Alexander Kerzhakov returns to Europe – Kommersant

The most productive hitter in the history of Russian football (24 years), 33-year-old Alexander Kerzhakov signed a lease agreement with the Swiss “Zurich”, which will run until end of the season. Thus, it is the second time in his career going abroad.

For the first time Alexander Kerzhakov left the “Zenith” in the foreign club at the end of 2006, when He was in the prime of his strength. It was the Spanish club, “Sevilla”, which managed to contract by as much as five and a half years. At first, Kerzhakov was in sight. However, after the club left the head coach Juande Ramos, the Russians are increasingly stayed on the bench and won the bronze medal of the championship of Spain, the National Cup and the Cup of UEFA, in early 2008, he moved to Moscow “Dynamo”, where in 2010 he returned to his home «Zenit».

The present situation is entirely different. First, the 33-year-old Alexander Kerzhakov has clearly towards the end of his career than nine years ago. Second, in the “Zenith” in the summer, he did not get into the first team, and the decision of the head coach Andre Villas-Boas was suspended from all training on the basis of the club. In November, even the it learned that football seems to become the leading channel “Match TV”. But the Kerzhakov, who scored in his career 224 goals – more than any Russian player was – dismissed the idea. He decided to try his luck in the lease to get a chance to play in the Euro-2016.

However, as the leadership of “Zenith” has categorically refused to let Kerzhakov to another Russian club, he had only to look for options Abroad. As a result, the choice fell on the “Zurich”. In the championship of Switzerland with the participation of ten teams, he takes only the ninth place. Nevertheless it is possible that “Zurich” will serve as a team in which the Russians could once again prove themselves.

«I’ve had offers from different countries, but I chose it, where I was impressed by the sincerity and warmth with which I wanted to see the club president and head coach. The latter assured me that, despite not being the highest level of the league, this is where I can quickly return to the game availability, confidence to do anything to help his new club and get a chance to return to the number of candidates for the national team of Russia! Passing in “Zurich,” I do not part with the acronym FCZ and blue-white-blue flowers. Apparently it’s fate, “- wrote in his Kerzhakov Instagram.

Arnold Kabanov