Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev is a famous Russian footballer and coach. During his career, he played for various clubs, including Spartak, Roma and Porto, became the winner of the Champions League and the owner of the UEFA Cup.
Biography
Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev was born in October 1972 in the village of Melioratorov (Pskov Region). He began to engage in football at the Velikiye Luki district center, in the youth sports school under the leadership of Leonid Alekseev. At the local club "The Seagull", a 17-year-old midfielder first entered the field as part of an adult team.
In the 1990/91 season, Alenichev began playing for the USSR Second League club Mashinostroitel from Pskov. In just a year, the young footballer became a permanent player of the main team. Then breeders from leading Russian clubs turned to him.
Club career
In 1991, Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev was invited to the Moscow Lokomotiv. His debut in the Premier League took place on May 31, when he entered the field in a game with Shakhtar Donetsk. As part of the “railroad” Alenichev spent 3 seasons, played in 175 matches and scored 24 goals.
In 1994, Dmitry moved to another Moscow team - Spartak. In his debut season for the “red-white" midfielder won the Russian Cup, and the next won the medal of the champion of the country.
In 1997, Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev became not only a key player in Sparta, but also the Russian team. He became the best assistant of the championship, and at the end of the season he was recognized as the best player in the country. In total, in the Moscow team for four years, Dmitry scored 18 goals in 122 matches.
The successful game of midfielder in European competition attracted the attention of breeders of European clubs. Especially interested in Alenichev “Roma”, which in 1998 bought from “Spartak” his contract for $ 8 million.
As part of the Roman team, the Russian midfielder rarely came out in the first team. It was hard for him to adapt to the new tactical schemes. In addition, in the spring of 1999, in one of the matches, he received a serious injury - a broken rib.
In the 1999/00 season Dmitry Alenichev practically did not appear on the field. This forced him to seek a new team. She became the Italian "Perugia".
But here the midfielder did not last long. At the end of the season, he was sold at Porto for $ 4 million. Here Alenichev tried his best to earn the trust of the coach. And he succeeded - Dmitry first saved the team from defeat in the Portuguese Super Cup, and then scored in the first round of the championship.
In 2003, Porto made it to the UEFA Cup final. In the decisive game with the “Celtic” the Portuguese in extra time pulled out a victory with a score of 3: 2, with one of the goals scored by Dmitry Alenichev.
A year later, “Porto” created a real sensation. The Portuguese club reached the Champions League final, where they defeated the French “Monaco” with a score of 3: 0. Alenichev, replacing in the second half, again scored a goal. Thus, he became the first Russian footballer to score in both European cup finals.
As part of the “Port” Alenichev spent 4 seasons, played in 83 matches and scored 12 goals, most of which were victorious.
In 2004, the midfielder returned to Russia, where he signed a contract with Spartak. However, due to a conflict with head coach Starkov in 2006, Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev was expelled from the team. After that, he completed his playing career.
Team appearances
For the first time Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev was called up to the Russian national team in February 1996. In the second match for himself, he scored a goal against Slovenia.
Alenichev was part of the Russian team during the World Cup in 2002, and he also played at Euro 2004. In total, he spent 55 fights for the national team, in which he scored 6 goals.
Coaching
The first coaching experience for Alenichev was working with the youth team of Russia, in which he was a mentor in 2010-2011.
After that, Dmitry Anatolyevich headed the Arsenal (Tula), who played in the amateur league. After the team received proper funding, they were allowed to play in the Second Division of Russia in the 2012/13 season. The debut was more than successful: under the leadership of coach Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev, the Tula team took first place and made their way to the Football National League.
The following season, the tale for Arsenal continued. In FNL, he took second place and received the right to play in the Premier League. However, there the team could not stay for long - taking last place, “Arsenal” dropped in class. After that, Alenichev left the Tula club.
His next place of work was in 2015 the Moscow “Spartak”. Under his leadership, the “red-white” managed to break into the European competition, but could not qualify for the Europa League. After that, Alenichev left his post.
In 2017, Dmitry Anatolyevich was appointed as a mentor of the Krasnoyarsk club "Yenisei", speaking in the FNL.
Non-football activities and personal life
In 2006, an ex-footballer of the Russian national team joined the ranks of the United Russia party. A year later, he was elected to the Federation Council from the Omsk Region.
But with a personal life, a successful athlete was not very lucky. Dmitry Anatolyevich Alenichev divorced his wife in 2011 after 11 years of marriage. From this marriage, the footballer has a daughter, Polina, and a son, Daniel.