Ilzat Akhmetov

Russian footballer

Ilzat Akhmetov
Personal information
Akhmetov with Krasnodar in 2022
Full name	Ilzat Toglokovich Akhmetov
Date of birth	(1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth	Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Zenit Saint Petersburg
Number	77
Youth career
	Alga Bishkek
2009–2013	Yu. Konoplyov
2013–2014	Rubin Kazan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	Rubin Kazan	27	(0)
2014	→ Rubin-2 Kazan	2	(0)
2018–2022	CSKA Moscow	81	(3)
2022–2023	Krasnodar	42	(4)
2024–	Zenit Saint Petersburg	2	(0)
International career^‡
2014–2015	Russia U-18	10	(2)
2015	Russia U-19	5	(0)
2017–2018	Russia U-21	6	(2)
2019–	Russia	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 March 2023

Ilzat Toglokovich Akhmetov (Russian: Ильзат Тоглокович Ахметов; Uyghur: ئىلزات ئەخمەت; born 31 December 1997) is a Russian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Russian Premier League club Zenit St. Petersburg. Earlier in his career he mostly played in the attacking midfielder position.

Personal life

Born in Kyrgyzstan to Uyghur parents, Akhmetov moved to Russia at 11.^[2]^[3]

Club career

He made his professional debut in the Russian Professional Football League for FC Rubin-2 Kazan on 18 July 2014 in a game against FC Syzran-2003 Syzran.^[4]

He made his debut for the main FC Rubin Kazan squad on 24 September 2014 in a Russian Cup game against FC Luch-Energiya Vladivostok. He made his Russian Premier League debut for Rubin Kazan on 20 October 2014 in a game against FC Mordovia Saransk.^[5]

On 15 June 2018, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg announced that Akhmetov would join them for a try-out during the first pre-season camp.^[6]

On 26 July 2018, CSKA Moscow announced the signing of Akhmetov on a four-year contract.^[7] Akhmetov left CSKA as a free agent in June 2022.^[8]

On 7 July 2022, Krasnodar announced the signing of Akhmetov on a contract until 30 June 2024.^[9]

On 9 January 2024, Akhmetov signed a contract with FC Zenit Saint Petersburg until the end of 2025–26 season, with an option for the 2026–27 season.^[10]

International

He was able to represent for either Kyrgyzstan or Russia. Manager of Kyrgyzstan Aleksandr Krestinin, a Russian himself, tried to call him up, but he ultimately chose the latter.^[11]

He was called up to the Russian team for the first time in November 2018 for games against Germany and Sweden.^[12] He was forced to miss the callup due to injury.^[13]

He made his debut for the team on 21 March 2019 in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Belgium, as a starter.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 April 2024^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rubin-2 Kazan	2014–15	Russian Second League	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
Rubin Kazan	2014–15	Russian Premier League	9	0	1	0	—		—		10	0
	2015–16	Russian Premier League	3	0	1	0	2	0	—		6	0
	2016–17	Russian Premier League	12	0	3	0	—		—		15	0
	2017–18	Russian Premier League	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	Total		27	0	5	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
CSKA Moscow	2018–19	Russian Premier League	26	0	0	0	4	0	—		30	0
	2019–20	Russian Premier League	21	2	3	2	6	0	—		30	4
	2020–21	Russian Premier League	14	0	3	1	5	0	—		22	1
	2021–22	Russian Premier League	20	1	2	1	—		—		22	2
	Total		81	3	8	4	15	0	0	0	104	7
Krasnodar	2022–23	Russian Premier League	27	2	13	2	–		—		40	4
	2023–24	Russian Premier League	15	2	6	1	–		—		21	3
	Total		42	4	19	3	–		–		61	7
Zenit Saint Petersburg	2023–24	Russian Premier League	2	0	2	0	–		–		4	0
Career total			154	7	34	7	17	0	0	0	205	14

International

As of match played 23 March 2023^[15]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps
Russia	2019	7
	2021	1
	2023	1
Total		9

References

^ "Ахметов Ильзат Тоглокович — Игроки — Команда — официальный сайт ПФК ЦСКА". Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
^ "Я уйгур сборной России" (in Russian). realnoevremya.ru. 12 November 2019.
^ "Ильзат Ахметов. Биографи" (in Russian). rfs.ru. 2 October 2022.
^ "Career Summary". Sportbox. 3 October 2014.
^ "Game Report" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 20 October 2014.
^ "На первые "Газпром" — тренировочные сборы отправятся 29 игроков" (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 15 June 2018.
^ "Ilzat Ahmetov joins PFC CSKA". pfc-cska.com/. PFC CSKA Moscow. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
^ "Ильзат Ахметов покидает ПФК ЦСКА" (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 10 June 2022.
^ "ИЛЬЗАТ АХМЕТОВ СТАЛ ИГРОКОМ «КРАСНОДАРА»". fckrasnodar.ru (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
^ "«Зенит» и «Краснодар» достигли соглашения о переходе Ильзата Ахметова" (in Russian). Zenit St. Petersburg. 9 January 2024.
^ "Ilzat Akhmetov: "I was shocked when I learned about the invitation to the Russian national team"".
^ "Состав сборной России на Германию и Швецию" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 5 November 2018.
^ "Ари вызван в сборную России" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 12 November 2018.
^ Ilzat Akhmetov at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
^ "Akhmetov, Ilzat". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 June 2021.