Igor Akinfeev

Infobox Football biography
playername = Igor Akinfeev


fullname = Igor Vladimirovich Akinfeev
height = height|m=1.85
weight =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|4|8
cityofbirth = Vidnoye, Moscow Oblast
countryofbirth = Soviet Union
currentclub = CSKA Moscow
clubnumber = 35
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs = CSKA Moscow
years = 2003–
clubs = CSKA Moscow
caps(goals) = 115 (0)
nationalyears = 2004–
nationalteam = Russia
nationalcaps(goals) = 025 (0)
pcupdate = June 22, 2008
ntupdate = September 10, 2008

Igor Vladimirovich Akinfeev ( _ru. Игорь Владимирович Акинфеев) (born on April 8, 1986 in Vidnoye) is a Russian football (soccer) goalkeeper currently playing for CSKA Moscow.

He broke into the CSKA starting lineup at the age of 17, and has been the first-choice goalkeeper at the club ever since, gathering various honors including a UEFA Cup, two National Championships, and the ‘Zvezda’ trophy, awarded to the best football player from the former Soviet Union. He is also the first vice-captain of CSKA Moscow, captained CSKA twice in Champions League matches against FC Porto and Hamburg SV in 2006.

Igor Akinfeev was called up in 2004 for Russia and served as the third choice goalkeeper at Euro 2004 behind Sergei Ovchinnikov and Vyacheslav Malafeev. His first major competitive debut was on March 30, 2005 in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Estonia. He became Russia's first-choice goalkeeper after a longterm injury of Vyacheslav Malafeev. Akinfeev kept his first choice place under Guus Hiddink. On May 6, 2007, Akinfeev suffered a knee injury in a 1-1 draw against FC Rostov which put him out of action for 4 months. As a result he lost his first choice position to Vyacheslav Malafeev and later Vladimir Gaboulov. He returned to the Russian national squad in early November but was deemed unfit for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel.In his second Champions League campaign he had a dry spell of 362 minutes prior to conceding a goal on Matchday 5 against FC Porto.

He was coach Guus Hiddink's first choice for Russia during Euro 2008. On that tournament he showed a great form and was one of the leaders of team that won bronze medals.

Personal Honours

*UEFA Super Cup Runner-up: 1
**2005, CSKA Moscow

*UEFA Cup winner: 1
**2004/05, CSKA Moscow

*Russian Super Cup winner: 3
**2004, CSKA Moscow
**2006, CSKA Moscow
**2007, CSKA Moscow

*Russian Premier League winner: 3
**2003, CSKA Moscow
**2005, CSKA Moscow
**2006, CSKA Moscow

*Russian Premier League runners-up: 1
**2004, CSKA Moscow

*UEFA European Football Championship bronze medalist: 1
**2008, Russian Federation

External links

* [http://www.cska-football.ru/index.pl?s=pl&mid=525&l=en Club profile]