Dmitri Sychev


Dmitri Yevgenyevich Sychev is a former Russian association footballer. He has been hailed by the international press as "The Russian Michael Owen" because of his pace and as "The most sensational young Russian forward since Vladimir Beschastnykh". He is well known for his blinding pace and agility.

Early life

Sychev was born in Omsk, a city in south-central Russia. He spent his formative years at St. Petersburg's famous Smena football academy before joining FC Spartak Tambov, a second division club. At that time he played as a midfielder.

Career

Club career

Spartak Moscow and Marseille

After having trials at clubs in FC Nantes and FC Metz, Sychev was picked up by FC Spartak Moscow in January 2002, where he scored eight goals in his first 12 matches, and it was during that time when he was transformed into a striker. With Spartak he reached the final of the 2002 Commonwealth of Independent States Cup. He scored 6 goals and finished second on the top scorer list, after coming in as a substitute in every match he played. He entered the symbolic top players list of the tournament.
In August 2002 Sychev announced he was quitting Spartak, by giving his employers three months' notice. Having already signed a five-year contract with the Russian club he was banned from football for four months by the Russian Professional Football League.
After finishing this suspension, Sychev signed a five-year contract with Olympique de Marseille, rejecting an offer from FC Dynamo Kyiv. He was mainly used as a substitute during his days in France. In Olympique de Marseille Sychev was used as a midfielder, both left and right.

Lokomotiv

In January 2004 Sychev returned to Russia to join FC Lokomotiv Moscow on a four-year contract, where he scored twice on the opening day of the season. He went on to claim the Russian Footballer of the Year award in his first season back in the Russian Premier League. With the team he won the Russian Premier League 2004, the 2005 Russian Super Cup, the 2005 Commonwealth of Independent States Cup and 2007 Russian Cup. In FC Lokomotiv Moscow Sychev played mostly as a striker, except the period when Lokomotiv was coached by Anatoliy Byshovets and Rashid Rakhimov respectively. During those times Dmitry was mainly employed as a midfielder. Sychev started playing again in his natural position with the appointment of Yury Semin. In 2009, Dmitry was voted by Lokomotiv fans as the player of the season. In 2012-13 season under manager Slaven Bilić Sychev lost his place in the line-up.

Dinamo Minsk Loan

In March 2013, Sychev moved to FC Dinamo Minsk on loan until July of the same year.

Volga Loan

In July 2013, after returning from Dinamo Minsk, Sychev moved to fellow Russian Premier League side FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod on a year-long loan deal. Sychev featured in 16 league games for Volga, failing to score in any of them, and returned to Lokomotiv Moscow at the end of the season following Volga's relegation to the Russian National Football League.

Loan to Okzhetpes

On 16 March 2015, Sychev moved to FC Okzhetpes on a season-long loan deal.

Pyunik

After over a year away from football, Sychev signed for FC Pyunik on 31 August 2019. On 6 December 2019, Sychev left Pyunik by mutual consent having failed to make a first team appearance for the club. On 10 December 2019, he announced his retirement from playing.

National team

Sychev was selected to play for the Russian national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he became the youngest player to appear for the USSR or Russia at 18 years and 222 days. In the event, he scored a goal and set up other three in an otherwise disappointing Russian campaign. This goal made Dmitri Sychev the fourth youngest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup.
Sychev was called up to Russia's squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Despite being a striker at his team Lokomotiv Moscow, during Guus Hiddink's term at the Russian national football team he was used as a midfielder. He won his last cap in 2010.

Personal life

Besides football, Sychev is a fan of ice hockey and his hometown team Avangard Omsk. He also likes tennis and billiard. Outside of sports, he plays the guitar and was seen rapping at the MTV Russia Music Awards ceremony in Moscow with national teammate Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Besides his native Russian, Sychev also speaks English, French, and plans to learn more.
In 2007 Sychev received a degree from the Russian State University Of Physical culture.
Sychev was in Danila Kozlovsky's directorial debut Coach which was released in 2018. Sychev was as Dodin, the player who scored the winning goal for his team.

Career statistics

Club

International

Statistics accurate as of match played 11 August 2010

International goals

Statistics accurate as of match played 23 May 2008
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
119 May 2002Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Russia Yugoslavia1 – 11 – 12002 LG Cup
214 June 2002Ecopa Stadium, Fukuroi, Japan3 – 23 – 22002 FIFA World Cup
311 October 2003Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia3 – 13 – 1UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
431 March 2004Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria0 – 12 – 2Friendly match
531 March 2004Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria1 – 22 – 2Friendly match
618 August 2004Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Russia4 – 24 – 3Friendly match
79 October 2004Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg0 – 10 – 42006 FIFA World Cup qualification
89 October 2004Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg0 – 30 – 42006 FIFA World Cup qualification
99 October 2004Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg0 – 40 – 42006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1017 November 2004Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia3 – 04 – 02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
1111 October 2006Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia2 – 02 – 0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
122 June 2007Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia4 – 04 – 0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
1322 August 2007Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia1 – 02 – 2Friendly match
1421 November 2007Estadi Comunal, Aixovall, Andorra0 – 10 – 1UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
1523 May 2008Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia6 – 06 – 0Friendly match

Honours

Club

Lokomotiv Moscow
;Lokomotiv Moscow