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Biography
Irena Kuznetsov (Hebrew: אירנה קוזנצוב, Russian: Ирена Кузнецов; born 24 April 2002) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as defender for German club 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and the Israel women's national team.
She also holds a Russian passport.
Early life
Kuznetsov was born and raised in Hadera, Israel, to parents who immigrated from Russia to Israel.
Club career
After having played in the boys' sections of the professional men's Israeli Premier League club of Ironi Sport Hadera, Kuznetsov was scouted in 2012 by the professional women's club of the Israeli Ligat Nashim's club, Maccabi Kishronot Hadera.
In 2012, she began her junior career in a club in the Israeli women's Premier League, where she played until 2016.
In 2016, she signed with the Ligat Nashim club of the Israeli National Women's Football Academy, and made her professional debut at the age of 14.
In 2019, she signed for the season and joined the Israeli club Maccabi Bnot Emek Hefer.
During the summer of 2020, at 18 years of age, she joined the Cypriot first division club AEL Limassol.
In November 2020, following poor working conditions, she terminated her contract to engage with Israeli club Maccabi Kishronot Hadera.
In January 2022, Kuznetsov joined German Bundesliga Turbine Potsdam, signing a 3.5 year contract. In May 2022, she played in the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal Final, which they lost 4–0 to VfL Wolfsburg.
Honors
- Best revelation of the Israeli Women's Premier League 2016–2017
- Best defender of Israeli Women's Premier League 2017–2018
- Best defender of September/October Cyprus's Women's Premier League 2020-2011
