A 2008 UEFA Cup winner with FC Zenit St Petersburg under Dick Advocaat, who signed him from FC Khimki, Roman Shirokov returned to the Russian national side when the Dutchman took over the reins in 2010. He started eight UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers and helped the Sine-Belo-Golubye retain the Premier-Liga crown before travelling to the finals.

• Shirkov started out with PFC CSKA Moskva but made his Russian Premier-Liga debut in 2001 for city rivals FC Torpedo-ZIL Moskva before spending the next three years in the lower leagues, with FC Istra and FC Vidnoye.

• Rejoined the elite in 2005 with FC Saturn Moskavskaya Oblast, scoring three goals in 18 appearances, then had a short spell at FC Rubin Kazan in 2006 before enjoying a breakthrough 2007 season with Khimki, for whom he scored seven goals in 27 games – the best tally at the club − as the promoted team finished ninth in the top flight.

• Joined Zenit midway through their triumphant 2007/08 UEFA Cup run; sent off on his second appearance, against Villarreal CF, but started each of the last six matches, culminating in the final against Rangers FC at the City of Manchester Stadium.

• Transformed from a midfielder to a central defender by Zenit coach Advocaat, he went to UEFA EURO 2008 with Russia in the latter role but was discarded after an opening 4-1 defeat by Spain.

• Restored to the team − now under Advocaat's tutelage − after a two-year absence and scored the winner in the Dutchman's first game, an August 2010 friendly in St Petersburg against Bulgaria, followed by the decisive strike in a 3-2 defeat of the Republic of Ireland in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying.

• Claimed the Russian double with Zenit in 2010, scoring six goals in the league and the winner, from the penalty spot, in the cup final against FC Sibir Novosibirsk.

• Inspirational in Zenit's run to the knockout stage of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, scoring four of his five goals against FC Porto (3-1) and SL Benfica (3-2) either side of the new year.

UEFA honours
UEFA Cup: winner 2008
UEFA Super Cup: winner 2008