Alan Dzagoev

Akademiya Tolyatti

From January 2006 to December 2007, Dzagoev played for Akademiya Tolyatti, formerly known as Krylia Sovetov-SOK, of the Russian Second Division. He made his professional debut on 29 April 2006 in a 1–2 home defeat against Tyumen. He appeared in 37 matches and scored six goals for the team.

CSKA Moscow

Dzagoev signed for CSKA Moscow before the start of the 2008 Russian Premier League season. His first appearance was as a substitute in a match against Luch. A couple of games later, he appeared in the starting lineup in the home match against FC Khimki and managed to score a goal and two assists. He was also a starter when the team won the 2008 Russian Cup final. In the round 13 game against bitter rivals Spartak Moscow, Dzagoev made three assists, helping CSKA to secure a 5–1 victory and since then he has become an undisputed member of the first eleven. Dzagoev was also the man of the match when he scored two goals in a 1–3 away victory against UEFA Cup winners Zenit Saint Petersburg. At the end of the 2008 season, Dzagoev was chosen as Best Young Player of the Year by the Russian Football Union. In October 2008, it was reported that Real Madrid were interested in signing the player, but it was not confirmed. In the 2008 season Dzagoev played 29 matches and scored 13 goals. Dzagoev scored from a very tight angle during a Champions League match against Manchester United on 4 November 2009, which finished 3–3. In 2009 season he played 40…

After a string of impressive performances at club level, Dzagoev was called up to Russia squad for a 2010 World Cup qualification match against Germany scheduled for 11 October 2008. He made his debut as a half-time substitute, at the age of 18 years and 116 days, thus becoming the youngest outfield player ever to compete for Russia, and second youngest overall after goalkeeper and CSKA teammate Igor Akinfeev. Dzagoev nearly earned the team a crucial away draw as he flicked the ball past Germany's goalkeeper René Adler, but hit the crossbar. After the game, Russia manager Guus Hiddink stated, "He's gelled into the team very well... Alan is a really clever player with the ability to make a killer pass and stretch the play. He proved that in Germany once again." Dzagoev himself, however, being unhappy with the defeat, labeled his debut "a flop." He scored his first international goal on 8 October 2010 in a 2–3 away victory over the Republic of Ireland in the qualifying round of UEFA Euro 2012. He was confirmed for the finalized squad for Euro 2012 on 25 May 2012. Dzagoev scored two goals in Russia's opening game of the Euro 2012 tournament against the Czech Republic on 8 June 2012, a 4–1 victory, in which he was named Man of the Match. Dzagoev added his third goal of the tournament in his side's second game against Poland, earning a 1–1 draw for his side. With three goals scored, he finished the tournament as joint-top scorer, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres,…

Dzagoev is a playmaker, who "enjoys playing behind the strikers". His main position is on the left side of midfield. However, he is versatile, having also played "on the right side of Russia's three-man attack" in their win over the Czech Republic at EURO 2012 in which Dzagoev scored two. In 2009, ESPN SoccerNet called Dzagoev "one of the hottest prospects on the continent", commenting that he is "quick, good in the air and with exceptional technical skills". He has been recognised as the finest in the country in his position, being declared the best left-midfielder in 2013. He was also named as Russia's "star man" by BBC Sport when they compiled their UEFA EURO 2012 team profiles. When CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky was asked of Dzagoev following a goal against Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, he opined: "it's obvious Alan Dzagoev is one of the top players in the Russian league", adding that it was "not surprising that scouts were watching him and it will not be surprising if he continues his career in one of the top British clubs". Shortly before the last round of international friendlies in the run-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, The Guardian branded Dzagoev as one of "three Russia players with the capacity to harm top-level opponents".

Dzagoev (born Zagoshvili), the younger of two sons of Yelizbar (who is commonly referred to as Tariel) and Lyana, was born and raised in Beslan, North Ossetia–Alania, to which his family, ethnic Ossetians from Georgia, moved in 1989. He played football on the streets with his brother Gela right up to the second grade of elementary school, when their mother, a passionate football fan, brought them to the Terek Beslan youth team. In 2000, Dzagoev moved to Vladikavkaz to play for a local youth team, Yunost. As their team used to attend Alania Vladikavkaz matches, he became their fan. He describes Valery Gazzaev, an Ossetic footballing legend who later became his coach at CSKA Moscow, as his childhood hero, also stating that Evgeni Aldonin and Frank Lampard were role models for him. In July 2005, Dzagoev joined the Konoplyov football academy. In July 2012, Dzagoev married Zarema Abayeva, who is originally from North Ossetia-Alania's capital, Vladikavkaz. They have two children - Elana (born 2013) and Khetag (born 2016).