Chelsea Midfielder,Russia team player

Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov was born in Tambov, on 20 August 1983. His father, Valentin Ivanovich Zhirkov worked at the "Revtrud" factory and his mother was a postwoman. Yuri was the second child in the family. The family lived in poverty, struggling to buy basic goods such as food and clothes. He had to help his family grow vegetables during the summer so that his family could have adequate food during the winter. His first coach was Valery Sharapov who signed him for the Tambov Regional Children and Youth Sports School.
Yuri Valentinovich Zhirkov (Russian: Юрий Валентинович Жирков; born 20 August 1983 in Tambov) is a Russian footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League and the Russian national team. He can play anywhere on the left flank or as an attacking left-back.