Alan Dzagoev

Dzagoev, 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 November 2007, he became a player of CSKA Moscow.

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).

There is an official website of Alan Dzagoev www.alan-dzagoev.com in Russian and English languages.

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 playing for CSKA in May 2011

Dzagoev signed for CSKA Moscow before the start of the 2008 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 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., and became one of the best player of this game. In 2009 season he played 40 marches and scored 10 goals.

On 2 December 2010, Dzagoev provided an assist for Sekou Oliseh and later added a cool finish as CSKA defeated Lausanne-Sports 5–1 in their penultimate group game, securing first place in Group F of the Europa League. In the final group game against Sparta Prague on 15 December, Dzagoev scored the opening goal as CSKA dropped their first points of their European campaign, succumbing to a 1–1 draw.

On 24 September 2011, Dzagoev scored the winning goal of a 3–1 Premier League victory over Volga Nizhny Novgorod. Three days later, Dzagoev scored a 45th-minute goal against Internazionale and a later strike from Vágner Love put the hosts level, until a late goal from Mauro Zárate gave the Italians a 3–2 victory. Dzagoev provided the cross from which CSKA debutant Pontus Wernbloom netted the equalizer in their 1–1 draw against Real Madrid in their first leg Round of 16 clash on 21 February 2012.

In 2012/2013 CSKA won Russian Premier League title and Dzagoev became the best left midfielder. In 2013/2014 season CSKA became the champion of Russian Premier League again and Dzagoev played 23 matches and scored 3 goals in all competitions.

2015/2016 season became one of the best in his career. On 21 May 2016 in the last match of Premier League with Rubin Dzagoev scored the winning goal and CSKA won another Russian Premier League title. In this season he played 43 matches, scores 8 goals and 11 assists in all club competitions.

Dzagoev with the Russia national football team in 2011

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 Euro 2012 squad 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. 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, amongst elite company — Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Mario Gómez, Mario Balotelli, and Mario Mandžukić.

On 2 June 2014, he was included in Russia's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. Dzagoev appeared as a substitute in all three of the team's matches as Russia were eliminated at the group stage.

On 22 May 2016, Dzagoev withdrew from Russia's squad for UEFA Euro 2016 due to injury. A year later he was excluded from the nation's FIFA Confederations Cup squad, again with an injury.

International goals

Scores and results list Russia's goal tally first.

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 October 2010	Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic of Ireland	2–0	3–2	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2.	7 October 2011	Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia	Slovakia	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
3.	11 October 2011	Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia	Andorra	1–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
4.				4–0
5.	8 June 2012	Stadion Miejski, Wrocław, Poland	Czech Republic	1–0	4–1	UEFA Euro 2012
6.				3–1
7.	12 June 2012	Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland	Poland	1–0	1–1	UEFA Euro 2012
8.	15 August 2012	Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia	Ivory Coast	1–0	1–1	Friendly
9.	8 September 2015	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein	6–0	7–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Club

As of 17 May 2017

International

As of 6 September 2016

Club

CSKA Moscow

• Russian Premier League (3): 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• Russian Cup (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
• Russian Super Cup (2): 2009, 2013

Individual

• In the list of 33 best football players of the championship of Russia (5): 2008 (No. 3 Central Midfielder), 2009 (No. 2 Central Midfielder), 2011/12 (No. 2 Central Midfielder), 2012/13 (No. 1 Left Midfielder), 2013/14 (No. 3 Central Midfielder), 2014/2015 (No. 3 Left Midfielder), 2015/2016 (No. 1 Left Midfielder)
• Russian Premier League Best Young Player (1): 2008
• UEFA European Football Championship Top Goalscorer (1): 2012
• Member of symbolic team of UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2013
• GQ Russia Men of The Year Awards - 2013