Arsen Zakharyan: Meet the teenage magician taking Russia by storm – Goal.com
By Michael Yokhin
The 18-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the course of 2021, which saw him earn a first international call-up ahead of Euro 2020
As 18th birthday presents go, bacterial tonsillitis would be low down the list of ideal gifts.
For Arsen Zakharyan, though, it not only ruined any personal celebrations he may have been planning, it also ended any hope he had of going to Euro 2020.
The teenage midfielder had been named in Russia's preliminary squad for the tournament, with coach Stanislav Cherchesov keen to see the youngster in action before naming his final roster after Zakharyan's remarkable breakout season at Dynamo Moscow.
But following his illness, the youngster's wait for what will be an inevitable international debut will have to wait.
Fans across Russia are mightily disappointed with the misfortune, because their team desperately need an injection of youthful energy.
Alan Dzagoev provided it for them at Euro 2012, and Dmitry Sychev famously made a name for himself at the 2002 World Cup after just a handful of performances for Spartak Moscow beforehand.
Sychev was 18 years and 222 days when he became the youngest Russia international ever. Zakharyan is even younger, but it was obvious why tens of pundits begged Cherchesov to give him a chance this summer.
His meteoric rise has been absolutely stunning, with his displays having lit the imagination of supporters across the country almost inmediately.
During the final months of 2020, Zakharyan was still playing for Dynamo Moscow's reserve team, earning a monthly salary of about £300.
Former Mainz coach Sandro Schwartz, who took over as first-team manager in October, watched him closely and decided to gamble on his talents in 2021 having seen him score eight goals and lay on five assists in just 15 appearances for the second string.
The midfielder signed his first professional contract in January, and the result was sensational, to put it mildly.
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