“Goalkeeper from the people”: Sergey Ryzhikov from Belgorod presented his autobiography

A native of the city of Shebekino, Belgorod Region, Sergey Ryzhikov is a two-time Russian champion in the Kazan Rubin, the owner of the Russian Cup, a participant in the 2014 World Cup and a member of the Lev Yashin Club (he played 100 or more games without conceding goals). Last year, he ended his playing career and wrote an autobiographical book – “Goalkeeper from the people.”

At the presentation of the publication, the Belgorod citizen talked with friends, coaches and journalists.

Main cheerleader

The journalist Maksim Mikhalko helped the football player write the work. Sergey Ryzhikov dedicated the book to his grandmother, Lyubov Vertyaeva, who was his main fan.

“Football for me started from the yard of her house, where we played all day long. Until the last days, she closely followed my matches, kept the tables – she was aware of all my affairs. Granny was a woman of the world!” – the goalkeeper shared his memories.

Ryzhikov was inspired to write the book by a conversation with his agent Alexei Safronov. Then Ryzhikov turned to journalist Maxim Mikhalko, deciding that the book would be interesting for people.

“Informative, interesting, talented”

The book has 25 chapters and over 250 pages. The reviewers of the publication were the head coach of Akhmat Andrei Talalaev, who called it not only fascinating, but also useful in a professional sense, and the ex-coach of the Russian national football team Boris Ignatiev, who noted that the book turned out to be informative, interesting and talented.

At the beginning of the book, Ryzhikov recalls his performance for the flagship of Belgorod football, Salyut-Energy.

“I remember that there was a uniform gradation in terms of salary at the club then. The lower rate is 1200 rubles, the average is 2400 and the highest is 3600. I was immediately taken to the middle one, ”the goalkeeper shared.

The key is patience and hard work.

Alexander Serpukhovitin became the first goalkeeper coach. He did not officially work in the Belgorod club, but rather acted as an amateur enthusiast. According to Sergey Ryzhikaov, the main thing in any business is patience and work.

The famous goalkeeper said that he considers the German Oliver Kahn, whom he once met during a training camp in Munich, to be his idol. Then he did not approach him, which he greatly regrets, but hopes that he will meet him already in the coaching field.

“Messi never scored against me!”

Of the stadiums that Sergey has visited during his career, he singles out the San Siro in Milan, and in terms of the noise support of the fans, there is no equal to Liverpool. At the World Cup in Qatar, Ryzhikov sympathizes with the national teams of Argentina and Portugal

“I want Messi to win, he never scored against me. That’s why I didn’t get any autographed beers from him, only a five-liter can of juice. Or let Ronaldo win. And then the conversations will end, who is the greatest player, ”the goalkeeper argues.

“I was surprised that a lot of Russian fans came”

Eight years ago, Sergei, as part of the national team, went to Brazil to participate in the world football forum.

“Flying 14 hours. We lived behind barbed wire, Capello had strict discipline. The conditions were perfect, beautiful fields, the chef of the best Italian restaurant in Moscow. But the atmosphere of the championship was felt only at the stadium. I was amazed that many Russian fans came to our games. We trained not at the Marakana, but at the stadium made of natural materials, and one nail in the structure,” said Ryzhikov.

At the end of the meeting, Sergei wished the Belgorod football prosperity, expressing the hope that the local Salyut would get a ticket to a promotion.