Биография: Игорь Акинфеев

Igor Vladimirovich Akinfeev (Russian: 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 and Two National Championships, and the ‘Zvezda’ trophy that is awarded to the best football player in the area that was 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. Akinfeev is currently expected to return to action for the Russia but may face competition for one of the three goalkeeper spots for Euro 2008 from Vyacheslav Malafeev, Vladimir Gaboulov, Dmitri Borodin, and Anton Shunin.

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.

In the Euro 2008, Akinfeev was the first choice of coach Hiddink against Spain.

UEFA Super Cup Runner-up: 1

2005, CSKA Moscow

UEFA Cup winner: 1

2004/05, CSKA Moscow

Russian Super Cup winner: 3

2005, 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