Where is Roman Shirov playing now? Roman Shikov - biography, information, personal life

Shirokov Roman is the most controversial figure in our football. On the one hand, R. Shirokov is the real leader of the Russian football team. It is impossible to imagine our team playing without his brilliant and timely passes, wonderful vision of the field and the true spirit of a winner, the injection of which Roman received while playing for Zenit St. Petersburg. On the other hand, R. Shirokov can be called the Russian Paul Gascoigne. Our player has in common with the violent Englishman both his extraordinary talent and his inability to cope with his own waywardness.

It is not surprising that many football fans who do not closely follow transfers and movements of players from team to team may ask: “Where is Roman Shirokov playing now?” Before answering this question, it’s worth making a short excursion into history and tracing the main milestones in the career of the main rebel of Russian football in recent years. So, in the football biography of Roman Shirokov there are three main points: St. Petersburg Zenit, Moscow Spartak and Krasnodar from the city of the same name.

"Zenith"

Now Roman Shirokov is a football player known to the general public. But before Zenit, few people knew him. In 2007, he performed very well in Khimki near Moscow and attracted the attention of the club from Northern Palmyra. Zenit signed him as a free agent. It was at Zenit that Roman Shirokov revealed himself as a football player of the highest class. While playing for Zenit, Shirokov received all his major awards, became the captain of the national team, and they even started talking about him in Europe: Monaco was eyeing the footballer.

What did Shirokov Roman do before 2007? He drifted from one unimportant command to another. At this time, football was not the main thing in his life. Before Khimki and Zenit, Shirokov mainly sorted out relationships with the players and coaches of the teams in which he played.

In “Khimki” he showed himself in all his glory, and in “Zenit” Shirokov settled down and opened up completely. True, even there he could not do without scandals. In 2009, he argued with Vyacheslav Malafeev (then the team’s number one goal), but the conflict was not too serious and long-lasting.

But in 2014, relations between Roman Shirokov and Zenit worsened. The story is dark, and it is still unclear to the end why Roman Shirokov left Zenit. Someone says that he did not suit the club's new coach, Andre Villas-Boas. Someone claims that the whole point is the player’s bad temper and he again quarreled with someone. It's probably all about the money. R. Shirokov simply could not conclude a new contract on favorable terms. One way or another, in February 2014 he went to Krasnodar on loan, before the expiration of his contract with Zenit.

"Krasnodar"

R. Shirokov found peace in Krasnodar, in the football team created by Sergei Galitsky. At FC Krasnodar, Shirokov played almost as well as in his best years at Zenit, helping Krasnodar get into the European Cup. The Bulls (the nickname of the Krasnodar residents) snatched a ticket to the Europa League from their pursuers. A very important component was the skillful play in the center of the field by our main brawler and rebel. Despite the fact that the Russian national team player was very much asked to stay in Krasnodar, he left for Moscow, namely for Spartak.

"Spartacus"

There is nothing special to remember from this period of Roman Shirokov’s career. When he came to Spartak, many fans and experts had high hopes for this transfer. People thought that thanks to the arrival of such a great midfielder, Spartak would be able to return to a leading position in domestic football, but the reality turned out to be not so rosy.

In fact, R. Shirokov took a very long time to recover from the injury, and after he recovered, he played only one memorable match. It was a game against Lokomotiv from Moscow, in which he scored a beautiful goal with his head. Then he quarreled with the head coach of Spartak and returned to the favorable environment of Krasnodar.

"Krasnodar". The second coming of Roman Shirokov

In January 2015, R. Shirokov was again rented by Krasnodar. And again he plays much better there than in the previous club. He scores few goals: only one goal in eight matches, but his efficiency on the field is simply stunning. His experience and technique help Krasnodar to be in second place after Zenit in the current Russian championship. It is not yet clear where R. Shirokov will end up after the end of the season, but there are rumors that Krasnodar is ready to buy out his contract from Spartak. One way or another, these are matters of the future, and now Shirokov is in Krasnodar.

Stadium "Wings of the Soviets" in Setun. An ordinary amateur league match. To find the arena, you have to go around half-abandoned garages. A large “football” sign saves the day. Apparently, the men at the house got tired of giving directions long ago - so they hanged him.

You come to this Moscow wilderness (by football standards, of course), and then - bam! Shirokov. Real. And next to him is Sychev. The same one. Although the ex-“railroad worker” is not so surprising. Many have already forgotten about him. But Shirokov is another matter. He recently played for our team at Euro 2016. This means, according to the coach, he was among the best football players in the country. This is just a month and a half ago! And here you have an amateur league. I can’t believe it, even despite being 35 years old.

Photo: Grigory Telingater, “Championship”

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If anyone didn’t know, the LFL plays eight on eight, the field is much smaller, two halves of 30 minutes each. Atlantis plays in two shifts. Without Shirokov on the field, most corners are taken on horseback. The ex-captain decided to play low, and this immediately led to a goal.

The whole game goes mainly through Shirokov. Free kicks and corners while he is on the field are left to him by his teammates. Another standard performed by Roman was a goal again.

Not to say that Shirokov ran a lot or made tackles. This definitely wasn’t the case. But against the general background, he sailed across the field with ease. It was clear to the naked eye that its level was higher.

There were exactly two moments that amused us during the match. Firstly, a boy who was not at a loss and, right during the match, went up to the Atlantis bench and took a selfie with Shirokov. This has probably never happened before in his career.

And secondly, live video broadcast of the match via phone. The girl walked near the field and talked about the game in the first person. She even approached the Atlantis bench during the meeting, but the players ignored her.

Shirokov, perhaps for the first time in his career, wore number 77. Acted as if he had no position on the field. He played literally in all areas of the field in turn: now on the left, now on the right, now in attack. Roman scored two goals in the match, which the small audience noted with particular joy.

Atlantis won against ILARAVTO with a score of 5:3. It was difficult for Shirokov to leave the field and stadium - almost all the spectators wanted to take a photo with one of the most famous Russian football players of the last decade. The footballer did not refuse anyone a photo.

Already on the way to the car, Shirokov answered several questions in his characteristic manner.

– Judging by the game, did you end your career early?
- Or it's too late. You know better. This is Sychev - early.

– What is it like to play in the LFL after the Euro?
– It’s basically like the Champions League.

– Are you sure you’re done with big-time football yet?
– Yes, especially since all the teams are complete.

– Has the contract become smaller?
- More.

– Do you have a verbal agreement with Atlantis?
– Are there others?

– You always had written ones.
– I always have oral ones.

– When will you play for Atlantis again?
- Hard to tell.

Was born:

Biography of Roman Shirokov

Roman Shirokov was born in 1981 in the town of Dedovsk near Moscow. When the future Russian national team player turned 12 years old, his parents divorced. Roman's mother still lives in Dedovsk, and his father died of a stroke at the age of 52.

At the initial stage of your career Roman had big problems associated with violating the regime. Until 2007, he played very little at a high level, changing 6 teams in 7 years. Shirokov played for Rubin Kazan and Khimki near Moscow. In 2007, as a free agent, he signed a contract with St. Petersburg Zenit for 4 years. His debut in the national team came in a match lost to the Romanians on March 26, 2008 with a devastating score of 0-3. The debut at a major tournament took place in 2008 at the group stage of Euro 2008. After the defeat to the Spaniards, TV commentator Viktor Gusev called Shirokov, who played as a central defender, a player “not at the level of the Russian national team” and blamed him for all the missed goals. At first, almost everyone: both experts and fans explained the defeat of the national team in the same way, hanging all dogs on the pair of central defenders Kolodin and Shirokov. According to experts, it was necessary to play defense simply, even primitively, but reliably. At the semi-final stage, the Russian team again had to play with the Spaniards. In this game, there was a different pair of players in the center of defense, but the result was almost the same - 0-3.

After the defeat to the Spaniards in the semi-finals, experts stopped throwing critical arrows at the central defenders, recognizing the unconditional strength of the Spaniards and their inimitable team spirit. Roman Shirokov in one of his interviews presented his version of the defeat from the Spanish team, but did not accept the apology made by Viktor Gusev. The selection for the 2010 World Championships took place without Roman's participation. The return to the national team took place already under Dick Advocaat in a freight train with the Bulgarians, where Shirokov was not only involved in the position of midfielder, but also played his first goal.

In August 2009 There was a scandal between Shirokov and his Zenit teammate, goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.. The reason was Roman’s impartial statement to Malafeev regarding the funny goal the latter missed. Very soon the conflict became known to the press, however, the players themselves, after “exchanging pleasantries” in the media, declared that the conflict had been settled.

Roman is also known for his statements on Twitter. So after the match with Armenia, in which our southern neighbors rightfully achieved a draw, a famous television presenter asked the football player: “How long will they disgrace Russia?” After this question they had a fight. Before the match with his principal rival, Moscow Spartak, Roman said that he was not their opponent at all, and after the victory he congratulated all the “pigs on their well-deserved defeat.” In September 2011, Shirokov scored twice against Porto and was recognized as the best player of the Champions League tour. True, at the same time, after an away victory over the Slovak team, he referred to his opponent as a “collective farm”, and his Zenit teammate Tomasz Hubocan has a capacious nickname - chairman of the collective farm. The most interesting thing is that Russia lost to the same Slovak team exactly a year ago, and Shirokov played all 90 minutes.

The goal scored by Zenit in the 88th minute of the match on 02/15/2012 in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League became the winning goal and interrupted Benfica’s 28-match streak without defeat. In addition, the record for the number of goals scored in one season by a Russian player was repeated. Previously, so many goals had already been scored by Spartak Moscow players Valery Karpin (1993/1994 season) and Yuri Nikiforov (1995/1996 season). According to a survey of Premier League coaches in 2012, Shirokov was recognized as the best football player.

Roman is married and has two children: Igor and Victoria.

Wife and children of Roman Shirokov - photo

Shirokov. Once again you write shit in the stands, I'll tell you all to f...k! Understood?

Such a simple dialogue took place at the Kazan airport between Zenit fans and the notorious Roman Shirokov. The reason for it all was the episode after the match with Dynamo, in which one of the fans running onto the field I asked Roman for a T-shirt as a souvenir. Shirokov refused, and in a rude manner. Then the fan hung up a homemade poster at the next match in Kazan “Roma! Fuck yourself..!” And it had to happen that it was with this fan that the memorable meeting at the airport took place. True, for football fans, this behavior of Roman was not at all out of the ordinary - he had never minced words before, using far from parliamentary expressions.

The memories are still fresh in my memory when Vyacheslav Malafeev was called a lousy goalkeeper, the Slovakian national team was called “collective farmers”, and Zenit teammate Tomas Hubochan was called the chairman of the collective farm. Roman keeps a diary on the Internet, where he speaks impartially about Spartak, sweetly calling them “pigs”, fans – goats, and Zenit players – eccentrics with the letter “m”. What gives rise to all this? The reasons must be sought in Roman’s difficult past. He went from complete obscurity to fame.

Roman told a lot of interesting things in an interview with journalists from the Sport-Express newspaper in 2008. According to Shirokov, a cheerful life began at the age of 18. Studying was easy for the guy, and with the onset of spring, Roman simply stopped attending school. And even big football didn’t fix it. According to Roman’s recollections, once after the first match he and his friend were out of work for two months. After such a spree, the club's leaders sent him to the army. That's how, having started his career at CSKA, Roman reached Istra near Moscow. It seemed that in just a little bit the sad path of Andrei Ivanov from Spartak Moscow would be repeated by Shirokov. Luckily for him, he met Katya, who took him to task. Having given up partying, Shirokov moved to Zenit, where he won the championship twice. Shirokova's first medal, and definitely not the last, was bronze at Euro 2008. But no one taught Roman how to “filter the market.”

Famous Russian football player, captain of the national football team Roman Shirokov announced his retirement from his playing career. 35-year-old Shirokov told the media that “he will not play in any club again,” but he associates his future activities only with football.

“The new place of work will be connected with the game to which I have dedicated my whole life. I hope that this will be the position of a football manager, a little later you will definitely find out the details,” the footballer said in an interview with R-Sport.

Shirokov also thanked the Russian national team and fans, as well as all the clubs in which he managed to play.

AiF.ru provides a biography of Roman Shirokov.

Dossier

His father worked at a factory, was seriously involved in football, and taught his son the basics of this game. His father and godfather first took Roman to a torpedo school, but six months later he broke his leg and stopped training for a while. Then he began studying at the CSKA Youth Sports School.

From 1998 to 2001 he played in the second team of the army club.

In 2001 he plays for Torpedo-ZIL - plays one match.

From 2002 to 2004 he played for the amateur club Istra from the Moscow region.

In 2004 he played for the second league club Vidnoye - 17 matches, 14 goals.

In 2005 he plays for Saturn - 18 games, 3 goals.

In 2006 he played 4 matches for Rubin Kazan. In 2007 he played for Khimki near Moscow and scored 7 goals in 27 matches.

In total, in 2001-2007, he played 50 matches in the Russian Premier League, scoring 10 goals.

On November 27, 2007, as a free agent, he signed a contract with Zenit for a period of 4 years.

Since 2007, he has been involved in the Russian national team. He made his debut in the national team at the age of 26, on March 26, 2008 in a match against the Romanian national team.

The coaching staff saw Roman as the main player in the central defense at the European Championship, but after an unsuccessful meeting with Spain in the group stage, Shirokov was sent to the deep reserve. Roman did not appear on the field again; he was successfully replaced in the position of defender Sergey Ignashevich. But still, as a member of the Russian team, Shirokov became the bronze medalist of Euro 2008.

At Euro 2012 he was the main player of the Russian national team and played all three matches of the group stage. In the first match against the Czech national team, Roman scored the winning goal Petr Cech.

On March 25, 2013, in a friendly match with Brazil, wearing the captain's armband, he led the team onto the field. Later, he captained the team in the last two matches of the qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup, which the Russian team successfully completed, reaching the World Cup from first place in the group (before that, the team captain was Igor Denisov). Shirokov took part in all ten matches of the national team in the qualifying round.

In 2014, Roman was preparing with the national team for the World Cup in Brazil, but was unable to take part in it due to injury: Russian national team coach Fabio Capello in the final application, replaced Shirokov with Pavel Mogilevets.

Roman Shirokov played 52 matches for the national football team and scored 13 goals.

Roman Shirokov was captain of the Russian national football team from 2014 to 2016.

Social activity

Since 2009, every year in memory of his father Nikolai Shirokov holds a children's football tournament in Dedovsk.

Awards and titles

In 2008, Shirokov was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports

2-time Russian champion: 2010, 2011/12.

Winner of the Russian Cup 2009/10

Winner of the Russian Super Cup: 2008, 2011

Winner of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup

Winner of the 2008 UEFA Super Cup

The best football player of Russia in 2012 and 2013.

Family status

Roman met his wife Ekaterina in his native Dedovsk. The couple has two children: son Igor and daughter Victoria.

Roman Shirokov: I, like Cinderella, was rewarded for my efforts

The main truth teller of Russian football, Roman Shirokov, is now twice an adviser - to Dynamo and to one of the ministers of the Moscow region.

In an interview with SSF, the ex-captain of the national team recalled Euro 2008 and also commented on current events.​

“I WANT TO BECOME A SPORTS DIRECTOR”

- Roman, how are you, what are you doing?
- More self-education. At Dynamo, my position as an advisor does not involve permanent work. I express my vision out of necessity, but the club’s management deals with transfer policy. Advisor is a rather abstract position; the chairman calls me when he needs an outside perspective. I am also an adviser to the Minister of Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Work of the Moscow Region. With him we are developing a project for an amateur football league, the so-called LFL. I like it, but in this position I am more involved in strategy.

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- What about the trade union?
- The trade union is headed by Alexander Zotov. Due to the fact that I am an adviser to the president of Dynamo, there is a conflict of interest, and I have little involvement with the trade union.

You are a famous football player, bronze medalist of the European Championship. Do you like it when you are invited to events in this capacity?
- Giving awards, for example, is interesting, a good idea. One large company in the regions holds tournaments among educational institutions. As a prize, she builds an artificial field for the winner. I was in Chelyabinsk, where this tournament was held for the sixth year, 21 fields have already been built there. Kostroma has been participating in the tournament for two years, and they installed two lawns there. It’s a very useful and great thing, I come to such events with pleasure.

Alexander Kerzhakov admitted that the money earned during his football career will last him for the rest of his life, and now work for him is primarily self-development. What is work for you? Would you have enough money for the rest of your life?
- With proper investment, it would probably be enough. For me, work is also a way of self-development. To achieve any success, you need to improve.

- What is your goal now?
- One of the goals is to become the sports director of the club and move on.

Euro 2008 group stage. Spain - Russia - 4:1. For Shirokov (No. 14), this match was the only one of the tournament. Photo by Yuri Orlov

“I DO NOT CONSIDER EURO 2008 A FAILURE FOR MYSELF”

- The most memorable moment of Euro 2008?
- Of course, the victory over Holland, as well as the outcome of the game between the Croats and the British in the qualifying round, which allowed us to advance further and perform well.

- Do you remember the moments of those matches, were you very worried?
- When the score was 3:1, I realized that we had won. As for the confrontation between the Croats and the British, it is clear that I could not watch this game live, since the qualifying matches were played simultaneously. I just found out the score at the end. Personally, I decided not to watch the fateful meeting for us in replay. Although I know that some guys specifically looked for this match on the Internet.

- What emotions did you experience after the 1:4 defeat by Spain in the first meeting at Euro 2008?
“I didn’t have any loss of faith in my own strength. After such defeats, there are usually some changes in the main team. They touched me directly. I didn’t take part in the second match with the Spanish national team, but we still lost. Therefore, I don’t think that I was the only one to blame for the defeat from the Spaniards in the opening match. The team also did not lose faith in its own abilities, otherwise we would not have won in the group and in the quarterfinals with the Dutch.

- Before the tournament, you said that you didn’t care what position you played. Has your opinion changed after the Euro?
- Yes, I can confirm this now. At that time I played well in defense, there were no questions for me. Although it is more comfortable in the center of the field, I was considered primarily as a defender, and at Zenit I acted in defense for six months.

- Who made you a midfielder?
- We arrived after the Euro, played several matches, bought good defenders, and Dick Advocaat invited me to compete for a place in the center of the field. It was not easy, Timoshchuk, Zyryanov and Denisov played there. You had to try hard to prove yourself. For a year and a half he fought for his place in the sun, and in 2010, when Spalletti arrived, he became a part of the main team.

- In 2008, was it realistic to put Zyryanov and Semshov on the bench in the national team?
- If I were considered for this position, of course, yes.