Andrey Arshavin

Zenit Saint Petersburg

In 2000, Arshavin was included in the Zenit first-team squad, making his debut in a 3–0 away win over English side Bradford City in the Intertoto Cup, coming on as a first-half substitute for Andrey Kobelev. He played in various positions on the field, starting as a right midfielder, then as an attacking midfielder, and finally adopted the second striker's role playing on a flank or behind the target man.

In the 2007 Russian Premier League season, Shava (Шава in Russian), as he was nicknamed by Zenit fans, guided his Zenit side to the title in starting all 30 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists which was the most in the Russian Premier League that year en route. It was the club's first league title since winning the now-defunct Soviet Top League in 1984. Arshavin was also a key player during Zenit's 2007–08 UEFA Cup triumph and was named Man of the Match in the final, again topping the list for assists in that season's UEFA competition. In October 2008, Arshavin was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, along with 29 others in a list that included compatriot Yuri Zhirkov. Arshavin's performances in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Euro 2008 brought him to the attention of several European clubs. However, interest had already been expressed in January 2008 by Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce, but he was sacked as manager as the transfer window opened. In June 2008, Barcelona had their €15 million offer for the player turned…

Arshavin debuted for the Russian national team on 17 May 2002, but was overlooked for the squads at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004. His first goal with the squad came in a friendly match versus Romania on 13 February 2003. Since then, he managed to score or assist in every competition which Russia participated in. He was Russia's captain in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia. On 11 June 2009, Arshavin was made first-choice captain for Russia by manager Guus Hiddink.

UEFA Euro 2008

Arshavin was included in Russia's Euro 2008 squad by Guus Hiddink, despite being unable to play in the first two group matches due to suspension. He announced his return by setting up the first goal and scoring the second in Russia's final group game against Sweden at Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck, which helped his team qualify for the next round. In the next match, the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Arshavin repeated the feat with his part in Russia's two goals in the second half of extra time, providing the cross for Dmitri Torbinski's goal and scoring his own four minutes later. Russia consequently reached the semi-finals with a 3–1 victory. For both of these games, UEFA awarded him Man of the Match. However, Arshavin could not repeat the heroics in the semi-final against eventual winners Spain, which Russia lost 3–0. Despite this, Arshavin was named in UEFA's squad for Euro 2008. He, along with the rest of the Russian team, received a bronze medal.

2010 World Cup…

Club

International

Scores and results list Russia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Arshavin goal.

Arshavin carried the Olympic Flame during the St. Petersburg leg of the torch relay for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Arshavin and his former wife Julia Baranovskaya met in 2003. They have three children, two sons named Artyom and Arseniy and a daughter named Yana. In September 2016, he married his second wife, Alisa Arshavina, with whom he shares a daughter. After a year of marriage, the couple reportedly divorced. Post retirement, he continues to support his former clubs. In 2025, Fabrizio Romano reported that Arshavin obtained his UEFA A coaching license.

Politics

Arshavin participated in the elections on 11 March 2007 as a candidate for deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg from the United Russia party. He won as a part of the party list but later abandoned the mandate. On 6 February 2012, Arshavin was one of 499 cultural, technical or sporting figures personally chosen in debates as campaign ambassadors for Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Putin in the buildup to the 2012 Russian presidential election.