Aleksey Zhitnikov is a football player with a rich football history, and, despite his 32 years, the experience of an extreme defender is successfully used in the games of the Dolgoprudny club, playing in the Second Division of the Russian Championship.
Premier League Tale
Alexey Zhitnikov is one of the few players who happened to be in the team playing in the Premier League almost from the first days of his professional career, as an adult. At the age of 19, having previously gone through several football schools and youth squads, the Russian signed a contract with Ramensky “Saturn”, which was pleased with the success of the defender in youth football.
However, the tale of getting into one of the country's championship clubs was not so rosy for the player. The first two seasons the defender practically did not go out as part of the Moscow Region team, only 4 times appearing for a replacement. Nevertheless, the coaching staff of “Saturn” was waiting for progress from a beginner, and in 2005, Alex began to gradually approach the base, but more experienced players did not give him the opportunity to gain a foothold in the first roster. As a result, in January 2007, a young defender was bought by Khimki, near Moscow, who immediately leased it to the Belgorod Salyut-Energy.
In the First Division, Alexei Zhitnikov received the desired practice and took part in almost all meetings of the new club, appearing on the field 17 times. Returning to the “Khimki”, the defender began to fight for a place at the start, but, only 4 times having replaced, he responded to the invitation of the team league below.
Siberian hopes
A kind of salvation for the still-promising player’s career was Novosibirsk Siberia. The team in the First Division rated Alexei for his performances for Salute, and the coaching staff immediately entrusted him with a place at the base. For a year and a half in the Siberian club Zhitnikov took part in 55 matches, scoring his first official goal, scoring the only goal in the home game of Siberia against the Urals.
The performance of the Russian was noted by Podolsky Vityaz, who agreed with the Siberian club on a six-month lease. As part of the “heroes” Alexei Zhitnikov spent 14 matches, scoring two goals in half a season, as well as noting one assists. However, having returned to Sibir, he did not negotiate with the club, having signed a contract with Rotor for one year.
As part of the Volgograd club, the defender confirmed his level, regularly appearing on the field, and at the end of the agreement he remained in the First Division, moving to Astrakhan “Volgar”. However, having broken the contract three months later, in the summer of 2011 Alexey signed a contract with the Voronezh Fakel, which he spent 2 years in, leaving the team in the summer of 2013.
Departure to the second division
The new club was Alexei Kursk “Vanguard”. But, having played half the season, Zhitnikov did not receive the expected confidence, having concluded an agreement with Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region. As part of a team from the city of the same city, Alexey quickly secured a place for himself at the base and currently continues to show a consistently high level of play, due to which the team is fighting hard to get into the First Division, being in second place in 2016.