Valery Novikov, once a goalkeeper for CSKA and the USSR national team, spoke about the twilight of Alan Dzagoev’s playing days, reflecting on the former midfielder’s retirement from football. In an interview with socialbites.ca, the veteran expressed the view that a string of injuries largely drove the 33-year-old to step away from the sport.
“The talent is clear, but injuries chased him relentlessly. Every time he would heal, another setback would emerge. It’s possible he carried so much wear and tear that it pushed him to retire, because the body wouldn’t let him compete at the highest level,” Novikov said.
Dzagoev wore CSKA colors from 2008 until 2022, becoming a three‑time domestic champion and lifting the Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup on four occasions. He spent the 2022/23 season at Rubin Kazan, leaving the club in mid‑2023.
Across club football, Dzagoev logged 435 appearances, tallied 89 goals, and recorded 95 assists. For the Russian national team, he earned 59 caps and scored nine goals. He represented the nation at the 2012 European Championship and at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. His most recent club assignment was Greece’s Lamia.
A former Lokomotiv goalkeeper offered his perspective on why Dzagoev chose to end his career, noting the accumulation of injuries as a common thread.