Quick Facts
Biography
Alexei Eremenko (born Aleksei Alekseyevich Yeryomenko; Russian: Алексей Алексеевич Ерёменко; born 24 March 1983) is a Russian-born Finnish professional footballer. He is a midfielder who is able to operate in many roles, and is also known as a set piece specialist.
Personal life
Eremenko was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union but moved to Finland with his family at the age of seven when his father, former FC Dynamo Moscow and FC Spartak Moscow player Alexei Eremenko Sr., came to play in Finland with FF Jaro. He was granted Finnish citizenship in 2003, but still holds a Russian passport as well. He is the elder brother of Roman Eremenko.
Club career
Eremenko spent some time with Tromsø IL in Norway (his father played for the senior team, he himself played for the under-fifteens team) and with the youth academy of FC Metz in France, before returning to Finland to make his Veikkausliiga debut with FC Jokerit in 2001. A try out with Aston Villa followed, but in the next season he moved to HJK, and eventually became the league's top player. He won two Finnish championships and one Finnish Cup with HJK. In the summer of 2004, Eremenko moved abroad, joining Italian Serie A club US Lecce. After failing to make a major breakthrough at Lecce, he moved to FC Saturn on a four-year deal in January 2006 transfer window, becoming a key player for the Russian side.
On 15 July 2011 it was reported that he is signing for Leeds United in a Finish newspaper, but the transfer was delayed due to a cancelled flight, which prevented him from linking up with the squad in Scotland.
Metalist Kharkiv
On 29 July 2009 Eremenko signed a three-year contract with the Ukrainian club FC Metalist Kharkiv, andscored his first goal in his debut game against HNK Rijeka.
Jaro (loan)
On 12 March 2010 it was announced that Eremenko had been traded back to his first club, FF Jaro, for the 2010 season. His father, Alexei Eremenko Sr., is the current manager of FF Jaro. He managed to score on his debut, in a Finnish League Cup game against JJK on 20 March 2010. He also continued scoring in Veikkausliiga's opening match against FC Lahti, scoring on a rebound after his unsuccessful penalty kick.
Kilmarnock (loan)
On 30 August 2010, it was announced that Eremenko had been traded to Mixu Paatelainen's Kilmarnock until the end of the season. He scored on his debut in a 2–1 victory over St Mirren. On 5 March 2011, Eremenko was given his second straight red card of the season against Hearts at Tynecastle on after an off the ball altercation with Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas. On 11 April, Eremenko stated that he wanted to end his career at Rugby Park. Eremenko was nominated for the 2010–11 Players' Player of the Year award, losing out to Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre.
After returning from his loan spell, Metalist Kharkiv told him he could leave, where he then stated that he had received bids from a Championship club and a Russian club, with reports that Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers were interested in signing him. The Championship club was later reported to be the Welsh club Cardiff City. Brighton & Hove Albion, a fellow Championship club, were also believed to be interested in signing Eremenko.
Rubin Kazan
On 30 August 2011, Eremenko signed a contract with Russian club Rubin Kazan alongside his younger brother Roman Eremenko.
Kairat
In June 2013 Kairat signed Eremenko on a free transfer from Rubin Kazan. Eremenko terminated his contract with Kairat on 26 November 2013.
Kilmarnock return
On 28 January 2014, it was announced that Eremenko had joined Kilmarnock until the end of the 2013–14 season. On 7 August 2014, he signed a new contract at Kilmarnock, keeping him at the club for the 2014–15 season. At the end of the season, Eremenko left the club after failing failing to agree terms on a new contract.
Jaro (second spell)
On 7 August 2015, Eremenko signed for FF Jaro, agreeing a contract until the end of the 2015 Veikkausliiga season, with the contract also containing a clause allowing him to move abroad should he receive a suitable offer.
SJK
On 26 January 2016, Eremenko moved to SJK. After just over three-months, Eremenko left SJK on 4 May 2016 due to personal reasons.
International career
Eremenko made his debut for the Finnish national team on 11 October 2003 against Canada. He was a key player for Finland in 2006 World Cup qualifying, scoring seven goals, four of which came from free kicks. He shared the third position among the top scorers in the group, along with Adrian Mutu, but behind Jan Koller and Ruud van Nistelrooy who both scored nine goals.
International goals
As of 15 November 2011.
Win Draw Loss
| Alexei Eremenko Jr. international goals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Date | Home team | Visiting team | Goals | Score | Result | Venue | Competition | Report/Note |
| 1. | 3 February 2004 |  China PR |  Finland |  51' 1–1 | 2–1 | Loss | Guangzhou, China | Friendly | |
| 2. | 31 March 2004 |  Malta | Finland | 51' 0–1 | 1–2 | Win | Ta’Qali, Malta | Friendly | |
| 3. | 18 August 2004 |  Romania | Finland | 90+3' 2–1 | 2–1 | Loss | Stadionul Giuleşti-Valentin Stănescu, Bukarest | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 4. 5. | 4 September 2004 | Finland |  Andorra | 42' 64' 1–0, 2–0 | 3–0 | Win | Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 6. | 8 September 2004 |  Armenia | Finland | 67' 0–2 | 0–2 | Win | Republican Stadium, Jerevan, Armenia | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 7. | 9 October 2004 | Finland | Armenia | 67' 2–0 | 3–1 | Win | Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 8. 9. | 17 August 2005 |  Macedonia | Finland | 8' 45' 0–1, 0–2 | 0–3 | Win | Philip II of Macedon National Stadium, Skopje | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 10. | 7 September 2005 | Finland | Macedonia | 54' 4–1 | 5–1 | Win | Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualif. | Report |
| 11. | 6 June 2007 | Finland |  Belgium | 71' 2–0 | 2–0 | Win | Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | Report |
| 12. | 22 August 2007 | Finland |  Kazakhstan | 13' 1–0 | 2–1 | Win | Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | Report |
| 13. | 1 April 2009 |  Norway | Finland | 90' 2–2 | 3–2 | Loss | Oslo, Norway | Friendly | |
| 14. | 15 November 2011 |  Denmark | Finland | 18' 0–1 | 2–1 | Loss | Blue Water Arena, Esbjerg | Friendly | |
International
- As of 17 June 2013
| Finland national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 7 |
| 2005 | 8 | 3 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 5 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 57 | 14 |
Honours
Club
- HJK Helsinki
- Veikkausliiga (2): 2002, 2003,
- Finnish Cup: 2003
- Rubin Kazan
- Russian Cup (football): 2011–12
- Russian Super Cup: 2012
Individual
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: November 2010
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Year: 2010/11 nominee
- "Clydsedale Bank Player Of The Month". Retrieved 3 March 2011.