Aleksandr Kerzhakov

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Personal information
Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Full name	Aleksandr Anatolyevich Kerzhakov
Date of birth	November 27, 1982
Place of birth	Kingisepp, Russia
Height	1.75 m
Nickname	Kerzhi
Position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Zenit Saint Petersburg
Number	11
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2001–present	Zenit Saint Petersburg	152 (63)
National team**
2001-2003 2002–present	Russia U21 Russia	? 32 (8)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of August 13, 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of February 17, 2006.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russian: Александр Анатольевич Кержаков) (born November 27, 1982 in Kingisepp) is a Russian international footballer. The striker plays for the Russian Premier League team Zenit St. Petersburg.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov graduated from Smena 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 but scoring his first goal in June against Spartak Moscow. He helped Zenit to the third position in 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 U21 team in 2001-2003. He debuted for the Russia national team in 2002. Kerzhakov was the part of Russia squad at 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004.

Kerzhakov scored 16 goals in his 23 matches for Zenit in the UEFA Cup.

In 2002 Kerzhakov authored an autobiography called Before and after 16 (Russian: До 16 и старше).

On August 18, 2006 it was reported by British newspapers the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror that Kerzhakov was wanted by English Premier League club Newcastle United.

[edit] Honours

2001 - Russian Premier League, 3rd position
2003 - Russian Premier League, runner-up
2003 - Russian Premier League Cup, winner
2004 - Russian Premier League, top scorer (18 goals)
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

[edit] External links

Preceded by: Dmitri Loskov	Russian Premier League top scorer 2004	Succeeded by: Dmitri Kirichenko

FC Zenit Saint Petersburg - Current Squad
1 Čontofalský \| 2 Radimov \| 3 Škrtel \| 4 Križanac \| 6 Spivak \| 7 Trifonov \| 8 Mareš \| 9 Šírl \| 10 Arshavin \| 11 Kerzhakov \| 13 Hyun \| 14 Hagen \| 15 Kim \| 16 Malafeev \| 17 Lee \| 22 Anyukov \| 25 Ricksen \| 27 Denisov \| 61 Tekke \| 78 Panov \| 87 Maksimov \| 88 Horshkov \| Manager: Advocaat

	Russia squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Nigmatullin \| 2 Kovtun \| 3 Nikiforov \| 4 Smertin \| 5 Solomatin \| 6 Semshov \| 7 Onopko \| 8 Karpin \| 9 Titov \| 10 Mostovoi \| 11 Beschastnykh \| 12 Cherchesov \| 13 Daev \| 14 Chugainov \| 15 Alenichev \| 16 Kerzhakov \| 17 Semak \| 18 Sennikov \| 19 Pimenov \| 20 Izmailov \| 21 Khokhlov \| 22 Sychev \| 23 Filimonov \| Coach: Romantsev