View source for Igor Denisov

{{short description|Russian footballer (born 1984)}}
{{for|the Soviet-Russian physician and politician|Igor Denisov (physician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{family name hatnote|Vladimirovich|Denisov|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Igor Denisov
| image = Loco-Spar18 (7) (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Denisov with [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]] in 2018
| full_name = Igor Vladimirovich Denisov
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|5|17}}<ref name="FIFA 2014">{{cite web |title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil List of Players |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf |website=FIFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201131956/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2020 |page=28}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]], [[Russian SFSR]],<br/>[[Soviet Union]]
| height = 1.76m<ref name="FIFA 2014"/>
| position = [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|Defensive midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[SCYSSOR|SSOR]] Zenit
| clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Turbostroitel St. Petersburg
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Smena St. Petersburg
| years1 = 2002–2013 | clubs1 = [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]] | caps1 = 254 | goals1 = 23
| years2 = 2013      | clubs2 = [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]]           | caps2 =   3 | goals2 =  0
| years3 = 2013–2017 | clubs3 = [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]                   | caps3 =  62 | goals3 =  1
| years4 = 2016–2017 | clubs4 = → [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]] (loan)    | caps4 =  23 | goals4 =  1
| years5 = 2017–2019 | clubs5 = [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]             | caps5 =  44 | goals5 =  0
| totalcaps = 386 | totalgoals =  25
| nationalyears1 = 2003–2006 | nationalteam1 = [[Russia national under-21 football team|Russia U21]] | nationalcaps1 = 16 | nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2016 | nationalteam2 = [[Russia national football team|Russia]]              | nationalcaps2 = 54 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2024 | managerclubs1 = [[FC Torpedo Moscow|Academy Torpedo Moscow]]
| manageryears2 = 2025– | managerclubs2 = [[SCYSSOR|SSOR]] Zenit
}}

'''Igor Vladimirovich Denisov''' ({{langx|ru|Игорь Владимирович Денисов}}; born 17 May 1984) is a Russian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]].

Denisov spent most of his career from 2002 to 2013 at his hometown club [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]], playing 354 games, scoring 29 goals and winning honours including three [[Russian Premier League]] titles and the [[UEFA Cup]] in [[2008 UEFA Cup Final|2008]].<ref name="Igor">{{cite web|url=http://www.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/52731.html |title=Denisov extended his contract |publisher=Zenit FC |date=29 July 2010 }}</ref> He then played for [[Anzhi Makhachkala]], [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] and [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]], winning a further Premier League and two [[Russian Football Cup|Russian Cup]]s with the last of those clubs.

He made his debut for Russia in 2008, playing 54 games over the next eight years and featuring at [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]] and the [[2014 World Cup]]. He has been the subject of controversy, courting numerous arguments at the club and international level during his professional career.

==Club career==

===Zenit===
[[File:Denisov.JPG|thumb|left|180px|Igor Denisov warming up for [[Zenit St. Petersburg|Zenit]].]]

Denisov was born in Leningrad (now [[St. Petersburg]]) and started his footballing career with Turbostroitel before going to Smena, the youth team of [[Zenit St. Petersburg|Zenit]].<ref name="Igor" /> Denisov signed his first professional contract with Zenit, St. Petersburg's only professional team, after graduating school in 2002.<ref name="UEFA">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=69634/profile/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205123705/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=69634/profile/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2013 |title=Igor Denisov |publisher=UEFA |access-date=14 December 2012 }}</ref> At the age of 18, Denisov made his debut for Zenit in a league match against [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fc-zenit.ru/main/team/zenit/players/11650.html |title=Igor Denisov |publisher=Zenit Football Club |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323171934/http://www.fc-zenit.ru/main/team/zenit/players/11650.html |archive-date=23 March 2010}}</ref> He made his breakthrough with the club the following year, scoring twice in 19 appearances.<ref name="UEFA" />

Under Dutch manager [[Dick Advocaat]], Denisov blossomed as a player, developing into an advanced midfield role behind [[Andrey Arshavin]] and [[Aleksandr Kerzhakov]], becoming an influential member of the Zenit squad that won their first [[Russian Premier League]] title in [[2007 Russian Premier League|2007]].<ref name="UEFA" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/history/historyclub/ |title=2000s |publisher=Zenit Football Club |access-date=11 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122190638/http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/history/historyclub/ |archive-date=22 November 2012}}</ref> On 3 April 2008, Denisov scored Zenit's fourth goal in their 4–1 first leg defeat of [[Bayer Leverkusen]] in the quarter-finals of the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] match at the [[BayArena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01cc-0e6f34e1056c-c4e2db9fc636-1000--rampant-zenit-floor-leverkusen/ |title=Rampant Zenit floor Leverkusen |publisher=UEFA |date=3 April 2008}}</ref> Denisov's performances helped Zenit reach the [[2008 UEFA Cup Final|final]] against Scottish side [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] on 15 May, after defeating [[Bayern Munich]] 5–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01cd-0e6f5b240178-1dee9623dd83-1000--zenit-shoot-down-bayern-to-reach-final/ |title=Zenit shoot down Bayern to reach final |publisher=UEFA |date=2 May 2008}}</ref> In the final, Denisov played the full ninety minutes and opened the scoring in the 72nd minute after being played in by winger Andrei Arshavin.<ref name="UEFA" /> Zenit went on to win the match 2–0 and lift the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2008/overview/index.html#200708+advocaat+enjoys+time+high |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110013816/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2008/overview/index.html#200708+advocaat+enjoys+time+high |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2011 |title=Advocaat enjoys all time high |publisher=UEFA |date=15 May 2008 }}</ref> In the resulting [[2008 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], Denisov played the full ninety again, assisting [[Pavel Pogrebnyak]]'s headed goal as Zenit upset [[English Premier League|English]] heavyweight [[Manchester United]] 2–1 on 29 August 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/season=2008/round=15281/match=302814/index.html |title=Dynamic Zenit taste Super Cup glory |publisher=UEFA |date=29 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101210544/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/history/season%3D2008/round%3D15281/match%3D302814/index.html |archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref>

On 29 June 2010, Denisov extended his contract with Zenit for a further five years.<ref name="Igor" /> Six months later, on 22 December, Denisov was voted by the fans as the club's "Player of the Year", beating out the likes of playmaker [[Danny (footballer)|Danny]] and goalkeeper [[Vyacheslav Malafeev]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/53613.html |title=Igor Denisov is Zenit fans' player of the year! |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=22 December 2010 }}</ref>

On 27 October 2011, Denisov featured in his 300th competitive fixture for Zenit, in the 3–0 defeat of [[FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod|Volga]], including 217 matches in the Premier League, 55 in European competition and 28 matches in domestic cup competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/57911.html |title="Peter" congratulated Igor Denisov with three hundred of the match for the "Zenith" |publisher=Zenit FC |date=27 October 2011 }}</ref> Denisov finished as runner up behind Malafeev as the club's MVP for the 2011–12 campaign, playing 57 games (starting all of them) whilst scoring one goal and providing eight assists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/55654.html |title=Malafeev voted Zenit's MVP for the season! |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=18 May 2012 }}</ref> During the [[Russian Football Union]] awards ceremony on 26 May, Denisov was voted as the "Player of the Year" in the Russian Premier League and Zenit won five more club awards for 2011–12 including "Team of the Year."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/55674.html |title=Russian Football Union awards Russia's best |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=26 May 2012}}</ref>

On 11 August 2012, Denisov provided two assists in Zenit's 5–0 defeat of [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/rus/domestic/league/1050/ |title=Zenit 5–0 Spartak Moskva |publisher=UEFA |date=11 August 2012 }}</ref> On 3 September, Denisov was voted as Zenit's "Player of the Month" for August after playing all five league games and providing those two assists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/56031.html |title=Igor Denisov voted Zenit player of the month for August |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=3 September 2012 }}</ref> Three weeks later, Denisov was demoted to the reserve team for improper behavior according to the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/soccer-russia-zenit-idINL4E8KO6OX20120924 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306222044/http://in.reuters.com/article/soccer-russia-zenit-idINL4E8KO6OX20120924 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=Soccer-Demoted Denisov demands Zenit parity over wages |publisher=Reuters |date=24 September 2012 }}</ref> Following more than a month with the youth side, Denisov was reinstated to the senior squad and began training with them again on 1 November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/56301.html |title=Official statement by Igor Denisov |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=1 November 2012 }}</ref> He made his return to the first team a day later, coming on as a 58th-minute substitute for [[Viktor Fayzulin]] in Zenit's 2–1 defeat of [[FC Rostov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=357150&cc=5901 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103011614/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=357150&cc=5901 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Zenit 2 - 1 Rostov |publisher=ESPNFC |date=2 November 2012 }}</ref> Denisov's first full match since his return from exile with the youth team came on 6 November in a [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group C|Champions League]] group game against [[RSC Anderlecht]], playing the full ninety minutes in a 1–0 loss in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/355685/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739 |title=Mbokani keeps Anderlecht in hunt |publisher=ESPNFC |date=6 November 2012}}</ref>

===Anzhi===
Denisov announced his move to [[Russian Premier League]] club [[Anzhi Makhachkala]] for a fee of 15 million euros on 21 June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.rsport.ru/football/20130621/669383311.html |title=Anzhi Acquires Star Midfielder Igor Denisov |publisher=R Sport |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=31 July 2013 }}</ref>

===Dynamo Moscow===
[[File:Игорь_Денисов.jpg|thumb|upright|Denisov with Dynamo Moscow in 2013]]
On 15 August 2013, Denisov moved along with fellow Anzhi players [[Yuriy Zhirkov]] and [[Aleksandr Kokorin]] to FC Dynamo for an undisclosed fee. Denisov played in only three matches for Anzhi before the cash-strapped club began to sell its players.

In April 2015, Denisov was put up for sale by Dynamo and told to train on his own for insulting head coach [[Stanislav Cherchesov]].<ref name="DynamoListed">{{cite web |date=7 April 2015 |title= |script-title=ru:Игорь Денисов выставлен на трансфер |trans-title=Igor Denisov has been transfer listed. |url=http://fcdynamo.ru/news/events/?id_4=11557 |access-date=10 April 2015 |website=fcdynamo.ru |publisher=[[FC Dynamo Moscow]] |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 2015 |title= |script-title=ru:Станислав Черчесов: Игорь Денисов сказал, что не считает меня за тренера и человека |trans-title=Stanislav Cherchesov: Igor Denisov said he doesn't consider me a coach or a person. |url=http://www.eurosport.ru/football/russian-premier-league/2014-2015/story_sto4670174.shtml |access-date=10 April 2015 |website=www.eurosport.ru/ |publisher=[[Eurosport]] |language=ru}}</ref>

He returned to Dynamo's lineup in July 2015, after Cherchesov was dismissed as Dynamo's manager and replaced by [[Andrey Kobelev]].

===Lokomotiv Moscow===
On 31 August 2016, he moved on loan to [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow]] for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 August 2016 |title= |script-title=ru:Игорь Денисов – в «Локомотиве» на правах аренды |trans-title=Igor Denisov – on loan at Lokomotiv. |url=http://fcdynamo.ru/news/events/?id_4=12338 |publisher=[[FC Dynamo Moscow]] |language=ru}}</ref> On 2 February 2017, he signed a permanent deal with Lokomotiv that started at the end of the season upon the expiration of his Dynamo contract.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 February 2017 |title= |script-title=ru:Игорь Денисов подписал контракт с «Локо» |trans-title=Igor Denisov signed a contract with "Loko". |url=http://www.fclm.ru/ru/publications/news/14696 |publisher=[[FC Lokomotiv Moscow]] |language=ru}}</ref>

On 27 May 2019, he left Lokomotiv by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[FC Lokomotiv Moscow]]|url=https://www.fclm.ru/ru/publications/news/20207|script-title=ru:Игорь Денисов покидает «Локомотив»|trans-title=Igor Denisov leaves Lokomotiv|date=27 May 2019|language=ru}}</ref> On 29 May 2019, he announced through his lawyers that he retired from playing.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Sport Express]]|url=https://www.sport-express.ru/football/rfpl/news/igor-denisov-podtverdil-chto-zavershil-kareru-igroka-1550086/|script-title=ru:Игорь Денисов подтвердил, что завершил карьеру игрока|trans-title=Igor Denisov confirms retirement from playing|date=29 May 2019|language=ru}}</ref>
==International career==

Denisov first featured in the Russian national set up, representing the [[Russia national under-19 football team|Under-19]] side against [[Denmark national under-19 football team|Denmark]] in the [[2003 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship second qualifying round|second qualifying round]] for the 2003 UEFA U-19 European Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/player=69634/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225105827/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/player=69634/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 December 2011 |title=Igor Denisov |publisher=UEFA |access-date=13 November 2012}}</ref> He then went on to captain the [[Russia national under-21 football team|Russia U-21 team]]. Denisov trained with [[Russia national football team|Russia]] in 2005 but did not get into the team.<ref name="Igor" /> After a good run of performances at the club level with Zenit, many sports journalists called for Denisov to be included in the squad for the [[Euro 08|European Championships]] in 2008, but he did not make the initial squad and later refused to be called up for the provisional 25-man squad of players after a number of injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denisov says no to EURO role |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7be5e8364a-0d9d742f4a3a-1000--denisov-says-no-to-euro-role/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> Denisov made his debut for Russia on 11 October 2008 in a [[FIFA World Cup 2010]] qualifier against [[Germany national football team|Germany]], a 2–1 loss at [[Signal Iduna Park]] in Dortmund.<ref name="UEFA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=250471/match=300040530/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613161343/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=250471/match=300040530/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2011 |title=Germany - Russia2:1 (2:0) |publisher=FIFA |date=11 October 2008}}</ref> He was confirmed for the finalized [[UEFA Euro 2012]] squad on 25 May 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharonov |first=Roman |date=2023-05-02 |title=okking |url=https://okkingg.it.com/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://rfs.ru/main/news/ct131/73916.html| language = ru | title = Advocaat announced the finalized Euro Squad|date=25 May 2012}}</ref> He featured in all three Group A matches,{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} as Russia picked up four points but ultimately failed to qualify for the knockout stage due to their head-to-head record with Greece.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Care |first1=Tony |title=Euro shocker: Greece stuns Russia, advances to quarter-finals |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/euro-shocker-greece-stuns-russia-advances-to-quarter-finals-1.1272075 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=CBC Sports |date=16 June 2012}}</ref> On 7 September 2012, Denisov was appointed by new Russia manager [[Fabio Capello]] as the captain of the national team in the wake of Andrei Arshavin's absence.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} On 2 June 2014, he was included in Russia's [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] squad.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 June 2014 |title= |script-title=ru:Состав национальной сборной России на ЧМ-2014 |trans-title=Bayer 04 signs French forward Moussa Diaby. |url=http://rfs.ru/main/news/79322.html |publisher=[[Russian Football Union]] |language=ru}}</ref> On 6 June 2016, Denisov was ruled out of [[UEFA Euro 2016|Euro 2016]] with a thigh injury.

==Controversies==
Throughout his career, Denisov has earned a reputation for poor behavior both at the club level with Zenit and at the international level with Russia. In the run up to the [[Euro 08|European Championships]] in 2008, Denisov was left out of the original 23-man squad by then manager [[Guus Hiddink]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1208266-russia-euro-2012-roster-analyzing-teams-starting-11-and-more/page/8 |title=Russia Euro 2012 Roster: Analyzing the Team's Starting 11 and More |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=5 June 2012 }}</ref> Denisov was called into the squad after a number of injuries but took umbrage and refused to play as Russia reached the semi-finals losing to eventual champions [[Spain national football team|Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/euro-2012/news/item/191928-euro-2012-igor-denisov-turning-from-badboy-into-golden-boy |title=Euro 2012: Igor Denisov turning from badboy into golden boy |publisher=NDTV Sports |date=16 June 2012 }}</ref>

In August 2010, he was involved in a [[road rage]] incident, where he fought a driving instructor after the learner driver in the instructor's car almost collided with Denisov's SUV. Denisov injured his foot in the incident and broke the instructor's nose. The instructor refused to press charges.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 August 2010 |title= |script-title=ru:ДТП не было, был мужской разговор |trans-title=There was no accident, there was a man-to-man talk. |url=https://www.fontanka.ru/2010/08/11/063/ |publisher=Fontanka |language=ru}}</ref>

In September 2010, Denisov was involved in a training ground bust up with coach [[Vladislav Radimov]], the argument escalated from a call Radimov made in a practice game and reports claim that Denisov was readying to punch Radimov before teammates physically stopped him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefootballramble.com/blog/entry/zenits-success-leaves-a-bitter-taste |title=Zenit's success leaves a bitter taste |publisher=The Football Ramble |date=18 November 2010}}</ref> Two months later in a match against [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]], Denisov verbally abused Spartak's manager [[Valery Karpin]], subsequently leading to a brawl with both sets of players and a four match ban for the combative midfielder.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

On 22 September 2012, Denisov was left off the teamsheet for Zenit's 2–2 away draw with [[FC Krylia Sovetov Samara|Krylya Sovetov]]. The following day, the club issued a statement that read, "The decision to send Igor Denisov to the youth team for an indefinite period... is connected to the fact that the player issued an ultimatum, refusing to take to the field against Krylya Sovetov after demanding a renegotiation of his contract."{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} According to the Zenit website, Denisov's current contract runs to 2015 and that he is one of the highest earners in all of the Russian Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/56135.html |title=Igor Denisov sent to Zenit's youth squad |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=23 September 2012}}</ref> Media speculation reported that this pay strike was a result of Zenit's overhaul in the transfer market, bringing in [[Axel Witsel]] and [[Hulk (footballer)|Hulk]] on big contracts and in combined deals worth over $130 million. Denisov replied in an interview with Sport Express, stating that his stand-off with club management was over "The proper organisation of the team. And respect for the Russian players which Zenit has always relied upon."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/679?cc=5901 |title=Zenit's $130m dilemma |publisher=ESPNFC |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=24 September 2012 |archive-date=6 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006073307/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/679?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two months after his protest, Denisov released a statement, telling the media that he was finished protesting over his pay strike and has apologised not only to the club but also to the fans, as he was wrong to walk out on the club.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

On 7 April 2015, he was removed from training with the main Dynamo Moscow squad and transfer-listed by the team for "interfering with the work of the head coach" [[Stanislav Cherchesov]].<ref  name="DynamoListed" />
[[File:Reprezentacja Rosji.jpg|right|thumb|315px|Denisov, 7, representing Russia against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] at the European Championships]]

In November 2015, he was again moved to Dynamo's reserves squad by the new manager [[Andrey Kobelev]] after Denisov demanded that the club management fire the club's doctor whom Denisov called incompetent.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2015 |title= |script-title=ru:«Кобелев занял правильную и принципиальную позицию по Денисову» |trans-title="Kobelev took a correct and principled stance on Denisov." |url=https://iz.ru/news/596511 |publisher=[[Izvestia]] |language=ru}}</ref>

On 16 April 2018, he was fined 1 million rubles by his club Lokomotiv Moscow for insulting a doping control official during a test.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[TASS]]|url=http://tass.ru/sport/5144806|script-title=ru:ФК "Локомотив" оштрафовал Игоря Денисова за оскорбление инспектора допинг-контроля|date=20 April 2018|language=ru}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Denisov and his wife Elena have four children: Viktoria, born in 2005, Igor Jr., born in 2008, and twin sons Ivan and Daniil who were born on 18 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.fc-zenit.ru/main/news/55006.html |title=The Denisov family has twins! |publisher=Zenit Football Club |date=18 December 2011}}</ref> He owns two South African pitbulls and is known in Russia as being a very good chess player and for never giving interviews to reporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/30/euro-2012-russia-players |title=Euro 2012: Russia – the secrets behind the players |work=The Guardian |date=30 May 2012}}</ref>

Denisov has publicly opposed the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] by saying: "These events are a disaster. Complete horror. I don’t know, maybe I’ll be imprisoned or killed for these words, but I am speaking as it is."<ref>[https://www.goal.com/en-my/amp/news/former-russia-captain-denisov-ukraine-war-statement/blta3dd37c194bdeddd ''Former Russia captain Denisov risks life with critical Ukraine war statement''], goal.com, 15 June 2022</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{{updated|13 April 2019}}<ref name=soccerway>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/igor-denisov/6868/|title=Igor Denisov|website=Soccerway|access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]]
|[[2001 Russian Top Division|2001]]
|[[Russian Premier League]]
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|[[2002 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2002]]
|Russian Premier League
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|[[2003 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2003]]
|Russian Premier League
|19||2||2||1||colspan="2"|–||2{{efn|Two appearances in the [[Russian Premier League Cup]]}}||0||23||3
|-
|[[2004 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2004]]
|Russian Premier League
|20||6||0||0||6||1||colspan="2"|–||26||7
|-
|[[2005 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2005]]
|Russian Premier League
|20||5||5||0||7||0||colspan="2"|–||32||5
|-
|[[2006 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2006]]
|Russian Premier League
|25||4||6||0||5||1||colspan="2"|–||36||5
|-
|[[2007 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2007]]
|Russian Premier League
|25||3||4||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||32||3
|-
|[[2008 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2008]]
|Russian Premier League
|29||1||0||0||14||2||1{{efn|One appearance in the [[2008 Russian Super Cup|Russian Super Cup]]}}||0||44||3
|-
|[[2009 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2009]]
|Russian Premier League
|28||1||2||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||34||1
|-
|[[2010 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2010]]
|Russian Premier League
|24||0||3||0||8||1||colspan="2"|–||35||1
|-
|[[2011–12 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2011–12]]
|Russian Premier League
|40||1||4||0||12||0||1{{efn|One appearance in the [[2011 Russian Super Cup|Russian Super Cup]]}}||0||57||1
|-
|[[2012–13 FC Zenit Saint Petersburg season|2012–13]]
|Russian Premier League
|23||0||2||0||8||0||1{{efn|One appearance in the [[2012 Russian Super Cup|Russian Super Cup]]}}||0||34||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!254!!23!!28!!1!!67!!5!!5!!0!!354!!29
|-
|[[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi]]
|[[2013–14 FC Anzhi Makhachkala season|2013–14]]
|Russian Premier League
|3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]
|[[2013–14 FC Dynamo Moscow season|2013–14]]
|Russian Premier League
|24||1||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||1
|-
|[[2014–15 FC Dynamo Moscow season|2014–15]]
|Russian Premier League
|13||0||0||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||21||0
|-
|[[2015–16 FC Dynamo Moscow season|2015–16]]
|Russian Premier League
|23||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||0
|-
|[[2016–17 FC Dynamo Moscow season|2016–17]]
|[[Russian Football National League]]
|2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!62!!1!!4!!0!!8!!0!!0!!0!!74!!1
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]
|[[2016–17 FC Lokomotiv Moscow season|2016–17]]
|Russian Premier League
|23||1||5||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||2
|-
|[[2017–18 FC Lokomotiv Moscow season|2017–18]]
|Russian Premier League
|27||0||1||0||10||1||1{{efn|One appearance in the [[2017 Russian Super Cup|Russian Super Cup]]}}||0||39||1
|-
|[[2018–19 FC Lokomotiv Moscow season|2018–19]]
|Russian Premier League
|17||0||2||0||6||0||1{{efn|One appearance in the [[2018 Russian Super Cup|Russian Super Cup]]}}||0||26||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!67!!1!!8!!1!!16!!1!!2!!0!!93!!3
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!386!!25!!40!!2!!91!!6!!7!!0!!522!!33
|}

'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=25253|title=Igor Denisov|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Russia national football team|Russia]]
|2008||2||0
|-
|2009||9||0
|-
|2010||3||0
|-
|2011||8||0
|-
|2012||13||0
|-
|2013||5||0
|-
|2014||6||0
|-
|2015||6||0
|-
|2016||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!54!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Zenit Saint Petersburg'''
*[[Russian Premier League]]: [[2007 Russian Premier League|2007]], [[2010 Russian Premier League|2010]], [[2011–12 Russian Premier League|2011–12]]
*[[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]]: [[2009–10 Russian Cup|2009–10]]
*[[Russian Super Cup]]: [[2008 Russian Super Cup|2008]], [[2011 Russian Super Cup|2011]]
*[[Russian Premier League Cup]]: [[Russian Premier League Cup|2003]]
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|2007–08]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2008 UEFA Super Cup|2008]]

'''Lokomotiv Moscow'''
*Russian Premier League: [[2017–18 Russian Premier League|2017–18]]
*Russian Cup: [[2016–17 Russian Cup|2016–17]], [[2018–19 Russian Cup|2018–19]]<ref name=soccerway/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{RPL player|Denisov-Igor}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Russia squads
|bg = white
|fg = #00F
|bordercolor = #F00
|list1=
{{Russia squad UEFA Euro 2012}}
{{Russia squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Denisov, Igor}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Russian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Russia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:FC Zenit Saint Petersburg players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:FC Anzhi Makhachkala players]]
[[Category:FC Dynamo Moscow players]]
[[Category:FC Lokomotiv Moscow players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League players]]
[[Category:Russian First League players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2012 players]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Russia men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:21st-century Russian sportsmen]]