Igor Smolnikov

Igor Aleksandrovich Smolnikov (Russian: Игорь Александрович Смольников; born 8 August 1988) is a Russian former football player who played as a right-back.

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Aleksandrovich and the family name is Smolnikov.

Igor Smolnikov

Smolnikov with Torpedo Moscow in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Igor Aleksandrovich Smolnikov
Date of birth	(1988-08-08) 8 August 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Kamensk-Uralsky, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Ural Yekaterinburg (scout)
Youth career
1995–1999	FC Udacha Kamensk-Uralsky
2000–2005	Lokomotiv Moscow
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2007	Torpedo Moscow	30	(2)
2008–2012	Lokomotiv Moscow	15	(0)
2009	→ Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast (loan)	12	(0)
2009	→ Chita (loan)	15	(2)
2011	→ Zhemchuzhina-Sochi (loan)	18	(1)
2011–2012	→ Rostov (loan)	23	(1)
2012–2013	Krasnodar	30	(0)
2013–2020	Zenit Saint Petersburg	143	(8)
2020–2021	Krasnodar	23	(0)
2021–2022	Arsenal Tula	27	(1)
2022	Torpedo Moscow	16	(1)
2023	Lokomotiv Moscow	6	(0)
Total		358	(16)
International career
2007	Russia U-19	3	(0)
2010	Russia U-21	1	(0)
2012	Russia-2	1	(0)
2013–2021	Russia	30	(0)
Managerial career
2024–2025	Ural Yekaterinburg (scout)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

On 29 July 2020, he returned to Krasnodar, signing a 2-year contract with a 1-year extension option.^[2] On 8 June 2021, his contract with Krasnodar was terminated by mutual consent.^[3]

On 23 July 2021, he joined Arsenal Tula.^[4]

On 8 February 2023, Smolnikov returned to Lokomotiv Moscow on a contract until the end of the 2022–23 season.^[5] Smolnikov left Lokomotiv in June 2023.^[6]

Smolnikov announced retirement from playing in August 2023.^[7]

International career

Smolnikov was called up by Fabio Capello to the Russia squad for the first time on 4 October 2013 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.^[8] He made his debut for the national team on 19 November 2013 in a friendly against South Korea.

On 11 May 2018, he was included in Russia's extended 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.^[9] On 3 June 2018, he was included in the finalized World Cup squad.^[10] He played his first and last World Cup game in the last group stage game against Uruguay on 25 June 2018 when he started the game, but was sent-off for two yellow cards in the 36th minute.

On 11 May 2021, he was named as a back-up player for Russia's UEFA Euro 2020 squad.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 November 2022

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Torpedo Moscow	2006	RPL	4	0	0	0	–		–		4	0
	2007	FNL	26	2	3	0	–		–		29	2
Lokomotiv Moscow	2008	RPL	1	0	1	0	–		–		2	0
Ural Yekaterinburg	2009	FNL	12	0	0	0	–		–		12	0
Chita			15	2	0	0	–		–		15	2
Lokomotiv Moscow	2010	RPL	14	0	1	0	0	0	–		15	0
	Total		15	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
Zhemchuzhina Sochi	2011–12	FNL	18	1	2	0	–		–		20	1
Rostov	2011–12	RPL	23	1	3	0	–		2[a]	0	28	1
Krasnodar	2012–13		26	0	1	0	–		–		27	0
	2013–14		4	0	0	0	–		–		4	0
Zenit St. Petersburg	2013–14		20	0	1	0	9	0	–		30	0
	2014–15		23	4	0	0	12	0	–		35	4
	2015–16		26	3	3	0	5	0	1[b]	1	35	4
	2016–17		17	0	0	0	2	0	1[b]	0	20	0
	2017–18		22	0	0	0	7	0	–		29	0
	2018–19		23	1	0	0	9	0	–		32	1
	2019–20		12	0	3	1	3	0	1[b]	0	19	1
	Total		143	8	7	1	47	0	3	1	200	10
Krasnodar	2020–21	RPL	23	0	1	0	8	0	–		32	0
	Total (2 spells)		53	0	2	0	8	0	0	0	63	0
Arsenal Tula	2021–22	RPL	27	1	0	0	–		–		27	1
Torpedo Moscow	2022–23		16	1	5	0	–		–		21	1
	Total (2 spells)		46	3	8	0	0	0	0	0	54	3
Career total			352	16	24	1	55	0	5	1	436	18

1. Appearances in the relegation play-offs
2. Appearance in the Russian Super Cup

International

Statistics accurate as of match played 14 October 2020.^[12]

Russia
Year	Apps	Goals
2013	1	0
2014	3	0
2015	6	0
2016	8	0
2017	5	0
2018	6	0
2020	1	0
Total	30	0

Honours

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2014–15, 2018–19,^[13][14] 2019–20^[15]
• Russian Cup: 2015–16, 2019–20^[16]
• Russian Super Cup: 2015, 2016^[17]