Aleksandr Mostovoi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aleksandr Mostovoi

Mostovoi in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Aleksandr Vladimirovich Mostovoi
Date of birth	(1968-08-22) 22 August 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Lomonosov, Soviet Union
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
	Krasnaya Presnya
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1986	Krasnaya Presnya	19	(7)
1986–1991	Spartak Moscow	106	(34)
1992–1994	Benfica	9	(0)
1993–1994	→ Caen (loan)	15	(3)
1994–1996	Strasbourg	61	(15)
1996–2004	Celta	235	(56)
2005	Alavés	1	(1)
Total		446	(116)
International career
1990–1991	USSR	13	(3)
1992	CIS	2	(0)
1992–2004	Russia	50	(10)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Soviet Union UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 1990
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Aleksandr Mostovoi (born on August 22, 1968) is a famous Russian former footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder, which is a player who helps both defend and attack.

People often called him O Zar de Balaídos (meaning "The Tsar of Balaídos"). This nickname came from his long time playing for Celta de Vigo in Spain. He was known as a very creative player, a "genius playmaker," but also sometimes had a strong personality. He played football in Russia, Portugal, and France during his career.

Mostovoi played 50 games for the Russian national team over 12 years. He was chosen to play in two World Cups and two European Championships. Before that, he also played for the Soviet Union and the CIS teams.

Club Career: A Football Journey

Early Days in Russia and Moving Abroad

Aleksandr Mostovoi was born in Lomonosov, Russia, in what was then the Soviet Union. He started his career at a smaller club, FC Presnya Moscow, before joining the big team, FC Spartak Moscow. He quickly became a key player there.

In 1992, he moved to Portugal to play for S.L. Benfica. He also played for French teams like Stade Malherbe Caen and RC Strasbourg. It was in France that his amazing talent really started to show.

Becoming a Star at Celta de Vigo

Mostovoi's biggest success came when he joined Celta de Vigo in Spain in 1996. He quickly became a fan favorite at their home stadium, Balaídos. His creative style and important goals helped Celta de Vigo become one of the top teams in La Liga, Spain's main football league.

Fans lovingly called him 'The Tsar of Balaídos'. He played alongside other great players, including his fellow Russian, Valery Karpin. Mostovoi helped Celta win the 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup. They won the final against his hometown club, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. He played 235 games for Celta, which was a club record for many years.

Short Time at Alavés and Retirement

After leaving Celta, Mostovoi didn't play for a while. In 2005, at 36 years old, he signed with Deportivo Alavés. He played only one game for them, scoring a goal, but then decided to retire from professional football. He explained that he was having back problems.

International Career: Playing for His Country

Mostovoi played for three different national teams: the Soviet Union, the CIS, and Russia.

He played in the Euro 1996 and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was also chosen for the 2002 World Cup, but couldn't play due to an injury.

During UEFA Euro 2004, there was a misunderstanding between Mostovoi and the Russian team manager. Mostovoi later clarified that he only meant the players were tired from too much practice. This situation affected the team's spirit during the tournament.

In 2009, Mostovoi was part of the Russian team that won the Legends Cup, a tournament for former football stars.

Playing Style: A Creative Midfielder

Aleksandr Mostovoi was known as a very skilled attacking midfielder. He was quick, agile, and very creative. He could play in different midfield and attacking roles. His favorite position was as a "number 10," which is a player who creates chances for others.

He was great at controlling the ball, moving quickly with it, and dribbling past defenders. Mostovoi also had excellent vision and could make very accurate passes. He was good at both scoring goals and helping his teammates score, often shooting from far away.

Life After Football

After he stopped playing professional football, Mostovoi was asked to play for the Russia national beach soccer team, which he did.

Mostovoi has often said he would like to become a football manager. However, he hasn't gotten the special coaching licenses needed to manage a club. He has shared different reasons for this decision over the years.

Personal Life

Mostovoi (right) and musician Igor Butman at a celebrity ice hockey match in 2017

Before his football career, Mostovoi studied to become an electrician. He also attended a sports academy in Moscow that trained young players.

After a big cup final loss in 2001, some Celta fans wanted to build a statue of Mostovoi. They even raised money for it, but the project was never finished.

Mostovoi has two children, Alexander (born in 1996) and Emma, with his partner Stéphanie. His son, also named Alexander, tried out for a football club in Portugal in 2016.

Honours and Achievements

Mostovoi won many awards and championships during his career:

Club Achievements

Spartak Moscow

• Soviet Top League: 1987, 1989

Benfica

• Taça de Portugal: 1992–93 (a Portuguese cup)

Strasbourg

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995 (a European club competition)

Celta

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000
• Copa del Rey runner-up: 2000-01 (a Spanish cup, where his team came in second)

Country Achievements

Soviet Union

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1990 (a championship for younger players)

Russia

• Legends Cup: 2009 (a tournament for famous former players)

Individual Awards

• ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 2001 (recognized as the best player in Eastern Europe)

See also

In Spanish: Aleksandr Mostovói para niños