1. Overview
Marat Nailevich Izmailov (Марат Наилевич ИзмайловMarat Nailevich IzmailovRussian, Марат Наил улы ИзмайловMarat Nail ulı İzmailevTatar) is a Russian former footballer who primarily played as a right midfielder but also effectively served as an attacking midfielder. He was renowned for his exceptional dribbling skills, remarkable pace, and ability to execute powerful long-distance shots, complemented by accurate passing. Throughout his professional career, Izmailov spent the majority of his time with Sporting CP, following his initial development at FC Lokomotiv Moscow. Despite a career frequently interrupted by injuries, he represented the Russian national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and two European Championships, accumulating 35 caps over an eleven-year period.
2. Early life and personal background
Marat Nailevich Izmailov was born on September 21, 1982, in Moscow, Soviet Union. He is of Volga Tatar descent, an ethnic group native to the Volga-Ural region of Russia. His ancestors specifically originated from the Semyonovka village, a Mishar Tatar settlement located in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
3. Club career
Marat Izmailov's club career began in Russia, where he quickly rose through the ranks before moving to Portugal and later experiencing various loan spells and transfers across Europe.
3.1. FC Lokomotiv Moscow
Izmailov began his football journey within the youth system of FC Lokomotiv Moscow, joining the club in the spring of 2000 after a period at Torpedo Moscow's youth academy. His progression was remarkably swift, making his first-team debut in October 2000 as a second-half substitute in a friendly match against CSKA Moscow. He became an integral part of the first team when Lokomotiv Moscow secured Russian Premier League titles in 2002 and 2004. For his outstanding performance during the 2001 season, Izmailov was honored with the "Best Young Player" award in the Russian Premier League. Early in his career, however, he also began to frequently suffer from injuries.
A notable early achievement included his contribution to Lokomotiv's decisive 5-1 victory over R.S.C. Anderlecht in Brussels during the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League on October 24, 2001.
3.2. Sporting CP
In July 2007, Izmailov moved to Portuguese club Sporting CP on a season-long loan. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his official debut on August 11 against FC Porto in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in Leiria. Despite playing with a leg injury, his long-distance effort in the 75th minute secured a 1-0 victory for Sporting. His first league goals came on October 6, 2007, when he scored two late goals from the bench in a 3-0 home win against Vitória de Guimarães. Izmailov played a key role in Sporting finishing second in the Primeira Liga and winning the Taça de Portugal against Porto.
Following his successful loan spell, Sporting CP secured his permanent transfer in the summer of 2008, paying Lokomotiv Moscow 4.50 M EUR. However, his tenure at Sporting was frequently plagued by recurring injuries, particularly a knee condition that sidelined him for over three months during the 2009-10 season. Despite returning to training after coach Paulo Bento's dismissal in November 2009, he continued to struggle with the same injury in subsequent years, leading to public disagreements with the club's board of directors regarding his medical care.
In the 2011-12 season, Izmailov changed his jersey number to 10. While his performance was initially inconsistent, he reclaimed a regular starting position after the appointment of Ricardo Sá Pinto as coach. He made 13 league appearances, scoring five goals, and contributed to Sporting's reach of the semifinals in the UEFA Europa League.
3.3. FC Porto
On January 7, 2013, Izmailov officially transferred to FC Porto, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. This transfer involved a player exchange, with Miguel Lopes moving to Sporting CP. Upon joining Porto, Izmailov changed the name on his jersey from "Izmailov" to "Izmaylov." He quickly made an impact, scoring in only his second match for the club, contributing to a 2-0 home victory against F.C. Paços de Ferreira on January 19, 2013.
3.4. Loan spells and later career
Izmailov's time at Porto was relatively brief, as he subsequently embarked on a series of loan spells and later permanent moves. On January 31, 2014, after spending four months in Russia due to family reasons, he was loaned to Gabala FK in the Azerbaijan Premier League until the end of the 2013-14 season. This move reunited him with former Lokomotiv Moscow coach Yuri Semin.
Following his spell in Azerbaijan, on July 16, 2014, Izmailov returned to Russia, joining FC Krasnodar on loan for the 2014-15 campaign, with an option for a permanent transfer. He scored his first goal in Russian football in seven years on August 14, 2014, netting the opening goal in a 4-0 home win against FC Spartak Moscow. He left Porto permanently in July 2015 upon the expiration of his contract, becoming a free agent.
After a year out of professional football, Izmailov, at the age of 33, signed a one-year contract with FC Krasnodar, including an extension option, on July 20, 2016. However, his second permanent spell with the club was also short-lived, as he and Krasnodar mutually agreed to part ways on March 15, 2017.
On June 9, 2017, Izmailov joined Russian Professional Football League club FC Ararat Moscow. There, he played alongside other former Russian internationals such as Roman Pavlyuchenko and Aleksei Rebko. His final professional playing stint concluded on September 26, 2017, when his contract with Ararat Moscow was dissolved by mutual consent.
4. International career
Marat Izmailov made his debut for the Russia national football team at just 19 years old in 2001, making him one of the youngest players to represent the senior squad. He was subsequently called up for major international tournaments, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004. In both tournaments, he featured in two matches. Notably, despite suffering an injury, he served as a substitute for the injured Aleksandr Mostovoi at the 2002 World Cup, playing in all three group stage matches as a starter.
After a six-year absence from the national team, Izmailov was selected by manager Dick Advocaat for Russia's UEFA Euro 2012 squad on May 25, 2012, marking his return to international duty after his last appearance in October 2006 against Israel (1-1). He played two matches at the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. He accumulated 35 caps and scored two goals for his country over an eleven-year international career spanning from 2001 to 2012.
5. Playing style
Marat Izmailov was known for his versatility as a midfielder, capable of playing effectively as a right midfielder or an attacking midfielder. His playing style was characterized by his exceptional dribbling ability, which allowed him to navigate through defenses, and his impressive pace, which made him a threat in transitions. Furthermore, he possessed a potent long-distance shot and demonstrated accurate passing, enabling him to contribute significantly to both goal-scoring opportunities and overall team play.
6. Career statistics
6.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lokomotiv-2 Moscow | 2000 | 18 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2001 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 0 | - | 11 | 3 | - | 43 | 9 | ||
| 2002 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2003 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 5 | |
| 2004 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | - | 23 | 5 | |||
| 2005 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 | ||
| 2006 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2007 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 124 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 167 | 26 | |
| Sporting | 2007-08 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 8 |
| 2008-09 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 | |
| 2009-10 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2010-11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | - | 25 | 6 | ||
| 2012-13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 81 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 142 | 20 | |
| Porto | 2012-13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| 2013-14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014-15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| Gabala (loan) | 2013-14 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | 18 | 2 | |||
| Total | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| Krasnodar (loan) | 2014-15 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | - | 31 | 1 | ||
| Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| Krasnodar | 2016-17 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 11 | 2 | ||
| Total | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| Ararat Moscow | 2017-18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | |||
| Total | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| Career total | 283 | 40 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 3 | 77 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 407 | 55 | |
6.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | 2 | |
:Scores and results list Russia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Izmailov goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 17, 2004 | Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia | Estonia | 2-0 | 4-0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | October 8, 2005 | Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia | Luxembourg | 1-0 | 5-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7. Honours
Marat Izmailov earned numerous team trophies and individual accolades throughout his professional football career, reflecting his significant contributions to the clubs he represented.
- Lokomotiv Moscow
- Russian Premier League: 2002, 2004
- Russian Cup: 2000-01, 2006-07
- Russian Super Cup: 2003, 2005
- CIS Cup: 2005
- Sporting CP
- Taça de Portugal: 2007-08
- Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2011-12
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2007, 2008
- Taça da Liga runner-up: 2007-08, 2008-09
- FC Porto
- Primeira Liga: 2012-13
- Taça da Liga runner-up: 2012-13
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2013
- Gabala FK
- Azerbaijan Cup runner-up: 2013-14
- Individual
- Russian Premier League Best Young Player: 2001