Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Malafeev is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Russian Premier League team Zenit Saint Petersburg. He is a one-club man, having spent all 12 of his professional seasons with Zenit. Vyacheslav Malafeev started attending the Smena football school at the age of nine. In 1997, he began to play for the farm club of FC Zenit, Zenit-2, in the Third Division. He got the chance to play for Zenit in the Premier League in 1999 during the suspension of Roman Berezovsky. Malafeev later became the first choice goalkeeper for Zenit in 2001, after Berezovsky left the club. Malafeev has since been the first choice goalkeeper ahead of Kamil Čontofalský and won the UEFA Cup in 2008 after keeping a clean sheet against Rangers F.C. On 19 November 2003, Malafeev debuted as a goalkeeper for the national team in a Euro 2004 qualifiers play-off against Wales. He was chosen as the second choice goalkeeper behind Sergei Ovchinnikov and ahead of Igor Akinfeev. Malafeev participated in Euro 2004 coming on after Ovchinnikov's red card against Portugal and starting against Greece. After Euro 2004, Malafeev, became the first choice goalkeeper for Russia succeeding Ovchinnikov. After a long-term injury in May 2005, Malafeev lost his place in the goal for Zenit and Russia to Kamil Čontofalský and Igor Akinfeev, respectively. In 2007, played in two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia after Akinfeev's long term injury but was relegated to the bench in favor of Vladimir Gabulov. After Zenit's successful UEFA Cup campaign he lost a narrow battle with Igor Akinfeev for the first choice goalkeeper spot in Russia's Euro 2008 squad. Nonetheless, he stayed on the as the second choice goalkeeper ahead of Gabulov.He was the starting goalkeeper in the game that Russia lost to Portugal with a score of 1–7 in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier. He was confirmed for the finalized UEFA Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012. After the UEFA Euro 2012 he announced that he is retiring from the national team to spend more time with his children, but is prepared to be called up in case of emergency such as injuries to other top goalkeepers.
Yury Valentinovich Lonchakov (Russian: Юрий Валентинович Лончаков; born 4 March 1965) is a Russian cosmonaut and a veteran of three space missions. He has spent 200 days in space and has conducted two career spacewalks.
ReplyDeleteIvan Aleksandrovich Melnikov was born this day. He was a Russian baritone opera singer.Melnikov appeared regularly at the Mariinsky, in both foreign and Russian roles, and was the first interpreter of more than dozen roles in Russian opera.
ReplyDeleteTeam Zenit is the most favourite one of my father. That's why i can't but comment this post)))
ReplyDeleteI can't but mention the birth of Boris Moiseev this day. To my mind, Boris is a singer of great talent.I like that he is so funny and so changeable!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand so changeble talent of Boris Moiseev, as Yana mentioned. Especially his song "Blue Moon". But he is interesting figure with nontraditional view on our life and some people appreciate his talent. Why not?
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