Roman Shirokov

Roman Shirokov

Shirokov with FC Krasnodar in 2015
Personal information
Full nameRoman Nikolayevich Shirokov
Date of birth6 July 1981
Place of birthDedovsk, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
FC Krasnodar
Number15
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1998–2000CSKA-2 Moscow54(3)
2001CSKA Moscow0(0)
2001FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow1(0)
2002–2003Istra
2004Vidnoye17(4)
2004Istra
2005Saturn Moscow Oblast18(3)
2006Rubin Kazan4(0)
2007Khimki27(7)
2008–2014Zenit Saint Petersburg130(29)
2014→ Krasnodar (loan)6(3)
2014–Spartak Moscow5(1)
2015–→ Krasnodar (loan)8(1)
National team‡
2008–Russia44(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2015
This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Nikolayevich and the family name is Shirokov.

Roman Nikolayevich Shirokov (Russian: Рома́н Никола́евич Широ́ков [rɐˈman nʲɪkɐˈlaɪvʲɪtɕ ʂɨˈrokəf]; born 6 July 1981) is a Russian international footballer who plays for FC Krasnodar on loan from FC Spartak Moscow[1] and for the Russia national football team. He is described as "a deep-lying midfielder with an aptitude for getting forward to score goals".[2]

Club career

Early career

Before signing for Zenit, Shirokov played for FC Khimki, Rubin Kazan, Saturn Moscow Oblast, FC Vidnoye, FC Istra, Torpedo-ZIL Moscow and CSKA Moscow's farm club.

Zenit

Shirokov started his first season for Zenit as central back, as then-head coach Dick Advocaat was forced to fill the gaps left in the centre of defence after the departure of Martin Škrtel to Liverpool and severe injury to Nicolas Lombaerts. He adapted to the new position fairly well and featured as a centre-back in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final victory over Rangers, pairing with Ivica Križanac. In 2009 he was moved back to midfield.

On 30 June 2014, Shirokov announced that after almost 200 games in six-years for Zenit, that he wouldn't be signing a new contract and will continue his career at another club.[3]

Spartak Moscow

On 18 July 2014 it was announced that Shirokov signed a contract with Spartak Moscow as a free agent.[4] After a long recovery from an injury he made his debut for Spartak on 26 October 2014 in a game against FC Lokomotiv Moscow, scoring a late equalizer in an 1-1 game. On 13 January 2015, he was loaned back to FC Krasnodar.[1]

International career

Shirokov preparing for a friendly against Bulgaria in August 2010

Shirokov made his debut in the Russia national football team on 28 March 2008 during a friendly match in Romania.

He was called up for the Euro 2008 and started in the opening group match against Spain, being deployed in the centre of defence as then-manager of Russia Guus Hiddink decided to follow the footsteps of his compatriot Advocaat, thus relegating experienced Sergey Ignashevich to the bench. This move proved unsuccessful as Russia were beaten 1–4 with Shirokov at fault on the number of occasions, including Spaniards' first[5] and third[6] goals. After the game Hiddink slammed his team's performance in defence[7] and revamped the squad, leaving Shirokov out of the first team for the rest of the tournament.

After a string of assuring performances in the centre of Zenit's midfield, he was called back to the national team in 2010 for a friendly against Bulgaria. Shirokov celebrated his return by scoring his first international goal, the only one in the game that finished 1–0. He was confirmed for the finalized UEFA Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012.[8] He scored the second goal of Russia's opening game of this tournament against the Czech Republic in a 4–1 win.[9]

On 2 June 2014, he was included in Russia's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.[10] He was excluded from the squad on 6 June due to injury.[11] His absence was very significant in Russia's failure at the tournament.[12]

Individual honours

Career statistics

As of 26 October 2013
Club Div Season League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Russia Saturn D1 2005 18362—245
Total1836200245
Russia Rubin Kazan D1 2006 4010—50
Total40100050
Russia FC Khimki D1 2007 27722—299
Total2772200299
Russia Zenit D1 2008 27310100383
2009 2112020251
2010 21641122379
2011–12 26930853714
2012–13 25530101386
2013–14 10510851910
Total 13029141501319443
Russia Krasnodar D1 2013–14 63200082
Total 63200082
Career total 18542255501326060

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2010-08-11 Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia  Bulgaria 1 – 0 1–0 Friendly
2 2010-10-08 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland  Republic of Ireland 0 – 3 2–3 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
3 2011-11-11 Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece  Greece 0 – 1 1–1 Friendly
4 2012-02-29 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark 0 – 1 0–2 Friendly
5 2012-06-01 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland  Italy 0 – 2 0–3 Friendly
6 2012-06-01 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland  Italy 0 – 3 0–3 Friendly
7 2012-06-08 Municipal Stadium, Wrocław, Poland  Czech Republic 0 – 2 1–4 UEFA Euro 2012
8 2012-09-07 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Northern Ireland 2 – 0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 2012-10-16 Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Azerbaijan 1 – 0 1–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 2012-11-14 Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia  United States 2 – 1 2–2 Friendly
11 2013-02-06 Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain  Iceland 1 – 0 2–0 Friendly
12 2013-10-11 Bakcell Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan 1 – 0 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

Career honours

Zenit

External links