Football is a team sport that has attracted the attention of almost all men for a long time. At the moment, each individual state has a large number of good and even very good teams that are trying to reach all the existing heights in this area. Russia also boasts good football clubs, the leader among which in 2017 can be undoubtedly called Zenit.
Basic information
Zenit is considered a legendary football team from the Northern capital of Russia, St. Petersburg. According to reliable statistics, almost all residents of this city are rooting for Zenith. Team players always keep their club on top, winning a variety of awards, titles and even cups. 
Any real fan of Zenit can say with confidence that the success of the noted FC primarily depends on the number of professional players, which the team has a whole squad. But since from time to time the exact composition of the team is regulated, it is worth announcing which players will represent Zenith in the next season. To do this, you will have to announce the composition of Zenith in 2016-2017.
Main cast
Goalkeepers
1. Yuri Lodygin - No. 1 - born in 1990.
2. Vyacheslav Malafeev - №16 - 1979 year of birth.
3. Mikhail Kerzhakov - №41 - born in 1987.
Defenders
1. Alexander Anyukov - №2 - born in 1986.
2. Domenico Criscito - №4 - born in 1986.
3. Nicholas Lomberts - No. 6 - born in 1985.
4. Luis Neto - No. 13 - born in 1988.
5. Igor Smolnikov - No. 19 - born in 1988.
6. Esekiel Garay - №24 - 1986 year of birth.
Midfielders
1. Mauricio - No. 8 - born in 1988.
2. Danny - №10 - 1983 year of birth.
3. Artur Yusupov - No. 14 - born in 1989.
4. Oleg Shatov - No. 17 - born in 1990.
5. Victor Faizulin - №20 - 1986 year of birth.
6. Javi Garcia - №21 - born in 1987.
7. Axel Witsel - №28 - 1989 year of birth.
8. Nikita Andreev - No. 67– 1997 year of birth.
9. Vyacheslav Zinkov - №68 - 1993 year of birth.
10. Konstantin Troyanov - №79 - 1995 year of birth.
11. Yuri Zhirkov - No. 81 - born in 1983.
12. Aeksey Evseev - №94 - 1994 year of birth. 
Forwards
1. Hulk - №7 - 1986 year of birth.
2. Alexander Korin - No. 9 - born in 1991.
3. Artyom Dzyuba- No. 22 - born in 1988.
4. Dmitry Bogaev - No. 70 - 1994 year of birth.
5. Pavel Dolgov - №92 - 1996 year of birth.
Youth composition
Goalkeepers
1. Mikhail Ponomarenko - No. 31 - born in 1999.
2. Maxim Rudakov - №51 - 1996 year of birth.
3. Mikhail Kizeev - No. 93 - born in 1997.
Defenders
1. Artyom Sumin - No. 32 - born in 1998.
2. Artyom Vodyannikov - №45 - 1997 year of birth.
3. Mikhail Slashchev - No. 53 - born in 1997.
4. Danil Krugovoy - №56 - born in 1998.
5. Nikolay Tarasov - №57 - 1998 year of birth.
6. Sergey Bugriev - №59 - 1998 year of birth.
7. Stepan Rabenko - No. 62 - born in 1995.
8. Danil Maikov - No. 63 - born in 1997.
9. Vladislav Nikitin - No. 69 - born in 1997.
10. Stanislav Mareev - No. 72 - 1996 year of birth.
11. Felix Shalimov - No. 84 - born in 1997.
Midfielders
1. Leon Musaev - №38 - 1999 year of birth.
2. Vitaly Gorulev - No. 46 - born in 1998.
3. Valery Yaroshenko - No. 47 - born in 1997.
4. Konstantin Kotov - No. 48 - born in 1998.
5. Dmitry Pletnev - №49 - 1998 year of birth.
6. Danil Zuev - No. 54– 1996 year of birth.
7. Dmitry Kirillov - №61 - 1998 year of birth.
8. Ilya Ivanov - №82 - 1997 year of birth.
Forwards
1. Stanislav Krapukhin - No. 36 - born in 1998.
2. Artyom Ponikarov - №37 - 1997 year of birth.
3. Vasily Zapryagaev - №39 - 1998 year of birth.
4. Vadim Romanov - №66 - 1997 year of birth.
5. Yuri Kozlov - No. 85 - born in 1998.
6. Egor Denisov - №91 - 1998 year of birth.
7. Ruslan Suanov - No. 97 - born in 1997.
8. Evgeny Reutov - №98 - 1998 year of birth.
It is also worth noting that to date, there is still no reliable information about who will leave the main team of Zenit in the 2016-2017 season, and who will be added to it.
Estimated transfer information
Nicholas Lomberts, who can deservedly be called the heart of the entire FC, may leave Zenit in 2017. In fact, it was the cheerleader for the whole team, on account of which there are many successful games. Unfortunately, last season, Nicholas did not show his capabilities in the most favorable light. According to experts from football, because of him there were many moments when the situation in the game reached critical, or Nicholas simply let everyone down. At the moment, the organizers of FC have not yet reached a compromise regarding the further stay of Nicholas in the team.
Axel Witsel, whose performance in the 2015-2016 season has a lot of nuances. Axel's main factor, which negatively affects the player's reputation, is considered to be a lot of "dirty balls" in the middle of the field, due to which further game can have the most unimaginable outcome. That is why Axel will most likely not be on the team in the 2017 season.
Danny is the footballer who helped Zenit win the UEFA Super Cup. Also, it was this player who managed to infect the whole team with an endless share of positive and optimism, which helped the players to show excellent results game after game. Nevertheless, the organizers want to say goodbye to Danny in 2017, although such information has not yet been reliably confirmed. 
It is worth noting three more players, whose stay in the team for the next season is in question. These are Luis Neto, Artur Yusupov and Dominico Cristino. According to experts, all three noted footballers do not quite fit into Zenit's game. During the game, one can always expect some kind of unpleasant setup from Luis, Domenico receives an increasing number of cards from match to match, and the team itself does not want to accept Yusupov.
Despite this, today the legendary Russian teams is experiencing its sidereal time, so it's worth thanking famous players for all the victories and wish them creative take-offs in the next 2017 season. And the fans can only hope that any changes in the main or youth squad of the Zenith team will affect the future of the team only from a positive side.
Zenit mentor Mircea Lucescu gave an interview to Digisport,. Previously, the Romanian specialist invariably exuded optimism. What influenced the coach's attitude? A series of failures in control meetings (the mentor got into conversation before the game with Basel), a desire to spread straws in case of possible failures, or a real assessment of the situation?
It is unlikely that the most experienced specialist overestimates the results of control meetings during the pre-season training camp. Self-confidence never betrayed him. Well, what about the composition?
Lodygin will start the season
Lucescu is right when he says that Zenit has lost the three players on whom the game was based. Hulk in China. Miguel Danni is seriously injured and will not play until the end of 2016, and the prospects for the 32-year-old veteran, who have lost practice for a long time, are very problematic. Axel Witsel is still on the team, but this is more likely de jure.
In return, the youth, from most of whose representatives Mister has already refused, attentively, to his honor, having watched the footballers returned from the lease, and the mass of rumors about the upcoming acquisitions of Zenit, circulating in all domestic and European media, multiplied, apparently, by the management's promise to acquire great performers and such a sincere desire. But things are still there. Why something doesn't stick together every time is a different topic. But after all, it is important for the coach not only to get recruits who can really strengthen the team, but also to fit them into the team's game.
I think the goalkeepers are the least worried about Lucescu. Although Yuri Lodygin never got rid of the Neuer style of play instilled in him by the unforgettable Vil Kort, but I hope that the past season, when he made too many effective mistakes for the goalkeeper, was analyzed and the conclusions were made correct. Mister was noticeably sympathetic to Mikhail Kerzhakov, but he had three mistakes in control matches, which led to conceded goals. Lodygin will start the season, and there is no need to wait in this line of strengthening. There is also Yegor Baburin, but he will not have to practice at Zenit.
Who is on the defensive - it is not known
The team's defensive line in its current (most likely not final) form is difficult to analyze. Ezequiel Garay and Nicholas Lomberts sharpened their skis. But both are still at Zenit, and it didn’t come to a real transfer. How should a coach be? The Argentinian did not appear in the match against Basel. If both legionnaires are still sold, the following picture emerges. On the right flank everything is fine. Both Igor Smolnikov and the experienced Alexander Anyukov, whose playing conditions are beyond doubt, are preparing for the season. On the left, Yuri Zhirkov looked very good in the last meeting, but there is also Domenico Criscito. An Italian can try to patch the hole in the center, if any. For in the event of parting with Garay and Lomberts, only Luis Neto remains. There is also 20-year-old Vukashin Jovanovic, but judging by how little time Mister gave him in control meetings, he does not really count on a Serb. Here, obviously, amplification is required.
Ensemble without conductor
There are also plenty of problems in the middle of the field. At the moment, Javi Garcia is an uncontested defensive midfielder. Fits very well with Lucescu Jose Mauricio's game. Witsel did not appear on the field, apparently, his departure at the club is considered a done deal. Lucescu assigns the role of conductor to Oleg Shatov (the mentor simply does not have other options yet), but is he a hat? Oleg was very good at playing along with Hulk and Danny, without them he looked unconvincing in the national team. But he is progressing, and there is hope. Mister instills in Zenit a combination, attacking football. Ball control is very important here. The game in the center of the field, the midfield line - all this comes to the fore. André Villas-Boash was not fond of tactical delights without further ado. He had the stars at his disposal (at least, they shone brightly in the Russian sky), and they were supposed to provide the result. Pavel Mogilevets, alas, while injured, Alexander Ryazantsev, Artur Yusupov (the coach also hopes for Alexei Evseev, who, in my opinion, simply lacks character, he is still lost in the company of eminent teammates) - good, skilled footballers, but for solving ambitious the tasks assigned to the team, it is in this line that the leader, the international-class football player is lacking. At least in order to fight for victory in the Russian championship, there is not much more to it yet. There is not enough, using the terminology of the past, insiders. You can try to transfer veteran Zhirkov to midfield, but this is a trishkin caftan. Someone has to support Artyom Dziuba in the attack.
Justified anxiety
Not only play on him, give assists, but also support. There is also Alexander Kerzhakov. With which another, classic for "Zenith" -2016 neponyatka. It seems that he is, he is trying, but the striker has no contract yet. This means that Lucescu cannot count on him for sure. Pavel Dolgov is possibly the future of Zenit, but Mister needs to solve today's problems. Until the first official match the season is a week, and the start of the national championship is just a stone's throw away. Of course, one should not forget about Alexander Kokorin, who was sent into exile without specifying the term to which the lover of expensive champagne was sentenced. Vladislav Radimov believes that the forward will practice at Zenit -2 for no more than a couple of weeks. For the first time in many years, Kokorin now has, apparently, what to prove to whom, and he is quite capable of bringing benefit to the team. And yet it was not in vain that Lucescu, having barely appeared in St. Petersburg, began to look for an attacker. So the line of attack also needs strengthening.
The conclusion suggests itself: Mister does not sound the alarm in vain. He hopes to get two or three new players in the near future. We must hurry, the coach is already in time trouble.
Several years ago I had a chance to visit Lucescu's apartments at Shakhtar's base in Kirschi. His video library was amazing. He watches football and analyzes everything free from training process time. Today the Romanian specialist works in Russia and, no doubt, has already gotten to know the state of affairs in the camp of Zenit's rivals. Permanent competitor No. 1 has a traditionally short bench, but the contours of the main squad are clearly visible, it is played and balanced, which cannot be said about Zenit.
This is why the most experienced coach is worried.
| Figures
34 footballer were used by Lucescu in five test matches. Nine of them were sent by Mister to Zenit -2. These are goalkeepers Maxim Rudakov and Yegor Baburin; defenders Yuri Bavin, Ilya Zuev; midfielders Sergei Ivanov, Alexey Gasilin, Nikita Salamatov; forwards Maximilian Pronichev, Pavel Dolgov. Three more (Dmitry Bogaev, Pavel Kireenko and Ramil Sheidaev) did not renew their contracts with the club and have already left Zenit.
Football is the sport that attracts the most attention from the male half. Currently in sports world you can meet a large number of teams, each of which has its own titles, victories, cups and prizes. But, perhaps, the Zenit football team can rightfully be included in the list of the leading and most promising ones.
Zenit is the famous football team of St. Petersburg, the northern capital of our country. According to statistics, almost all residents of this large megalopolis support only this team, since it has a large number of victories and truly unique and high-quality games on its account, which speaks of the professionalism of the team.
New season, new line-up.
Probably everyone is well aware of the fact that good team, first of all, consists of highly professional players.
That is why only the best are included in the football team, while it is worth noting that every year, or, to be more precise, every season this list is slightly adjusted.
After all, it is quite logical that someone comes, and someone, on the contrary, leaves and tries their hand at a new field and direction. What is the composition of the Zenit team today, which is constantly changing and sometimes only the outstanding players are remembered by the fans. Note that it has become better.
- 1.Alexander Vasyutin - No. 95.
- 2.Igor Obukhov - No. 83.
- 3.Maxim Rudakov No. 51.
- 4.Mikhail Kerzhakov No. 41.
- 5. Yuri Lodygin - No. 1.
- 6.Alexander Anyukov No. 2.
- 7.Andrey Ivanov No. 52.
- 8.Artyom Vyatkin number 87.
- 9.Domenico Criscito - # 4. ????
- 10.Igor Smolnikov No. 19.
- 11.Ilya Zuev No. 58.
- 12.Luish No. 13. ???
- 13.Nicholas Lomberts # 6. ????
- 14.Esekil Garay No. 24.
- 15.Axel Witsel No. 28. ???
- 16.Alexander Ryazantsev No. 5.
- 17. Alexey Evseev No. 94.
- 18.Arthur Yusupov No. 14. ???
- 19. Valery Yaroshenko No. 47.
- 20.Viktor Fayzzulin No. 20.
- 21. Vyacheslav Zinkov No. 68.
- 22.Danny # 35. ???
- 23. Denis Tkachuk No. 31.
- 24. Evgeny Chernov No. 23.
It is worth noting that today there is no exact information about who will leave and who, on the contrary, will draw the lucky ticket. Although, there are still some rumors.
they are simply confident that he will have a successful career and future at Chelsea, if not for the injury. But, last season, he showed himself not from the very better side, since there were many such moments when he simply let the team down or brought the situation to a critical one. That is why there is an acute question about this player and his future stay in the team, but with 100% certainty we can say that he will no longer be allowed to play.These are, perhaps, the main points concerning the issue of the composition of the zenith of 2016-2017, which are known at the moment. It is only worth noting that today, the Zenit team is experiencing its bright moments, so the departure of the above players should not negatively affect its further destiny. Let's hope that the team will be successful and lucky this season with a new roster.
Football is perhaps the most popular species sport that collects most attention on the part of the male population of the whole world. V modern world there are a large number of football clubs. Each club has its own name, victories, titles and legends.
The St. Petersburg football team "Zenith" is one of such representatives at the present time.
St. Petersburg "Zenith" is one of the most legendary Russian football teams... Statistics show that almost all football fans from the northern capital of Russia support this particular club. This football team can boast of its considerable number of victories and truly unique and interesting matches... All this speaks of the professionalism of the St. Petersburg national football team.
New roster for the new season.
Each football fan understands that the success of the team, first of all, depends on the highly professional players that make up its composition. For this reason, only the best players are included in Zenit's roster in 2017. It is worth noting that the composition of football teams is subject to some changes every season, since contracts are concluded between teams and football players only for a certain period.
Composition football club Zenit for 2016-2017:
Goalkeepers:
No. 71 - Yegor Baburin - 22 years old.
No. 83 - Igor Obukhov - 20 years old.
№51 - Maxim Rudakov - 20 years old.
No. 41 - Mikhail Kerzhakov - 29 years old.
No. 1 - Yuri Lodygin - 26 years old.
Defenders:
# 2 - Alexander Anyukov - 33 years old.
No. 26 - Vukashin Yovanovich - 20 years old.
# 4 - Domenico Crisito - 29 years old.
No. 3 - Ivan Novoseltsev - 24 years old.
No. 19 - Igor Smolnikov - 27 years old.
# 13 - Liush Neto - 28 years old.
# 6 - Nicholas Lomberts - 31 years old.
Midfielders:
No. 28 - Axel Witzel - 27 years old.
No. 5 - Alexander Ryazantsev - 29 years old.
No. 94 - Alexey Evseev - 22 years old.
No. 14 - Artur Yusupov - 26 years old.
№20 - Victor Faizulin - 30 years old.
# 10 - Dani - 32 years old.
No. 23 - Evgeny Chernov - 23 years old.
# 7 - Juliano - 26 years old.
# 8 - Mauricio - 27 years old.
No. 17 - Oleg Shatov - 25 years old.
No. 15 - Pavel Mogilevets - 23 years old.
# 29 - Robert Mack - 25 years old.
# 21 - Javi Garcia - 29 years old.
No. 40 - Yuri Bavin - 22 years old.
No. 81 - Yuri Zhirkov - 32 years old.
Forwards:
No. 11 - Alexander Kerzhakov - 33 years old.
No. 9 - Alexander Kokorin - 25 years old.
No. 48 - Alexey Gasilin - 20 years old.
No. 22 - Artem Dziuba - 27 years old.
# 77 - Luka Djordjevic - 21 years old.
No. 92 - Pavel Dolgov - 19 years old.
This roster has already been officially announced, which means that there will be no roster changes until next season.
New stadium for Zenit St. Petersburg.
According to the latest information, it became known that the new stadium, which is being built on Krestovsky Island, will be handed over to Zenit St. Petersburg as early as January 25, 2017. This was recently announced by the vice-governor of St. Petersburg Igor Albin. He also reminded reporters that the Northern Capital signed an agreement with the club on a memorandum of transferring the facility into operation. The exact scheme is still unknown - whether it will be a long-term lease or a concession.
Currently, the construction of the stadium is only 30 days behind the planned date. However, the vice-governor says that this gap will be made up literally in the next fortnight. But there is one more problem - the launch pad, which makes it possible to link all the stadium systems. Albin also noted that Smolny will begin work with Zenit to create common system management. This system will be created already in 2017. IBM solutions will also be taken into account when designing the system.
More specifically, about the work carried out on the construction of the stadium, then at the present time it was decided to strengthen the secondary beams and fix the metal plate. Despite all these shortcomings, the construction of the stadium will be completed by the end of January 2017. The construction of the stadium on Krestovsky Island began in 2007. Previously, this place was the Kirov stadium. After the application for the 2018 World Cup was submitted, the stadium construction project was sent for revision so that it could meet all FIFA standards and requirements. New stadium designed for a capacity of 68 thousand people. The stadium area is 280 thousand square meters. More than 42 billion rubles were spent on the construction of the stadium. It is also worth noting that initially the construction of the facility was supposed to be completed at the end of 2016.
These were the main news and moments concerning the life of the St. Petersburg football team. In conclusion, we can add that Zenit is not afraid to experiment with its line-up. Every season the club changes and buys new professionals.
Zenit's roster for the 2017-2018 season has been strengthened by several well-known footballers. In addition to the championship and the Cup of Russia, Roberto Mancini's wards will play in the second most important club championship of the Old World -. The busy schedule of matches demanded that the management of the "blue-white-blue" urgent measures to expand the rotation, and it should be noted that the breeders of "Zenith" coped with this task perfectly. Now the Italian coach has two equal squads ready to fight for the highest places in the standings.
Zenit's roster for 2017-2018 brings together some of the best players in the RFPL, with three talented goalkeepers defending the last line. Among them:
- Andrey Lunev;
- Yuri Lodygin;
- Mikhail Kerzhakov.
Unexpectedly for many fans, Andrei Lunev became the main goalkeeper in the current draw of the Russian championship. Experts hoped that the place in the frame would be entrusted to the experienced Yuri Lodygin, but Mancini decided to bet on his youth, and he was right. In the first 4 matches, only 2 goals were conceded, and this is the second figure in the league after Lokomotiv Moscow.
In the fall of 2017, Zenit will have a busy schedule of games, so both Yuri Lodygin and Mikhail Kerzhakov will have a chance to prove themselves.
Line of defense
With the defensive redoubts of the "Petersburgers" also everything is in order. In the current season, the following players have been entrusted to protect the approaches to the goal:
- Alexander Anyukov;
- Denis Terentyev;
- Domenico Crisito;
- Luis Neto;
- Igor Smolnikov;
- Ivan Novoseltsev;
- Emanuel Mammana;
- Branislav Ivanovich.
At the start of the championship, the star pair of defenders Domniko Criscito and Branislav Ivanovic are consistently playing in the center of defense. At the edges are Luis Neto and Igor Smolnikov, who, if necessary, are actively involved in attacking actions. At the same time, experienced Alexander Anyukov and Emanuel Mammana, bought from Lyon for 16 million euros, can replace any defensive player. The remaining footballers have to wait for their chance in the matches of the Russian Cup or in matches with not the strongest opponents.
Who will play in midfield?
The composition of FC Zenit for 2017-2018 in the center of the field terrifies most of the participants. Here are the best domestic players, as well as the rising stars of world football, including:
- Leandro Peredes (the transfer cost 23 million euros);
- Sebastian Driussi (the player was worth 15 million euros);
- Christian Noboa;
- Daler Kuzyaev;
- Alexander Erokhin;
- Oleg Shatov;
- Yuri Zhirkov;
- Javi Garcia;
- Juliano;
- Ernani.
The purchase of Argentines Leandro Peredes and Sebastian Driussi completely transformed the game of the St. Petersburg team. Daler Kuzyaev (transferred from Terek for 4 million euros) and Alexander Erokhin (from free) added variety in the attack. Yuri Zhirkov, Juliano, Xavi Garcia and Oleg Shatov can strengthen the game at any time.
Most often in the current season, the Italian coach used the 4-2-3-1 scheme, which he had been playing during the time of Mircea Lucescu. Mancini refused from his favorite 4-4-2 formation or the now popular 4-3-3, since it would take the players time to adapt to the new game model. Taking into account the task of winning the Russian championship, the coach decided not to break the simulated scheme, but only to strengthen the problematic positions. With the arrival of Mancini, Zenit has become more flexible in the midfield line, which is now quickly rebuilt during the match, finding free zones from the opponent and skillfully using them.
Who will play in the attack?
There are not so many forwards in FC Zenit for 2017-2018, but they all do an excellent job with their responsibilities. So, in the line of attack the club has:
- Alexander Kokorin;
- Dmitry Poloz;
- Artem Dzyuba.
Initially, we note the amazing performance of the team. For 4 played rounds he scored 10 goals (on average 2.5 per game). The abundance of goals was the result of the well-coordinated work of all lines, but no one canceled the merits of the attackers.
Attention is drawn to the game of Alexander Kokorin, who has already scored 5 goals from his opponents. He fit perfectly into the scheme and scores in almost every match. The position under the striker was taken by Dmitry Poloz, who has scored twice for Zenit this season. Unfortunately, Artem Dziuba dropped out of the starting line-up, who became practically useless in the mobile game of midfield. It is possible that until the end of the transfer window Dziuba will be leased out, because pickling a forward with a salary of 3.3 million euros per year is an unaffordable luxury even for the richest club in Russia.
Thus, Zenit's roster of 2017-2018 has grown significantly, and the acquisitions made in the offseason have fully justified themselves. Roberto Mancini now has the best football players countries that at the start of the championship are doing a great job with the tasks.
Top-30 best goals of the Hulk in Zenit, see the following video: