Born: Barnaul, Russia, 1 May 1975
Position: Central midfielder
International caps: 55
International goals: 0
Signed: 27 January 2007, free transfer
Fulham debut: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Fulham, 11 February 2007
Fulham appearances: 25
Fulham goals: 0
Sold: 3 September 2008 (released).
Russian midfielder Alexey Smertin signed for Fulham on a free transfer in January 2007 following his release by Dynamo Moscow. He was a regular in Lawrie Sanchez’s starting line-up at the outset of the 2007-08 until the deadline day arrival of Danny Murphy limited his first-team opportunities. He was further frustrated by a series of niggling injuries – and, after turning down a loan move to Cardiff City, Smertin agreed to a mutual termination of his contract in September 2008. He became a Russian MP in 2009 and is now a senior official in the Russian Football Union, working on regional policy and anti-racism.
