Talent Scout: Yuri Lodigin - The Russian-born Greek-raised goalkeeper with eyes on the Champions League final

The eligibility debate surrounding footballers representing countries they were not born in has dominated newspaper headlines since Adnan Januzaj’s two goals for Manchester United against Sunderland over a fortnight ago.

18-year-old Januzaj, a Belgian footballer of Kosovo-Albanian descent, has yet to make a decision on his international future, despite pleas from the Albanian Football Association to ‘honour his heritage’ and reject the opportunity of playing for either Belgium or England.

Each player’s story is complex and unique. A similar-sounding tale played out over the summer when Zenit Saint Petersburg goalkeeper Yuri Lodigin chose to claim eligibility for Russia instead of Greece following his £700,000 move from Greek side Skoda Xanthi.

Lodigin was born in the Russian city of Vladimir and moved to Greece at the age of 9 when his mother decided that they needed a ‘new life there’. The brainy 6ft1 shot stopper claims he picked up the Greek language in just under two years and at 14-years-old started playing for his local village football team – where he was quite literally a boy against 30-year-old men.

Lodigin’s plane hopping between Greece and Russia continued a couple of years later, before his family finally settled in the Greek city of Drama. His youth team football kick-started again and it wasn’t long before his goalkeeping talents were noticed by a scout representing Greek Super League side Xanthi.

His break in the club’s youth team came almost a year after joining. A Germany-based youth tournament saw Lodigin recognized as the best goalkeeper against an array of established clubs including Fenerbahce, Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin. Lodigin’s patience was rewarded the following season when he was handed his first professional contract in June 2009.

During his second year as a professional, Lodigin was shipped out on loan to Eordaikos, a team plying their trade in the third tier of Greek football. The club, bankrolled by a wealthy president, rewarded the youngster with a brand new Fiat Punto after putting in man of the match displays in his first few games. Things quickly changed, however.

“Sometimes, we were paid good wages – for example, 1,000 euros (£850) per month, but sometimes he silently gave us 400 euros (£340) after training, and no one said anything”, revealed Lodigin.

“Take it and shut up - that`s the way it was. Well, soon these 400 euros stopped coming too. At first I was living in a hotel, but then I moved into an apartment with another player. He cooked pasta very well, so we used to pitch in one euro each to buy macaroni. When I returned to Xanthi I weighed 78 pounds, but my norm is 84.”

Exhausted, hungry and underweight by his own standards; Lodigin returned to Xanthi and was immediately called up to the Greek Under-21 squad where he made 3 appearances.

At 22-years-old, Yuri Lodigin was Xanthi’s no.1 goalkeeper. His story still wasn’t complete though. In his first full season he made 13 clean sheets in 23 matches and unsurprisingly received plaudits from the Greek media and national team boss Fernando Santos, whose call-up to the senior side was rejected by Lodigin.

However, Lodigin had already made his mind up on what country he wanted to represent and faxed the Hellenic Football Federation saying that his future lie in Russia.

Soon after, Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti’s search for goalkeeper cover ended when he signed Lodigin for under £1m in June this year. Spalletti’s acquisition was arguably the bargain of the transfer window. Since joining the Russian giants he’s made the no.1 spot his own, conceding a mere 16 goals in 17 games.

Lodigin’s goalkeeping qualities are second to none. He has a terrific leap that allows him to pick out the ball among a crowded set of players. His decision-making is equally as impressive. The 23-year-old is a confident, flexible goalkeeper with instinctive reflexes and it’s emphasised with the lack of goals Zenit have conceded this season.

Lodigin’s weaknesses are few and far between. Ball distribution is a feature of his game, which at times lacks accuracy, but is likely to improve game by game. Another minor disadvantage is his height. Petr Čech (6ft5) and Manuel Neuer (6ft4) are examples of top goalkeepers who are fortunate enough to combine their powerful frames with lightning-fast saves and handling.

Having recently been called up by Fabio Capello to the Russia squad for the first time, Lodigin’s international and domestic future looks bright. The Russian-Greek has grown up and matured since his mixture of experiences in Greece, recently becoming a father to a baby girl.

Can he become Russia’s no.1 and one of the best goalkeepers in world football? Many believe he will. The player himself has targets of his own, though.

“I`ve never won any trophies, so I want to take the Russian League with Zenit, and the Russian Cup, and make it to the Champions League final.

“I never stop. The sky is the limit for me.”