Igor Smolnikov

Igor Aleksandrovich Smolnikov (Russian: Игорь Александрович Смольников; born 8 August 1988) is a Russian former football player who played as a right-back.

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Aleksandrovich and the family name is Smolnikov.

Igor Smolnikov

Smolnikov with Torpedo Moscow in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Igor Aleksandrovich Smolnikov
Date of birth	(1988-08-08) 8 August 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Kamensk-Uralsky, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Ural Yekaterinburg (scout)
Youth career
1995–1999	FC Udacha Kamensk-Uralsky
2000–2005	Lokomotiv Moscow
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2007	Torpedo Moscow	30	(2)
2008–2012	Lokomotiv Moscow	15	(0)
2009	→ Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast (loan)	12	(0)
2009	→ Chita (loan)	15	(2)
2011	→ Zhemchuzhina-Sochi (loan)	18	(1)
2011–2012	→ Rostov (loan)	23	(1)
2012–2013	Krasnodar	30	(0)
2013–2020	Zenit Saint Petersburg	143	(8)
2020–2021	Krasnodar	23	(0)
2021–2022	Arsenal Tula	27	(1)
2022	Torpedo Moscow	16	(1)
2023	Lokomotiv Moscow	6	(0)
International career
2007	Russia U-19	3	(0)
2010	Russia U-21	1	(0)
2012	Russia-2	1	(0)
2013–2021	Russia	30	(0)
Managerial career
2024–	Ural Yekaterinburg (scout)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

On 29 July 2020, he returned to Krasnodar, signing a 2-year contract with a 1-year extension option.^[2] On 8 June 2021, his contract with Krasnodar was terminated by mutual consent.^[3]

On 23 July 2021, he joined Arsenal Tula.^[4]

On 8 February 2023, Smolnikov returned to Lokomotiv Moscow on a contract until the end of the 2022–23 season.^[5] Smolnikov left Lokomotiv in June 2023.^[6]

Smolnikov announced retirement from playing in August 2023.^[7]

International career

Smolnikov was called up by Fabio Capello to the Russia squad for the first time on 4 October 2013 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.^[8] He made his debut for the national team on 19 November 2013 in a friendly against South Korea.

On 11 May 2018, he was included in Russia's extended 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.^[9] On 3 June 2018, he was included in the finalized World Cup squad.^[10] He played his first and last World Cup game in the last group stage game against Uruguay on 25 June 2018 when he started the game, but was sent-off for two yellow cards in the 36th minute.

On 11 May 2021, he was named as a back-up player for Russia's UEFA Euro 2020 squad.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 November 2022

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Torpedo Moscow	2006	RPL	4	0	0	0	–		–		4	0
	2007	FNL	26	2	3	0	–		–		29	2
Lokomotiv Moscow	2008	RPL	1	0	1	0	–		–		2	0
Ural Yekaterinburg	2009	FNL	12	0	0	0	–		–		12	0
Chita			15	2	0	0	–		–		15	2
Lokomotiv Moscow	2010	RPL	14	0	1	0	0	0	–		15	0
	Total		15	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
Zhemchuzhina Sochi	2011–12	FNL	18	1	2	0	–		–		20	1
Rostov	2011–12	RPL	23	1	3	0	–		2[a]	0	28	1
Krasnodar	2012–13		26	0	1	0	–		–		27	0
	2013–14		4	0	0	0	–		–		4	0
Zenit St. Petersburg	2013–14		20	0	1	0	9	0	–		30	0
	2014–15		23	4	0	0	12	0	–		35	4
	2015–16		26	3	3	0	5	0	1[b]	1	35	4
	2016–17		17	0	0	0	2	0	1[b]	0	20	0
	2017–18		22	0	0	0	7	0	–		29	0
	2018–19		23	1	0	0	9	0	–		32	1
	2019–20		12	0	3	1	3	0	1[b]	0	19	1
	Total		143	8	7	1	47	0	3	1	200	10
Krasnodar	2020–21	RPL	23	0	1	0	8	0	–		32	0
	Total (2 spells)		53	0	2	0	8	0	0	0	63	0
Arsenal Tula	2021–22	RPL	27	1	0	0	–		–		27	1
Torpedo Moscow	2022–23		16	1	5	0	–		–		21	1
	Total (2 spells)		46	3	8	0	0	0	0	0	54	3
Career total			352	16	24	1	55	0	5	1	436	18

1. Appearances in the relegation play-offs
2. Appearance in the Russian Super Cup

International

Statistics accurate as of match played 14 October 2020.^[12]

Russia
Year	Apps	Goals
2013	1	0
2014	3	0
2015	6	0
2016	8	0
2017	5	0
2018	6	0
2020	1	0
Total	30	0

Honours

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2014–15, 2018–19,^[13][14] 2019–20^[15]
• Russian Cup: 2015–16, 2019–20^[16]
• Russian Super Cup: 2015, 2016^[17]

References

1. "Игорь Смольников защитник ФК Зенит, биография, фото, видео, голы, интервью". fc-zenit.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 8 July 2023.
2. "В "КРАСНОДАР" ВОЗВРАЩАЕТСЯ ИГОРЬ СМОЛЬНИКОВ" (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 29 July 2020.
3. ""КРАСНОДАР" ПОПРОЩАЛСЯ С ИГОРЕМ СМОЛЬНИКОВЫМ" (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 8 June 2021.
4. "ИГОРЬ СМОЛЬНИКОВ - В "АРСЕНАЛЕ"!" (in Russian). FC Arsenal Tula. 23 July 2021.
5. "СМОЛЬНИКОВ – ИГРОК "ЛОКОМОТИВА"" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
6. "КАМАНО, ЖИВОГЛЯДОВ И СМОЛЬНИКОВ ПОКИДАЮТ "ЛОКОМОТИВ"" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 30 June 2023.
7. "ТРЕХКРАТНЫЙ ЧЕМПИОН РОССИИ ИГОРЬ СМОЛЬНИКОВ ОБЪЯВИЛ О ЗАВЕРШЕНИИ КАРЬЕРЫ" (in Russian). Match TV. 27 August 2023.
8. Определен состав национальной сборной (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 4 October 2013.
9. "Расширенный состав для подготовки к Чемпионату мира" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 11 May 2018.
10. Заявка сборной России на Чемпионат мира FIFA 2018 (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 3 June 2018.
11. Расширенный состав сборной России для подготовки к ЕВРО [Extended national team line-up for Euro preparations] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 11 May 2021.
12. Igor Smolnikov at National-Football-Teams.com
13. "Zenit is the Russian Premier League champion" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 4 May 2019.
14. "20 Zenit players became Russian champions for the first time" (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 4 May 2019.
15. "Zenit crowned 2019/20 RPL champions". Russian Premier League. 5 July 2020.
16. "Late Dzyuba penalty seals Russian Cup for Zenit". Russian Premier League. 25 July 2020.
17. "Super Cup 2016 live scores, results, Soccer Russia - FlashScore".