Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, Championship
transition year: 2014 Transaction amount: free agent
Shirokov moved to Zenit from Khimki, apparently an ordinary player in the Premier League, but in the St. Petersburg team he became the star of the Russian championship. He spent 201 blue and white games, scored 43 goals and gave 23 assists. He won almost everything he could: two championship titles, the Russian Cup, two Russian Super Cups and, on the international stage, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. But in the winter of 2014, the club got rid of the 32-year-old midfielder. Head coach Andre Villas-Boas did not need him, Shirokov’s situation was aggravated by conflicts with Zenit fans.
Roman spent the last six months of his loan contract at Krasnodar, and in the summer of 2014 unexpectedly joined Spartak. He received free agent status and moved on to a main rival. During the transition, Shirokov said that he wanted to help the rojiblancos win the championship, but it did not work out with trophies at the Moscow club. The midfielder’s goal in his Lokomotiv debut was his only goal in 20 games for Spartak. Six months later, Roman was loaned to Krasnodar due to a conflict with Murat Yakin. Shirokov played a little more for Muscovites under Dmitry Alenichev, and then the agreement with him was terminated.
From Zenit to Spartak
