qualifier.

Personal life

Aleksandr is married and has a young daughter. He also has a younger brother, Mikhail, who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg secondary team.

In 2002 Kerzhakov authored an autobiography called Before and after 16. ()It was once stated that "he's shot, shoots and will shoot more".

Club career

Honours

- 2001 - Russian Premier League, 3rd place
- 2003 - Russian Premier League, runner-up
- 2003 - Russian Premier League Cup, winner
- 2004 - Russian Premier League, top scorer (18 goals)
- 2007 - UEFA Cup, winner
- 2007 - La Liga, 3rd place
- 2007 - Copa del Rey, winner
- 2002 - First five prize as Russian Premier League's best young player (awarded by Russian Football Union)
- 2002, 2003 - Strelets prize as Russia's best striker
- 2003 - Named Best Striker according to Sport-Express
- 2004 - Gentleman of the year (awarded by Komsomolskaya Pravda)
- 2005 - Voted Player of the Year by the club managers of the Russian Premier League