Former PSG, Hull City and Eintracht footballer Jay-Jay Okocha shared his thoughts on Russian players and highlighted two standouts in his view. The Nigerian legend noted he knows only a handful of Russian footballers well, mentioning Igor Yanovsky and Alexander Golovin as examples. He added that during a recent spell at West Ham United he observed Vlašić and wondered aloud if Vlašić is Russian, expressing amusement at the confusion with a lighthearted laugh. The exchange reflects how players from different leagues are perceived and remembered across European football.
Okocha went on to tie his impressions of Russian football to two names he associates with quality and impact. He identified Golovin and Artem Dziuba as the two stars of Russian football in his eyes, calling them the constants in a landscape that is often shuffled by transfers and evolving club loyalties. His comments come as part of a broader conversation about which Russian players have truly left a mark on the international stage, and they echo a perception among fans and pundits that Golovin has been a standout in midfield, while Dziuba has been a forceful, if sometimes itinerant, attacking presence.
Golovin’s career trajectory has included a notable move from CSKA Moscow to AS Monaco in the summer of 2018. In that Ligue 1 season, he appeared in 22 matches and contributed five goals and six assists, a tally that positioned him among the league’s top assist providers. His playmaking ability has been a recurring talking point for analysts who value vision, technique, and the ability to unlock compact defenses. As part of the broader discussion about Russian players abroad, Golovin is frequently cited as a reference point for success outside Russia, with his performances continuing to be a benchmark in evaluating midfield talent from the region.
Regarding Artem Dziuba, Okocha noted that the striker’s career has included several high-profile moves and phases. Dziuba signed with Lokomotiv Moscow on February 8, securing a contract that extended through the end of that season, following a period during which the striker had been part of a squad without a fixed focal point up front. The transfer highlighted how even prominent Russian forwards navigate shifts among clubs as they seek consistent opportunities to showcase their goal-scoring instincts. Earlier in his career, Dziuba had spent time with Adana Demirspor in Turkey, beginning in August 2022, a stint that ended with the termination of his contract on November 3 after a limited run of four appearances. This portion of Dziuba’s journey illustrates the challenges forwards can encounter when adapting to new leagues and tactical setups, yet it also underscores the resilience players bring to reestablish themselves wherever opportunities arise. Okocha’s pairing of Golovin and Dziuba as the two pillars of Russian football reflects a respect for players who have demonstrated sustained impact, whether in Russia’s domestic leagues or on the European stage.
The conversation also touched on other notable names connected to the Russian football landscape, including whispers about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Real Madrid’s interest in him as a potential future asset. While such rumors circulate frequently in football circles, Okocha’s emphasis remained on the two stars he believes define the current Russian football identity—Golovin for his creative engine in midfield, and Dziuba for his perceptible presence in front of goal. This stance aligns with analyses found in contemporary football discussions, where midfields capable of generating chances and forwards who can finish under pressure are often cited as the core of a country’s football reputation, even when players move across borders.
In sum, Okocha’s reflections offer a concise snapshot of how one former elite player views the Russian game: with Golovin’s ingenuity lighting up the playmaking department and Dziuba’s tried-and-true striking instincts anchoring the attack. The remarks also reveal how players from different leagues interpret and classify talent, reinforcing the interconnected web of European football where performance often travels with players and ideas across clubs and countries. These observations are part of a broader narrative about how national football identities are perceived by peers, fans, and analysts as the sport evolves and new talents emerge from Russia and its neighboring leagues.