Zenit St Petersburg

Zenit St. Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin and Krasnodar midfielder Pavel Mamaev were involved in a nasty altercation with a Russian government official that saw Kokorin appear to strike the official with a chair.

Kokorin and Mamaev were caught on camera accosting the official in a cafe in Moscow, according to Gazeta (h/t Liam Twomey of The Independent).

A Twitter user relayed footage of the incident:

https://twitter.com/GrimandiTweets/status/1049416519627808769

The official, named as Denis Pak of the trade ministry by BBC Sport, required medical attention. "Zenit said Kokorin had behaved 'disgustingly' and Krasnodar said they were looking to end Mamaev's contract," per the same source.

An investigation is under way by the Russian interior ministry. Gazeta (h/t Twomey) spoke to a lawyer who said the pair could be sent to prison for five years if found guilty.

Gazeta also noted how staff working at the cafe in the Russian capital felt Kokorin and Mamaev were intoxicated with alcohol and possibly under the influence of drugs.

While Zenit said they won't pursue punishment for Kokorin until the legal process had been completed, the club that finished fifth in the Russian Premier League last season described "great disgust" and "indignation" at his actions.

Zenit also lamented the "dismay" and "shame" Kokorin's actions had brought upon the club's supporters.

Kokorin, 27, hit 16 goals in both domestic and UEFA Europa League action last season. He has begun this campaign by scoring the winner in Zenit's second Europa League match, a 1-0 victory over Slavia Prague earlier this month.

Like Kokorin, Mamaev is a Russia international. The 30-year-old appeared alongside Kokorin at UEFA Euro 2016.

Krasnodar sound determined to end their association with the player, per BBC Sport: "Unfortunately, contracts are drawn up in such a way that they protect professional athletes to the greatest possible extent. But we will do everything to get it done."

Both the Russian government and its footballing body will be keen to act fast in reacting to an incident that has brought the game into disrepute.

AS Roma starlet Leandro Paredes has completed his shock move to Zenit Saint Petersburg, joining the Russian side in a €23 million transfer.

Zenit announced the news via Twitter:

It's official - Leandro Paredes is a Zenit player! The Argentinian international comes to St. Petersburg on a 4-year deal #Welcome #Transfer pic.twitter.com/Fwmi013Z7Q

— FC Zenit in English✨ (@fczenit_en) July 1, 2017

The 23-year-old Argentina international was widely regarded as one of Roma's top young talents and an up-and-coming star in Serie A. He was a regular contributor in the Giallorossi's stacked midfield.

Football Paradise's Srijandeep Das didn't understand how such a great prospect ended up in Russia:

Leandro Paredes, who could walk into most teams in Europe is completing a medical at Zenit, Russia. I don't understand football sometimes.

— Srijandeep Kumar Das (@srijandeep) July 1, 2017

Blessed with excellent passing range, vision and physical tools, Paredes can anchor just about any midfield unit, find forwards in space and chip in a few goals himself. For the reported fee of €23 million―with bonuses potentially adding €4 million to the fee, per Roma's official website―Zenit are buying a tremendous young player with excellent upside.

One has to wonder why Europe's elite clubs weren't all over Paredes and instead allowed him to fall into Zenit's lap.  

Paredes is the second top talent to leave the Giallorossi in quick succession, with Mohamed Salah completing a move to Liverpool in June. 

Zenit Saint Petersburg have completed the signing of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The move was announced on Zenit's official website on Wednesday, and the Russian club confirmed the Serbia international has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.

Here is Ivanovic with his new jersey, per the Zenit Twitter account:

IT'S OFFICIAL- Branislav Ivanovic is a Zenit player!
✍More details here: https://t.co/rlXQCYEdiT pic.twitter.com/I2DhHkdYoG

— FC Zenit in English✨ (@fczenit_en) February 1, 2017

The Blues posted the following on social media, paying tribute to their former defender:

A true Chelsea legend. #ThankYouIvanovic pic.twitter.com/mVejYmMaPK

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 1, 2017

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's transition to a three-man defence took its toll on Ivanovic after the veteran fell further from the Italian's first-team plans, with other figures preferred in his 3-4-3 system.

Prior to Wednesday's announcement, Conte confirmed Ivanovic's desire for more first-team football was fuelling his departure, and the Blues boss suggested it was the player's decision to leave, per Sky Sports:

Honestly, I didn't speak with the player about this decision. For sure we know is talking with other clubs but until now I don't know anything. We have to wait.

He has played a lot of games for Chelsea and has won a lot here. He is 32 years old and can play many more years at the top level but it's important to respect the player's decision.

If you are not playing a lot, you can make a decision to go to another team but, with respect for him, I am sorry to see him go. When you start the season with a certain group and you try to create a link between the staff and players, we are sorry if someone decides to go away.

However, the 32-year-old could still prove to be a major asset under the right conditions, and Zenit manager Mircea Lucescu will hope he can offer the right setting for his new arrival to excel once again.

Ivanovic leaves Stamford Bridge with a glittering silverware stack, having won the UEFA Champions League, two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a UEFA Europa League crown and more during his stay.

Here's a look at just how successful he was during his time at Chelsea:

Branislav Ivanovic is officially a Zenit player, but leaves England a Chelsea legend #CFC pic.twitter.com/MWFpmRK0vi

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 1, 2017

It's that kind of mentality Zenit will be hoping to see more of as Ivanovic settles into his new surroundings, looking to bring a winning attitude with him as he hopes to add to his trophy collection.

The Serb has left Stamford Bridge nine years after his arrival from Lokomotiv Moscow, and he made a total of 377 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

While we're not too sure whether this one would be legal, we like the audacity.

FC Zenit's Brazilian forward Hulk put away this cheeky penalty in training this week, flicking his boot toward goal to commit the goalkeeper before rolling the ball home.

Sixth-placed Zenit are currently enjoying the Russian Premier League's winter break, with Hulk's side already through to the Champions League's last 16, where they will face Benfica in February and March.

[h/t 101 Great Goals]

Zenit Saint Petersburg manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that he will leave the Russian club at the end of the season having turned down the offer of a contract extension.

The 37-year-old Portuguese manager told Zenit's official website that the 2015-16 campaign would be his last in charge: "Talking about a contract extension, when we last met with you I said that the club had made ​​me an offer at the end of last season, I have refused and at the end of the season I will leave the club."

The news is largely unsurprising as Villas-Boas tried to leave his post at the end of the 2014-15 season but was not allowed to do so by Zenit's hierarchy, per ESPN FC.

He has reportedly been upset by new Russian laws on foreign players that required him to move on Salomon Rondon to West Bromwich Albion, per the Independent's Jack Pitt-Brooke:

AVB was upset about the new nationality rules - supported by the club - which forced the sale of Salomon Rondon to West Brom.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) September 10, 2015

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager took over the top job at the Petrovsky Stadium from Luciano Spalletti in March 2014.

In his first full season with the club—the 2014-15 campaign—he won the Russian Premier League by seven points to second-placed CSKA Moscow.

After seven games of the new season Zenit sit in third place, six behind the league-leading Moscow outfit who have yet to drop a point.

Zenit begin their Champions League campaign with an away trip to Spanish club Valencia on Wednesday—Ligue 1's Lyon and Belgian outfit Gent join them in Group H—following a crucial clash with CSKA this weekend.

Having previously managed in the Premier League, a potential return to England could be on the cards for Villas-Boas, or he may perhaps prefer to return home to Portugal where he was so successful with Porto at the start of his career.

Belgium international Axel Witsel was enjoying a midseason break with his Zenit St. Petersburg team-mates in Doha, Qatar, when we sat down for an exclusive chat for Bleacher Report this week.

Bleacher Report: Axel, how do you reflect upon 2014?

Axel Witsel: Good, I feel good. It was a good year for Belgium with the World Cup. The World Cup was a good experience. We lost in the quarter-finals, didn’t do better, but overall, it was good tournament, and we qualified well.

B/R: Did Belgium achieve on their potential at the World Cup?

AW: No, we didn’t achieve the maximum. Belgium has a young team, and it was the first World Cup for most players with the exception of Daniel van Buyten, I think. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the next tournaments, we should try to improve on this one. It was good, but in my understanding, we can do better.

B/R: Was the pulsating game against USA Belgium’s best performance?

AW: That game was crazy. Both teams were going forward nonstop, and the level of intensity was so high. That’s why I say it was one of our best games.

B/R: What’s the future of Belgium’s golden generation?

AW: We first have to qualify for Euro 2016 and finish first in our qualifying group. We have to produce a good European campaign. For now, I can’t say that we should reach the final of the Euros. There are a lot of good teams, like Germany, Spain and Italy. It is going to be difficult. We have to train hard and we will see what happens at Euro 2016, but first, our mind should be on qualifying.

B/R: Within the Belgian group, would be it fair to say you are the “second captain”?

AW: Yes, I think I am a second captain in terms of responsibility and leadership. The coach gives me a lot of trust and I give a lot back on the pitch. He put me in the No. 6 position of defensive midfielder and I play well. It’s true that I have been in the national team for eight years, and so I start to be one of the older ones in the group. (Vincent) Kompany, (Jan) Vertonghen and me are the leaders.

B/R: How is your relationship in midfield with Marouane Fellaini and Kevin De Bruyne?

AW: It’s really good. I played with Fellaini at Standard Liege, so I know him well. I like to play with De Bruyne because he has good qualities. De Bruyne has the qualities to one day play in one of the top clubs of Europe. But I play well with everyone; Nacer Chadli and (Mousa) Dembele. It’s the same for me.

B/R: Looking at 2015, what are your ambitions?

AW: Firstly, to become champions with Zenit St. Petersburg. We have to. Secondly, to progress as far as possible in the Europa League and, thirdly, have a good qualification campaign with the Belgian team (for the Euros).

B/R: In recent days, there has been talk of a possible move to Arsenal and links to AC Milan (Sport Mediaset, h/t Forza Italian Football). Any truth in those?

AW: No, these rumors are in the newspapers. I don’t know anything about it. I am here in Qatar training to be focused on my team, Zenit, and to try to regain a good physical condition. Even during the holidays, I did not think about leaving. I am focused.

B/R: Kompany, Hazard and Fellaini all play in the Premier League. Do you envisage yourself there?

AW: I want to play in one of the top clubs in Europe one day. It’s true that I like the Premier League, because it is one of the best leagues in the world, for me, together with Germany and Spain. It is a very good league; it is a crazy league. A lot of my colleagues play there, but we will see. I am still young, only 26. We’ll see in the future. I have always liked Manchester United from when I was young.

B/R: Being at Zenit, how has your game developed since 2012?

AW: The adaptation was not easy in the beginning. I was previously in Portugal with good weather, and the life was different from Russia. It was not easy for Hulk and me. After six months or the first year, I started to play better. When (Andre) Villas-Boas arrived at Zenit, he gave me a lot of trust. He put me in a higher position to be more offensive, and I got my game back. Last season was a good one, and I will do my best.

B/R: How is it to work with AVB?

AW: He is really a good coach. We train a lot with the ball, we train with goals and he mixes it up a lot. I have a good relationship with him. (Luciano) Spalletti was here for a long time, but with him I had a more defensive role. I like to be offensive and move forward, and that is the difference from a personal point of view. I play more offensively with Villas-Boas than during Spalletti’s time.

B/R: Last question—you are here in Qatar for a second time. You ply your trade in Russia. What do you think of both countries hosting the World Cup?

AW: The World Cup in Russia and to play there will be something special, because it is my third year at Zenit. I think it will be really good. In Qatar, it will be in 2022, I will be 33. Hopefully I will play, too. Qatar has the conditions to host the World Cup. The weather will be a problem, because in June and July, it is really hot here. But Qatar has everything to make this World Cup happen.

Manchester City midfielder Javi Garcia has joined Zenit St Petersburg after two years at the Premier League champions.   

The 27-year-old Spaniard's move was confirmed by Manchester City after many recent reports suggested that Garcia would be making the switch to Russia:

Garcia looked set to struggle to break into the Sky Blues first team in the new season after the addition by boss Manuel Pellegrini of Porto's Fernando.

Along with Yaya Toure and Fernandinho—City's first-choice central midfield options—the arrival of Fernando further marginalised Garcia at the club—he made only 15 league starts last season.

Furthermore, the recent arrival of Eliaquim Mangala at City meant Garcia's potential place as a centre-back—where he was often put to good use per the Independent's Jack Pitt-Brooke—looked to have also disappeared:

He joins last year's Russian Premier League runners-up Zenit, currently managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The young Portuguese coach looks to be building a strong team in Russia's second city and Garcia rejoins his former Benfica teammates  Ezequiel Garay and Axel Witsel.

Zenit have won 4-0 and 8-1 in their opening two games of the new top-flight season and Garcia looks set to be assured of one of the seven starting places allowed for overseas players in league games under Russian rules.

With a starting place highly unlikely in the new season at City, Garcia looks to have made an astute move with Zenit also likely to benefit from his experience and talent.

Furthermore, having bought the player for £16 million, City have barely lost out in selling Garcia for a reported €15m according to Paul Clennam of Goal.com. They have also reduced the number of non-homegrown players in their squad—although they are still one over the Champions League limit.

Garcia is a very talented defensive midfielder and will likely thrive in Russia, especially under Villas-Boas who is taking the league by storm in its early stages.

Andre Villas-Boas has accepted a new managerial role at Zenit St Petersburg in the Russian Premier League and, despite being just 36 years of age, is headed for the sixth post of his career.

The news was released by Zenit's official website and Twitter account, confirming the Portuguese tactician had signed a new two-year deal set to commence on March 20.

Caretaker manager Sergey Semak will take charge of the Zenitchiki for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg tie against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, then AVB will assume the reins ahead of Monday's league clash with Krylya Sovetov Samara.

It's a surprise move, as many would have thought AVB would angle for another crack at a top job in England or Italy. There are potential openings at Milan, Internazionale, Newcastle United, Southampton and more in the next 12 months or so.

But his name has been dragged through the dirt in the UK after (ultimately) ill-fated spells with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, and the RPL might just be far enough away from the spotlight for him to begin rehabilitating his career.

Better yet, he links up with his former FC Porto star Hulk at Zenit, serving up the potential for another spectacular, trophy-winning combination between the two.

It's a clever move from the Portuguese, who has developed an alarming pattern throughout his career of requiring a long-range shooting expert to get consistent points from games.

If he can replicate, to an extent, the tactics he used at Porto to get Hulk firing in excess once again, he'll be able to use Zenit as a springboard for a bigger, better job in the months to come.

During the 2010-11 season when AVB managed FCP, Hulk scored 21 goals and assisted 15 as the Dragoes romped toward the Liga Sagres title and Europa League glory.

Despite the star-studded presence of the likes of Joao Moutinho and Radamel Falcao, victories were founded more on Fernando's sterling defensive displays and Hulk's ability to conjure something from absolutely nothing.

Fast-forward to 2012 and Gareth Bale's cannon of a left foot bailed Spurs out on multiple occasions in their quest for the top four, but the club fell just short. Erik Lamela arrived in his place, but the Argentine failed to settle, had injury issues and scuppered AVB's like-for-like "swap."

Hulk is already in sensational form for Zenit this season, with 13 goals and 10 assists to his name from just 24 appearances. If AVB can get Axel Witsel, Konstantin Zyryanov, Roman Shirokov and Danny humming in his preferred 4-3-3, the RPL title looks eminently winnable this season.

With a refreshed trophy cabinet and C.V., Villas-Boas might just be in a position to throw his hat in the ring for some of the world's top jobs once again soon enough.

Taking on the task at Zenit shows AVB knows where he stands in the market, and he's picked a job that can help easily raise his stock over the next 24 months.

Andre Villas-Boas has been named the new coach of Zenit Saint Petersburg and will return to management after nightmarish spells with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. 

The Portuguese boss' two-year contract was confirmed on Zenit's club website:

Zenit has agreed terms on a contract with new head coach Andre Villas-Boas. The contract will be signed and Mr. Villas-Boas will be presented in St. Petersburg as Zenit’s new head coach on March 20. Mr. Villas-Boas’ contract begins in March, 2014, and is valid for two seasons (2014/2015, 2015/2016).

Zenit are the sixth team AVB has managed, remarkable considering he is just 36 years old, and will allow the improving tactician a different challenge away from the Premier League.

The Gazprom-owned club are currently second in the Russian top flight, lingering three points behind Lokomotiv Moscow. Villas-Boas will be expected to ensure his team capture the domestic title and qualify for next season's Champions League, an extremely important feat considering Zenit are likely to be out of this year's European competition by the time their new coach is introduced.

Villas-Boas shot to prominence as Porto manager, where his most famous win came with a Radamel Falcao-inspired Europa League triumph in 2010-11. His tenure at the Estadio do Dragao is reminiscent of his expectations in Russia, where AVB will be challenged to win all national trophies and improve his club's stature as a continental force.

It's certainly a change of emphasis from the English Premier League, where Villas-Boas struggled to adapt to the constant spotlight and media attention. He developed insidious relationships with the press—highlighted by his decision to confront Daily Mail writer Neil Ashton after Spurs' 2-2 draw with Manchester United, per David Kent of the same publication—and he failed to produce the results he wanted on the pitch.

Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to their first Champions League title during the season AVB left, while Tim Sherwood is currently struggling to assert his aggressiveness at White Hart Lane. The Spurs interim boss initially provided the club with a lift—brought on by an increased emphasis on attacking football—but that has since dissipated.

Villas-Boas' inability to replace Gareth Bale slowly led to his dismissal at Spurs. He spent over £100 million on players such as Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli, but it is fair to say only the dynamic Dane has proven a success.

Even so, Spurs' decision to sack AVB is now looking a poor choice, per Sky Sports News and via Bleacher Report UK:

Wayne Veysey of Goal.com suggests Villas-Boas is perhaps fortunate to continue landing top jobs after his recent record:

Villas-Boas may find the Zenit post refreshing after a difficult stint in England. He has the funds and ambition to build a winning side around Hulk—a player he wanted to sign for Spurs, per Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail—and he can be expected to continue Zenit's building process as they struggle to maintain pace at the top of the Russian Premier League.

Should success follow, Villas-Boas may earn the chance to seal a Premier League return in the future. With many years ahead of him, it will be interesting to see if AVB is tempted by the lure of unfinished business.