Zenit striker Andrei Arshavin is the best footballer of
Russian Premier Liga in 2006.
Arshavin was the firm favorite to win the players' vote and he did it
with a huge advantage.
The pacey forward earned 322 points, while former Rubin Kazan forward
Alejandro Dominguez came second with 108 and Zvezda award winner Igor
Akinfeev was third with 98.
"It is a great honour to be voted the best player, especially when
the voters are your colleagues," told Arshavin to Sport Express.
"I dream to win the Premier Liga with Zenit next season, it is my
main aim."
"Maybe after that, if everything goes right, I will think about a
move to a bigger European club."
"I think the main problem in Russian football is the big amount of
foreigners."
"We have to play more home-grown players if we want to raise the
level of Premier Liga."
"Another two problems are the referees and match-fixing scandals,
plus I woold also mention poor pitches."
"There are hardly more than five stadiums with good pitches ll around
Russia, and it is a big shame."
"As to my career, I wuld like to thank all the coaches I have worked
with."
"Burchalkin made me physically stronger when I was at Zenit reserves,
Mortozov gave me a chance to play for the first team."
"Vlastimil Petrzela changed my mentality, as he explained me that
you don't need to think about football all the time."
"Finally Dick Advocaat helped me to become a more disciplined player."
"I had some low moments in my career. I remember 2001 was very successful,
but the next two seasons were awful."
"I thought that I will never become a beter player but everything
changed when I signed an agreement with my agent Pavel Andreev."
"He told me "You just play football, I will solve all the other
problems." I don't know whether it is coincidense or not, but now
I am happy where I am."
, 29 Dec 2006.
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