Pavel Pogrebnyak

Pavel Pogrebnyak

Pogrebnyak with Russia at Euro 2012
Personal information
Full namePavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak
Date of birth8 November 1983
Place of birthMoscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Reading
Number7
Youth career
1989–2002Spartak Moscow
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2005Spartak Moscow18(2)
2003→ Baltika Kaliningrad (loan)40(15)
2004→ Khimki (loan)12(6)
2005→ Shinnik Yaroslavl (loan)23(4)
2006Tom Tomsk26(13)
2007–2009Zenit St. Petersburg58(22)
2009–2012VfB Stuttgart68(15)
2012Fulham12(6)
2012–Reading93(24)
National team‡
2006–Russia33(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:02, 4 March 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 November 2012
This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Viktorovich and the family name is Pogrebnyak.

Pavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak (Russian: Па́вел Ви́кторович Погребня́к [ˈpavəl ˈvʲiktərəvʲɪtɕ pəɡrʲɪbˈnʲak]; born 8 November 1983 in Moscow) is a Russian footballer who currently plays for English Football League Championship side Reading and the Russian national team.

Born in Moscow, Pogrebnyak began his career at Spartak Moscow, making his professional debut in 2002. Over the next three years, he spent time away on loan at Baltika Kaliningrad, Khimki and Shinnik Yaroslavl before joining Tom Tomsk in 2006. After a season with them, he moved to top Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg. There he spent three seasons and had his greatest spell of success, winning the Russian Premier League, the Russian Super Cup, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup. In 2009, he joined German side VfB Stuttgart. After two-and-a-half seasons, he moved to English Premier League side Fulham in January 2012, and his current club Reading six months later.

He is nicknamed The Pog,[1][2] Pogreb ("The Cellar")[3] or Velikiy Po ("Po the Great"),[4] the latter popularized by his former Zenit teammate Andrei Arshavin.[5] He is a "powerful player who holds the ball up well."[6]

Club career

Early career

Pogrebnyak started playing football at the age of six for the Spartak Moscow football school. In 2001, he made his debut for the Spartak reserve team and one year later he was selected for the first team squad. Between 2001 and 2003, he scored eight goals in 23 appearances.

In 2003, Pogrebnyak played 40 matches and scored 15 goals while on loan with Baltika Kaliningrad. The following season, he returned to Spartak Moscow, appearing 16 times and scoring two goals. The same season he also scored six goals for FC Khimki in 12 appearances. In 2005, Pogrebnyak played for Shinnik Yaroslavl and scored four goals in 23 matches. Pogrebnyak made his true breakthrough during the 2006 season with Tom Tomsk scoring 13 goals in 26 matches and became one of the favorites amongst the local fans.

Zenit St. Petersburg

Pogrebnyak was signed in the off-season by Zenit St. Petersburg. In 2007, Zenit won the national league, with him chipping in 13 goals. Zenit won the 2008 Russian Super Cup 2–1 over Lokomotiv Moscow, with Pogrebnyak scoring the winner in the 82nd minute.

Along with Luca Toni, Pogrebnyak was joint top-scorer in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup season, scoring ten goals and helping Zenit reach the final to be played at the City of Manchester Stadium. However, Pogrebnyak was to miss the final because of suspension following a third tournament booking in the semifinal's second leg win over Bayern Munich. In the final, Zenit still triumphed over runners-up Glasgow Rangers to add their first European silverware.[7] In the 2008 UEFA Super Cup he scored one of the Zenit's two goals in the 2–1 over English champions Manchester United.

On 28 January 2009, Zenit officials declared that they were on the verge of accepting a bid from Blackburn Rovers which would see the player move to the English side during the January transfer window, but the transfer did not take place.[8]

Stuttgart

On 1 August 2009, he agreed to join Stuttgart.[9] Pogrebnyak made his Bundesliga debut seven days later by playing all 90 minutes in the opening day 2–0 defeat to the defending champions Wolfsburg. He scored his first goal in his second game, on 15 August 2009, in Stuttgart's 4–2 win over Freiburg, in which he also won a penalty.[10]

He ended his first season in German football scoring eight goals (six in the league). He then started the 2010–11 season scoring four goals in the first four games including his first hat-trick in Stuttgart's historic 7–0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Fulham

On 31 January 2012, Pogrebnyak moved to Premier League side Fulham[11] and signed a contract until the end of the season.[12] He then scored on his debut in the 2–1 win over Stoke City on 11 February 2012.[13] In the following game he scored again, this time against London rivals Queens Park Rangers giving Fulham a 1–0 win.[14] He then scored a perfect hat-trick in his next game, in a 5–0 win against Wolves on 4 March, meaning he had scored five goals in his first three games for Fulham.[15] This made him the quickest player to reach five goals in Premier League history. On 21 April 2012, he returned from an ankle injury to score in a 2–1 win against Wigan Athletic at Craven Cottage.[16] He was released by Fulham on 1 July after failing to reach terms to extend his contract. Pogrebnyak announced that whatever happens over his contract he will remain in England.

Reading

On 8 July 2012, shortly after UEFA Euro 2012, Pogrebnyak signed a four-year contract with Reading on a free transfer. Manager Brian McDermott confirmed that it had been a "long process" as the deal was subject to Pogrebnyak obtaining a work permit while the club also denied rumours that he would be earning £65,000 a week.[17][18][19] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2012–13 Premier League against Stoke City and scored his first goal in Reading's next game, a 4–2 defeat to Chelsea.[20][21] He scored a last-minute in Reading's home game against West Bromwich Albion in January which saw them come from 2–0 down to win 3–2 but did not score again that season, finishing with eight goals, five in the Premier League.[22][23]

Following Reading's relegation, Pogrebnyak was linked with a move away from the club but did not leave.[24][25] He scored his first goals in more than eight months after netting twice in a 3–1 win over Derby County in September 2013.[26]

International career

Pogrebnyak debuted for the Russian national team on 16 August 2006 in a friendly match against Latvia, where he scored his first goal. He was also initially called up as part of the Russian squad for UEFA Euro 2008, but because of a knee injury he picked up in a friendly match versus Serbia, he was replaced by Oleg Ivanov before Russia began the tournament.[27] He was confirmed for the finalized UEFA Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012.[28]

On 12 May 2014, Pogrebnyak was called up to the provisional 30-man Russian World Cup squad,[29] however four days later he was replaced by Denis Cheryshev as the squad was cut down to 25 players.[30]

Career statistics

Pavel Pogrebnyak in Domodedovo International Airport (7 June 2007)

Club

As of match played 4 March 2015.[31][32][33][34][35]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Spartak Moscow 2002 Russian Premier League 2000—00 20
2003 00000000 00
2004 16210—6[lower-alpha 1]3 235
Total 182100063 255
Baltika Kaliningrad (loan) 2003 Russian First Division 401510—— 4115
Khimki (loan) 2004 12610—— 136
Shinnik Yaroslavl (loan) 2005 Russian Premier League 23421—— 255
Tom Tomsk 2006 261311—— 2714
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2007 241142—15[lower-alpha 2]11 4324
2008 19600—12[lower-alpha 3]3 319
2009 15511—00 166
Total 582253—2714 9039
VfB Stuttgart 2009–10 Bundesliga 28620—10[lower-alpha 4]2 408
2010–11 26832—7[lower-alpha 2]2 3613
2011–12 14110—— 151
Total 681562—174 9121
Fulham (loan) 2011–12 Premier League 126000000 126
Reading 2012–13 2950033— 328
2013–14 Championship 39131010— 4113
2014–15 2052021— 246
Total 88213064— 9725
Career total 345104207645221 421137
  1. ↑ One appearance in the Russian Super Cup, five appearances and three goals in the Intertoto Cup
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Appearances in the UEFA Cup
  3. ↑ One appearance and one goal in the Russian Super Cup, one appearance and one goal in the UEFA Super Cup, six appearances and one goal in the Champions League, four appearances in the UEFA Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in the Champions League

International

As of match played 16 June 2012.[36]
National team Year Apps Goals
Russia 2006 5 2
2007 2 0
2008 5 3
2009 5 0
2010 7 2
2011 6 1
2012 3 0
Total 33 8

Personal life

Pogrebnyak is married to Maria Shatalova – Pogrebnyak [37] and they have three sons: Artem, Pavel and Alexey.[38]

He is the brother of Kirill Pogrebnyak and Nikolai Pogrebnyak who currently play for FC Tom Tomsk.

Career honours

Club

Zenit St. Petersburg

Individual

Zenit St. Petersburg

References

  1. ↑ "Brede Hangeland hoping The Pog becomes a vital cog in the Fulham machine". London Evening Standard. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Clint's best friend is his Pog". The Sun. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Гус Хиддинк едва не зашиб болельщика (in Russian). Izvestia. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Погребняк купил свой портрет (in Russian). Komsomolskaya Pravda. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  5. ↑ Андрей Аршавин: "Скоро все будет хорошо!" (in Russian). Sport Express. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Jonathan. "Euro 2012: Russia". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Lindsay, Clive (14 May 2008). "Zenit St Petersburg 2–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Zaitsev, Slava (28 January 2009). "Rovers bid for Russian: Blackburn eye Pogrebnyak". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "Stuttgart Sign Pavel Pogrebnyak From Zenit". goal.com. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bundesliga round-up". Sky Sports. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "Pogrebnyak on the move to Fulham". VfB Stuttgart. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "FFC Sign Pogrebnyak". Fulham F.C. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Fulham 2–1 Stoke". BBC Sports. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "QPR 0–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "Fulham 5–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  16. ↑ ""Fulham 2–1 Wigan". BBC Sport. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  17. ↑ "Pogrebnyak deal is completed". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  18. ↑ "Pogrebnyak agrees terms". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak completes Reading move". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "Reading 1–1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  21. ↑ "Chelsea 4–2 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  22. ↑ Oscroft, Tim (12 January 2013). "Three goals in the final eight minutes gave Reading an unlikely win over West Brom at the Madejski Stadium". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Games played by Pavel Pogrebnyak in 2012–13". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Pavel's contribution". Reading F.C. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  25. ↑ Watts, Charles (25 September 2013). "Support is music to Pogrebnyak's ears". Reading Post. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "Derby County 1–3 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  27. ↑ "Pogrebnyak injury rocks Russians". BBC News. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  28. ↑ "Advocaat announced the finalized Euro Squad" (in Russian). rfs.ru. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  29. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak called up by Russia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  30. ↑ Список сборной РФ на ЧМ сократили до 25 футболистов, Черышев заменил Погребняка (in Russian). Rsport. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak" (in Russian). Sportsbox. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak". UEFA. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  33. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak" (in Russian). Zenit History. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "P. Pogrebnyak". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak career statistics". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  36. ↑ "Pavel Pogrebnyak". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  37. ↑ Weinacht, Dennis (21 August 2009). "Pogrebnyak: Maria macht ihn zum neuen Gomez" (in German). goal.com. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  38. ↑ "Pogrebnjak: Habe nicht vor, hier wegzugehen". bild.de. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.

External links