Yuri Zhirkov profile: 10 things you need to know about the Chelsea signing

Chelsea have this morning confirmed the signing of Russian midfielder Yuri Zhirkov. Here's all you need to know about the Russian Ronaldinho...

1) Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov was born in Tambov, 430 miles south-east of Moscow, on 20 August 1983. His dad was a factory worker and his mum was a postie. The six members of his family lived in a one-bedroom flat, so he would often play football in the yard between blocks of flat until late to avoid getting in the way, only coming in when the family were already asleep.

2) As a kid he didn't especially stand out as a footballer, once running off in tears as a 13-year-old when he was told he wouldn't be taken to a youth tournament. One of his childhood dreams was to drive a tank.

3) He joined Tambov in 2001, and went on to score 26 goals in 74 games. He wasn't paid much at Tambov so carried on playing for a village side as well, who paid him in food for his family. He had success there too, scoring two late goals in a regional final to save them from a goal down. And he has said he would continue playing games in the yard if his contract didn't ban him from doing so.

4) He was signed by CSKA in January 2004, but only after being turned down after trials with Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv and Arsenal Kiev. His first pay packet was invested in football, buying a satellite dish so he could watch the European leagues.

5) He is a left winger with a great left foot, fast feet and good dribbling ability, but has the work ethic to be an effective wing back too. Zhirkov shone in CSKA's 2004-05 Uefa Cup-winning campaign. He has so far scored 24 goals in 215 appearances for the club.

6) His Champions League goal against Hamburg in the group stages is considered one of the best in the competition's history.

See it here:

7) He was voted 2008 Russian Premier League player of the season by influential newspaper Sport Express. Here is a compilation of his best bits:

8) He has won the Russian league twice, the Russian Cup three times and the Uefa Cup once. In January he signed a new contract with CSKA, where is younger brother Nikolai also plays, which is due to run until 2011.

9) He got married to Inna in February 2008, and they have a son, Dmitriy, born in September last year. Zhirkov was so busy preparing for this summer's finals that he married his fiancée, Inna, in Turkey during a Russia team training camp in January.

10) Zhirkov has made 31 appearances for Russia since his debut on 9 February 2005 against Italy, and was part of the side that finished third in Euro 2008. He is yet to score for his country.

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