Ruslan Karimovich Nigmatullin ( rus, Русла́н Кари́мович Нигмату́ллин, p=rʊˈslan kɐˈrʲiməvʲɪtɕ nʲɪɡmɐˈtulʲɪn, tt-Cyrl, Руслан Кәрим улы Нигъмәтуллин; born 7 October 1974 in Kazan, Tatarstan, Soviet Union) is a retired association footballer of Volga Tatar ethnicity who played goalkeeper and is currently working as a DJ. He has appeared for the Russian national team 24 times (including 5 Olympic appearances) and was their starting keeper at the

2002 World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...

. He was voted Russian Player of the Year 2001 and is considered the best Russian goalkeeper of his period. Also known as DJ after completing his football career.

Biography

Retirement

Despite officially retiring from football in February 2006, in September 2008, Nigmatullin decided to make a deal with FC SKA Rostov-on-Don, Russian club from First Division. After playing for another year for 3 clubs, he retired again in November 2009.

Time in Israel

Nigmatullin signed with Israeli club, Maccabi Ahi Nazareth for the 2009–10 season. His start was a shaky one but his performance improved over the weeks as he acclimated to Israel. Nevertheless, he requested to leave the club in November 2009.

Honours

* Russian Premier League champion: 1996, 1997, 2004. * Russian Premier League runner-up: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. * Russian Premier League bronze: 1995, 1998. * Russian Cup winner: 2000, 2001. * Russian Cup finalist: 1998.

Career statistics

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nigmatullin, Ruslan 1974 births Living people Russian footballers FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny players FC Lokomotiv Moscow players FC SKA Rostov-on-Don players FC Spartak Moscow players Hellas Verona F.C. players FC Akhmat Grozny players FC Anzhi Makhachkala players Maccabi Ahi Nazareth F.C. players Association football goalkeepers Serie A players Serie B players Footballers from Kazan PFC CSKA Moscow players Russia under-21 international footballers Russia international footballers Russian Premier League players Israeli Premier League players 2002 FIFA World Cup players Tatar people of Russia U.S. Salernitana 1919 players Russian DJs Russian expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in Italy Expatriate footballers in Israel Russian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Russian expatriate sportspeople in Israel Tatar sportspeople