Igor Akinfeev: all the most interesting about the goalkeeper of the Russian national team

Igor Akinfeev is a well-known Russian football player, and also the honored master of sports of the Russian Federation. There were many victories and defeats in his life, but the most impressive ones should be told.

early years

Igor Akinfeev was born in the Moscow region, in 1986, on April 8. When he was four years old, his father decided to send his son to the children's and youth school of the CSKA football club. At the second training, the boy was identified at the gate. So, since 1991 to the present time Igor Akinfeev has never changed his club. For 24 years now he has defended the colors of PFC CSKA.

His first victory took place in 2002 - then, at the age of 16, a young and promising goalkeeper, along with his youth team, became the champion of Russia. Then, in 2002, he finished his studies at the football academy and became a full-fledged player of the army team. In the same season he, along with his teammates spent ten matches for the second team of CSKA. At the same time he was invited to the Russian national team, however, in the youth team. The debut in the national team also took place in 2002 - he went on the field against the match against the Swedes. In general, 2002 was a busy event for Igor. But that was only the beginning.

The beginning of a career at the heart of CSKA

Igor Akinfeev, whom we now know as the main goalkeeper for "army men", got into the first line almost immediately. In 2003, he entered the field in the 1/8 finals of the Russian Premier League (and this was a match against the sworn opponent - the St. Petersburg "Zenith"). His segment Igor, replacing Dmitry Kramarenko, played dry. Excellent response and complete composure, which are his key goalkeeper qualities, Akinfeev demonstrated even then.

Debut in European competition was also held in 2003. It was a game against FC "Vardar". Despite the fact that the match ended in favor of the Macedonians, and not the Muscovites, the coach assured that the goalkeeper here is not to blame.

Igor Akinfeev: biography and interesting facts

The player has a wife, his age, her name is Ekaterina Gerun. The wife was born in Kiev and chose the activity of the model and actress for herself. In the past, 2014, on May 17, the young people had a son. Then, in the next year, 2015, a daughter appeared. The player of the Russian national team for the second time became a happy father in early September.

It's interesting that Igor Akinfeev is a goalkeeper with education. After graduation, he decided to enter the Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture. He studied there for five years and successfully graduated, defending a diploma written on the topic, which reads as follows: "The tactical and technical actions of the goalkeeper during a football match." So Igor is a professional Russian player both from the theoretical and from the practical point of view.

But this is not the only interesting fact about him. Igor Akinfeev, whose photo represents us all the famous goalkeeper, in fact since 2012 is also a confidant of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

By the way, even Akinfeev is friends with the lead singer of the group "Hands up!". And they, together with Sergei Zhukov, recorded the song "Summer Evening". Igor also starred in the video "Open the door to me." And the footballer wrote a book, which he gave the title "100 penalties from readers", where he answered all the exciting questions of the fans. So Igor Akinfeev is not only an athlete, but also a creative personality with a higher education.

Achievements

Igor Akinfeev, whose photo shows us a young and strong guy, throughout his career has won many awards. With CSKA Moscow, he became the five-time champion of Russia and six times - the owner of the country's Super Cup. In 2004/2005 he received together with the team and the UEFA Cup. Another 6 times (almost all - in a row) became the owner of the Cup of Russia. Together with his native club, he received 18 trophies! And with the national team became the bronze medalist of the European Championship, which was held in 2008.

Also the goalkeeper has a lot of personal achievements. Eight times he received a prize named after Lev Yashin under the title "Goalkeeper of the Year", became the best young player of the Premier League, became the owner of the Order of Friendship. He also set a record for the longest "zero" series in the history of Russia and the national teams of the USSR. Igor managed 761 minutes in a row to keep the gate "dry".

Akinfeev has many more awards and statuses. But the most important achievement, which he achieved with his own work, is the recognition of fans and the devoted love of CSKA fans.