Christian Noboa, the Ecuadorian midfielder who once wore the Zenit St. Petersburg jersey, reflects on his affection for Russia and the echoes of its top flight football landscape. His career in Russia stretched over more than a decade, beginning in 2007 with Rubin Kazan. There he accumulated 159 appearances, helped the club secure two Russian Premier League titles, and lifted the country’s Super Cup once. His journey continued with Dynamo Moscow, where he played 92 matches, and then Rostov, where he added 64 appearances and earned runners-up honors in the league. In 2017 Noboa joined Zenit St. Petersburg, contributing to championship success once again for the club in a season where he featured in a notable number of league games. The midfielder later moved on to Sochi in 2019, adding 116 league appearances to his Russia totals. The recognition did not end there, as Noboa was named the best player in the Russian Premier League for the 2021/22 season by the Russian Football Union. Today, he continues his professional career with Emelec in Ecuador.
“Of course I miss Russia. I miss you very much. I miss my children. They stayed in Russia with their mother. They have a school there. I miss them very much”, Noboa said in a reflective moment about the life he left behind and the family ties that remain connected to Russia.
Over the years Noboa built a storied Russian football resume. He began at Rubin Kazan, where he helped the club become league champions twice and claim the Russian Super Cup once, before moving through Dynamo Moscow with a lengthy spell of play, followed by Rostov where he contributed to the team’s strong league performances as runners-up. His arrival at Zenit in 2017 marked another chapter in a career defined by consistent European competition. With Zenit, he made a meaningful impact and added another league title to his list of achievements during his time in St. Petersburg. Later, his tenure in Sochi saw him become a reliable presence in the squad, contributing to a club that was steadily establishing itself in the top tier of Russian football.
The midfielder’s time in Russia included a period of notable recognition. In the 2021/22 season Noboa was honored as the RFU’s best player in the Russian Premier League, an accolade that underscored his influence and performance during that campaign. This individual honor sits alongside several club successes across his Russian spell, highlighting a career defined by endurance, consistency, and the capacity to impact top-level competition.
Noboa now plies his trade with Emelec, continuing to compete at a high level in South American football while serving as a bridge between his storied past in Russia and his ongoing career in Ecuador. The arc of his journey showcases how a player can build a long, influential career across continents and leagues, maintaining a high standard of play and continuing to contribute to teams in new environments.
Earlier Noboa addressed questions about his departure from Russia following the onset of the Northern Military District, explaining his decision in terms of personal and professional considerations rather than a single moment of choice.