- 26 Jun 08, 07:00 AM
Vienna
Everyone's talking about Andrei Arshavin, how he's lighting up Euro 2008 with skills that have earned praise from the great man himself, Zinedine Zidane. Yet Arshavin is not some boy wonder. He's 27 and made his international debut on 17 May, 2002,
So why has it taken six years for the Russian 'Ronaldinho' to show the world just how good he is? It's a fair question, one that I put to Konstantin Kleshchev, a man who knows a bit about the burgeoning star of Euro 2008.
"We've always known he's a very good player," said Kleshchev, a reporter on Russian football for 25 years. "But not everyone has believed in him and could see what he was capable of."
Crucially, those people with the doubts have been the ones who mattered most. Previous coaches at both club and international level wanted Arshavin to fulfil a specific - and perhaps restrictive - role on the pitch, one that didn't suit him at all.
Kleshchev admits that Arshavin is something of a free spirit and not easily dictated to. "He is a strong character," he said. "He is a person who says what he thinks. Sometimes he's a bit crazy."
Like when he kicked an Andorran player towards the end of Russia's final Euro 2008 qualifier, a moment of madness that ensured he missed the first two matches of the Finals.
According to Kleshchev, Arshavin is not a big fan of journalists either, although he is more than happy for his face to be splashed across the front and inside pages of Russia's glossy magazines. This is a man who, after all, has a diploma in fashion design.
And he can expect even more interest in his life following his dazzling exploits in Austria and Switzerland. But how did he suddenly become football's hottest property? Well, according to Kleshchev, the catalyst was the arrival on the Russian football scene of two Dutchmen, Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat.
Hiddink became national coach in April 2006, with Advocaat taking over at Zenit St Petersburg just three months later. Both men quickly made their presence felt, although Advocaat's influence was initially more telling in respect of Arshavin.
Recognising he was a rough diamond in need of a little polishing, Advocaat made sure Arshavin got the TLC he required. Then he let Hiddink know just how good Arshavin was, too.
"Hiddink has a close relationship with Advocaat, and Advocaat told him Arshavin was the best," said Kleshchev. "Hiddink, who we call the magician in Russia, trusts Advocaat."
With the backing of Advocaat and Hiddink, Arshavin began doing what he does best - terrorising defences. It's not quite a licence to roam but he certainly pops up in all kinds of places, his close control and quick feet making any defender wary of diving in.
It's not only Arshavin who has benefitted from the nurturing instincts of Advoccat and Hiddink. Konstantin Zyryanov has also flourished under the Dutch duo's guidance. "He spent six years at Torpedo Moscow without showing any promise, but Adocaat saw Zyryanov as a star," said Kleshchev.
Zyryanov was named Russian Football of the Year in 2007 and scored the second goal in the 2-0 win over Rangers in the Uefa Cup final back in May. He also scored the only goal in Russia's crucial 1-0 win over Group D rivals Greece.
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It's a remarkable turnaround, especially when you consider he has had to cope with tragedy too many times in his life. A couple of years after losing his father and brother, his wife and four-year-old daughter were killed after they fell from the eighth floor of their apartment block. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide.
While Zyryanov has won plaudits for the way he has rebuilt his life and his career, it's Arshavin who has grabbed most of the headlines. He is also attracting the interest of Europe's top clubs, with talk of Barcelona leading the race for his services.
Kleshchev thinks any potential suitor, including the Spanish giants, may have to wait another year before getting their man. "For Zenit, the big thing now is the Champions League," he said. "They have already won the Russian Premier League and the Uefa Cup, so I think they will hold on to Arshavin for one more season."
Even then, Zenit might not want to sell. They certainly don't have to. Gazprom, who own a majority stake in the club, have already pumped in £80m and, as Russia's largest company, have many more millions at their disposal.
In the end, it will probably come down to what Arshavin wants. He currently earns £2m a year, so he's already a wealthy man. But if he can inspire Russia to Euro 2008 success, he will probably be able to command at least twice that.
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Four games = four million! Only in the lunatic asylum of professional football. Arshavin on the brink of joining the exclusive company of Russian oligarchs? Here's a boyish looking 27 year old who looks like he could play Puck in a Russian version of Midsummer Night's Dream, a role that would probably suit his impish character, as well, and if he can inspire Russia to Euro 2008 success in two more games, he'll be pumping money into Gazprom rather than vice versa. There's something about all this overblown Arshavimania that resembles some kind of footballing Midsummer Night's Dream from which everyone must soon awake. It's unfortunately, emblematic, in a deeper sense of the whole mad, hyper-inflated, money drenched dreamland of football hocus pocus.
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our club Zenit will not hold him him from leaving, no doubt. there are a number of players to replace him, really, although it might sound surprisingly.
Andrei did everything the club wanted him to do and club owners will not make barriers for him to leave, they just have to find compromise - get reasonable price for him and be sure he makes right choice (Barca - the rightest)
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As a loyal Rangers fan, it comes as no surprise to see Arshavin and some of the other Zenit players being lauded. They were excellent against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup, and carried that form into the final itself.
It's ominous that the Zenit fan is prepared to allow Arshavin to leave, as it suggests there is a conveyor belt of talent that can be nurtured, or purchased by the Gazprom backed outfit.
I reckon Zenit, with or without Arshavin, will be a team to watch in next seasons Champions League.
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I don't quite agree with what this Kleshev says about Arshavin.
I'm Russian and Zenit is my fave team.So I can say Arshavin became a real St-Petersburg star long before Dic Advocaat became a head coach there.
The reason he was unknown to most Europeans is that he wasn't appreciated by former national coaches.
He is not showing anything outstanding for him at this Euro. The thing is Russian players have to show themselves on such tournaments to get noticed.Otherwise no one in Europe knows about them.
That's why Arshavin has always dreamed to try himself in some European club.Not to be sort of isolated.
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Great player indeed but...
Am I the only one freaked out by the faces he pulls?
lol
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Why do so many people act surprised at his age? Because Russia were rubbish until Hiddink took over, and too many fans don't notice ANY players unless they are in the Premier League or the Chmpion's League. Proof osf this is in that even though russia knocked England out of qualifying for Euro 2008 AND Zenit played Everton in the UEFA cup (losing I might add) Nobody took any notice of him until the UEFA cup final, and then only because it was IN England and Rangers were playing. Even the , Arshavinless thrashing of Bayern in the Semi final was barely noted.
On top of that talented as he's always been he's only been used effectively these past 2 or 3 years,mostly because of the Dutch managers at club and country in that time.
Theiry Henry became famous because his club did well in the CL and France did well at a world cup, that said he didn't reach world class status unil Wenger turned him back from a winger into a striker. A similar thing has happened to ARshavin. Henry was a good winger but infinitely better as a striker. So for Arshavin, his talenst are not being restricted.
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Not so much 'taken a long time to show his talent' perhaps as 'out of range of the English football radar that covers Britain, Ireland and parts of Spain, Italy and France. Reminds me of Owen Hargreaves - when he was named for the world cup squad everyone was saying 'Owen who?' People didn't know him because he was playing in Germany. (English) people didn't know Arshavin because he was playing in Russia.
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Arshavin's "late development" is most likely down to Zenit's recent success. Up until 2006, Zenit were in the shadow of the Moscow clubs, now they are European champions, with Arshavin the key part of their jigsaw. I saw their, and his, potential in July 2006 in a friendly at Ibrox, when they thumpd Rangers 4-1. Zenit have produced several players that have gone onto further success in Europe, like Alexandr Kerzakhov (now Sevilla) and Martin Skrtel (now Liverpool). Arshavin would be a perfect replacement at Man U for Paul Scholes, but if he has his heart set on Barca then he could easily fill the gap that Deco or Ronaldinho will be leaving.
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i hope he joins arsenal
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Arshavin is totally over-hyped - the new Karel Poborsky. Zenit should cash in while they can!
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I remember watching Arshavin on a rain soaked Reebok Stadium pitch back in 2005 when Bolton played Zenit in the UEFA Cup Group Stage.
A heavy downpour for 48 hours before the game meant the pitch was unplayable, but the logistics of the tournament meant the game had to go ahead.
During the game, the ball was being held up by large patches of water, and players were sliding all over the place. It was the definition of chaos, and the pitch was virtually a swamp.
The likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Hide Nakata were playing, and they struggled with the conditions. Only one player looked truly world class on that difficult playing surface, that player was Andrei Arshavin.
I've known since then that he was destined for greatness, so its about time everyone else caught up...
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7. At 11:32am on 26 Jun 2008, AndyVN wrote:
Well said mate.
10. At 12:17pm on 26 Jun 2008, vivenot wrote:
Seriously, did you even read the article? Or did you just see it was about Arshavin and post your ill informed nonsene?
That you think he's only played well in this tournament, or even the UEFA cup says way more about you than it does his ability.
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He looks like Pinochio. good player tho
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I personally never liked Arshavin, but not because of his footballing skills, but because I think he is stupid.
LOL at his faces too...I don't know why he does these things...LMAO.
But in fairness talk about the hype machine going overboard...I'm not saying the hype isn't merited, but other Russian players are being forgotten(like Sychev who is amazing)
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By the way people dont listen to what Konstantin Kleshchev said. Phil Gordos has picked the worst person to take an opinion from, the guy is a disgrace. If u want to get the truth just teake exactly the opposite of what he says and then u might be a bit closer
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Most modern footballers best years as a game in game out 60 game a year club player go at 28, especially in England, it seems these days (see Henry, Lampard, Zidane, Sheva, Figo, Vieira et al - others manage it younger like Ronaldo). Certainly it would make no sense for an English club to get someone this age.
It is also foolish to buy purely in a different kind of football. After all some players represent their country better than a club for whatever reasons (Hagi and Healy).
So unless some thinks he has been hugely undervalued for a long time and is willing to write the fee off and offer no more than a 4 year contract probably an avoid in the current hyped market.
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Why is anyone surprised such a quality player has been ignored by English fans/press when he plays as far away as St Petersburg?
Don't forget it took Owen Hargreaves, our best player at the World Cup by far, until a similar age before anyone in England would give him any respect, and he only played in Germany, practically our back yard...
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He does look like Ian Brown though and with Joachim Low (sp) looking like John Squire its like a Stone Roses reunion at the Euros!
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Does anyone remember Liverpool splashing the cash on Diouf or Baros after 'amazing' international tournaments. There's a very good chance this could happen again...
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The irony is that if England were good enough to beat Macedonia at home, draw with Croatia at home, or beat a Russian team away who offered them the game on the plate, Russia would never have got there, Arshavin wouldn't be playing sublime football, and I would be commenting on this article.
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Good player, wasn't able to overcome everton in the UEFA Cup though.
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27, looks 17 and often, the issue of age is overated at times, maybe our youngsters will blossom more at Arshavin's age. There is also the surprise factor that may be working for him some. Let's see if the Spaniards can cue in on this.
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The "experts" don't know about a player and when he appears in a tournament they do follow it's "where's he been? how's he such a late developer?".
Also, Shearer in criticising the italians in their match against Spain, referred to the fact that there are players playing for AC Milan, etc....that he'd expect such tactics from a waeker team like Turkey.
This sundrome, that because someone plays for a "big" club, he's better, that it's the big stars, may be part of England's undoing.
The ball control, precise passing under pressure, etc from some of the supposedly smaller teams at this tournament should highlight that the game has moved on.
There may be stars, but the team is the thing.
"We have world class players" - where are they? Do we have a team? and one comfortable with the basics?
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syndrome
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I'm an Arsenal fan and would love him to join. I just think he would be the ideal replacement for Hleb if he goes.
I didn't and sure everyone else didn't know about this player, but thought "who is this player absolutely skinning and ripping the Bayern Munich defence apart?" over the semi final legs in the Uefa Cup.
The fact is he plays in the Russian league. No coverage what so ever unless you have some dodgy satelite box.
I am suprised Wenger didn't notice him before though, normally him and his team of scouts just find these sorts of talent before anyone else. He would have been alot cheaper too! Russia is just too far East it seems.
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