Alexey Smertin

Early career

Born in Barnaul, Russian SFSR, Smertin has previously played for Dinamo Barnaul, Zarya Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Uralan Elista, Lokomotiv Moscow, and French team Girondins Bordeaux before moving on to Chelsea. His older brother Yevgeni Smertin played football professionally as well.

Chelsea, Portsmouth and Charlton

Claudio Ranieri brought Smertin to Chelsea from Bordeaux in August 2003 for £3.45m, before loaning him out to Portsmouth for the 2003–04 season. After some impressive performances at Fratton Park, most notably in Pompey's 1–0 victory over Manchester United, Smertin returned to London. However, Ranieri had now been succeeded by José Mourinho, who had made his own midfield signing in compatriot Tiago Mendes, adding to a midfield that already boasted Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé, Geremi, and Scott Parker. Smertin only played a bit-part role for the team in 2004–05 as Chelsea won the title, but made enough appearances to earn a medal (16 in total). He did however score his first and only Chelsea goal this season, in the 3–1 Champions League win over Porto. He was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and was loaned out to Charlton Athletic for the 2005–06 season. At Charlton, he was a starter and had some impressive performances. In March 2006, he was transferred to Dynamo Moscow, for a fee of £1 million.

Dynamo Moscow

Smertin played a total of 22 games for Dynamo Moscow before being transfer listed, alongside…

Smertin made his debut for Russia in 1998 in a 1–0 defeat against Iceland; in the same match he received a red card. He was capped 55 times for Russia, and was selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004. He was made captain in June 2004, and was succeeded in that role by Andrey Arshavin. He became the winner Cyprus International Football Tournament 2003

Lokomotiv Moscow

Russian Cup: 1999–2000 Bordeaux

Coupe de la Ligue: 2001–02 Chelsea

Premier League: 2004–05 Individual

Russian Footballer of the Year, awarded by Futbol and Sport-Express (1999)