"Anji" presented Zhirkov, former "Chelsea" player, at match in Makhachkala

Today, at the National Football Championship the Makhachkala football club (FC) "Anji" defeated the team "Tom" from the city of Tomsk. Before the match, the official presentation of the new player of the Dagestani team – Yuri Zhirkov, a midfielder of the Russian team and the London team "Chelsea" – was conducted.

"I am delighted to be here in Makhachkala. Frankly, I never expected such a reception. Here's a fantastic atmosphere," said Yuri Zhirkov and continued: "I hope to appear on a field already at the match with the FC "Spartak", the more so, in the last match with the Moscow club, when I was still in the "Chelsea", I managed to score a fine goal to the red-and-white team's gate."

The new player of the FC "Anji" is 28 years old. In December 2003, Zhirkov signed a contract with the Moscow FC "CSKA". During one year he managed to promote himself from the player of the club's youth team to the player of the Russian team, won the UEFA Cup, became the two-time Champion of Russia and the four-time winner of the Russian Super Cup.

The Zhirkov's highest achievement so far is a bronze (third place) at "Euro-2008" (the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship). After that, having moved to London "Chelsea", Yuri Zhirkov became the most expensive Russian player. During two years spent in England, the football player became the Champion of England and won the Cup.

In 2011 the FC "Anji" pursues an aggressive transfer policy, inviting famous football players. Thus, Roberto Carlos, a Brazilian, the World Champion of 2002, who signed a contract with FC "Anji" in February, play for the club. Many people believe that the FC "Anji" obtained an opportunity to invite world football stars thanks to its new owner – businessman Suleiman Kerimov.