Some of his greatest attributes overwhelm players that have years of experience. His ability to dribble, take players on with confidence and create plenty of chances for his team-mates are important skills for any footballer, however the way in which Dzagoev plays suggests that it is of a routine for him, rather than seizing random opportunities.
Dzagoev has already had an active childhood. After his parents moved from Georgia to Beslan, Alan attended a school in the town. Many readers may not recall the events of 2004 when a Beslan school was taken hostage by rebels demanding an end to a then-war. In all the confusion, it was reported that Dzagoev's school was the one attacked, so his father rushed to the school only to find that it was a false alarm and it was in fact another school which had come under attack. Nevertheless, his father took him home at fear of another attack on other schools.
This next part of his story encouraged myself to mainly write about him. At the age of 16 he was spotted by coach Yuri Oskin at an academy funded by Chelsea Roman Abramovich. Ironically Dzagoev has claimed one of his footballing idols is in fact Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard because of the way he plays suits the style of Dzagoev. Recent links with giants Real Madrid have forced the young attacking midfielder to ponder his near future at CSKA, however he has expressed a desire to move to Chelsea after claiming he has always been a fan of them. But, with manager Carlo Ancelotti suggesting that he has no plans to make any signings in the January transfer window, Dzagoev may have to continue to ply his trade in Russia gaining valuable experience before making the expected move to a great western European club. Yet, a recent injury to holding midfielder Michael Essien may force Ancelotti into signing the Russian hot prospect sooner than expected.
Performances of quality have earned him admirers across the planet, and he is gaining a fast-growing reputation between managers, fans and players alike. At 19, the prospect of having Dzagoev in at the tip of professional football for at least another 15 years seems unbelievable, but the reality is he has the potential to play until he is 34, and perhaps even longer at the highest level professional football can provide. One significant performance that caught my eye this season was CSKA's Champions' League visit to Old Trafford which ended in a 3-3 draw. Dzagoev scored one of the goals and provided the assist for another which put CSKA into an important 3-1 lead, however after 70 minutes the young Russian play-maker was substituted, one which proved to be a mistake as Manchester United pulled the game back to earn a point and progress to the Champions' League knock-out stages. Just that match proves what a huge impact Dzagoev has on the Moscow team, and the creativity that he is capable of. Some of the greatest teams in the world have gone to Old Trafford and failed to score more than one goal, Inter Milan and Barcelona just to name a couple, so for a Russian side to go and score three is a fantastic achievement and without doubt would not have been done without the presence of Dzagoev.
Born on 17th June 1990, Dzagoev shares the same birthday as Winchester University's very own Journalism student, Jake Gable. However, Mr Gable would need some form of miracle to share a similar comparison on the football pitch as the Russian 'wiz-kid'. Played primarily in an attacking midfield role, one which his idol Frank Lampard occupies at Chelsea, Dzagoev thrives supporting the strikers with his powerful runs, combined with his mental toughness and passion make him a threat for any opponent.
Alan made his international debut against Germany in 2008, after Guus Hiddink called him up to the squad. He came on as a substitute which made him the youngest ever outfield player to play in the Russian shirt at 18 years and 116 days old. Hiddink described Dzagoev after the game as a "really clever player", however Dzagoev described his performance as a "flop" after experiencing defeat. This can show two sides of any footballers: the sulky, embarrassed player; or the player who is determined to show more. In Dzagoev's case, it doesn't just highlight, it emphatically emphasises his will and determination to be the best he can and knows he can be. That is why the young man is so well admired by many great clubs across Europe. It is also this attitude which has seen him 15 goals in 47 Russian Leagues, and almost doubled that in assists.
I like this man a lot. I am a huge fan of the young Russian, and what attracts me to him more is his desire to join my beloved Chelsea Football Club. Let's hope Mr Ancelotti does the deed, before any one of our rivals takes one of football's biggest talents in the current world.
Anyone wanting to see a bit of Dzagoev in action, here is a link to a video I found on youtube of him playing for CSKA Moscow last season ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWhL-l75ns&feature=related )
Many Thanks for reading
G.M
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