Vyacheslav Chanov, a former CSKA goalkeeping coach, argues that Vladimir Gabulov stands closest to Igor Akinfeev in terms of gear, mindset, and potential. When CSKA began scouting Akinfeev for their base, a youthful rivalry with Venya Mandrykin emerged, and Chanov notes that Volodya Gabulov, then the second option, could have earned a spot in the first team. He didn’t leave CSKA because of a preference to be the lead, Chanov explains, but rather because Gabulov consistently measured up to Akinfeev’s standard and kept pace with him. That consistency solidified Gabulov as the closest rival to Akinfeev’s benchmark. (Citation: Chanov interview)
Akinfeev is a CSKA product who has logged more than 500 appearances for the club, with about 350 of those being clean sheets. His career at CSKA includes six Russian championships and an equal number of Russian Cups, along with the UEFA Cup victory in the 2004/05 season. These achievements place him among the elite performers who helped define Russian club football in the early 21st century. (Citation: Team history)
Among goalkeepers who have kept the most sheets, Akinfeev is recognized as one of the seven best of the 21st century for the number of shutouts achieved over a long career. This level of consistency is a testament to his skill, preparation, and leadership on the field. (Citation: Player records)
Gabulov’s CSKA tenure spanned two periods, 2004–2006 and 2011, during which he contributed to the squad’s depth in goal. On the international stage, he earned a bronze medal with the Russian national team at Euro 2008, underscoring his role as part of a generation of players who performed at the continental level. (Citation: National team records)
Historically, Valery Gazzaev has compared Akinfeev’s reach and impact to the legendary Lev Yashin, a comparison that underscores the high expectations placed on the CSKA keeper and the way his career has been framed within Russian football. (Citation: Coaching perspectives)
In reflection, the corridor of talent at CSKA has always balanced between the emergence of new shooting guards and the steady guard of a veteran. Akinfeev’s tenure encapsulates this balance, with Gabulov symbolizing the bench-to-first-team bridge that clubs need to nurture through rigorous development, competition, and mutual respect among goalkeepers. The narrative highlights how both players pushed each other to maintain the standard that CSKA has celebrated for decades. (Citation: Club history)