PLAYER PROFILE

Alexei Smertin

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'10

Weight: 10st 5lbs

Date of Birth: 1975-05-01 Barnaul, Russia

Alexei Smertin

Just days after signing for big spenders Chelsea for £3.45million during Roman Abramovich's 2003 summer shopping spree, Alexei Smertin was loaned out to Premiership new boys Portsmouth for the whole of the 2003/04 season.

As Chelsea stressed that the Russian international captain was an 'investment for the future', he was not expected to break into the Blues first team ahead of the likes of Veron, Lampard, Geremi, Duff and Joe Cole.

The former Russian player of the year is described as a multifunctional midfielder who can also play at sweeper.

After starting his career at his native Lokomotiv Moscow, Smertin was snapped up by French club Bordeaux, where he spent three seasons and was voted the best defensive midfielder in the French league.

Smertin was a success at Portsmouth, helping them to avoid relegation, but decided during the summer that he would try to impress new Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and work his way into the first team at Stamford Bridge.

But the Russian struggled somewhat to break through. A handful of useful displays in the early stage of the season meant that he was in favour at Stamford Bridge.

However, despite an odd defensive role here and there, Smertin found himself on the sidelines more often than not as 2004 turned into 2005 with Mourinho cementing his preferred starting line-up.

It was therefore not surprising when Smertin was sent out on another season-long loan in July 2005, joining Charlton Athletic. He was impressive for the Addicks during his spell there, but left six weeks early to sign for Dynamo Moscow in March 2006 for £1m.

He didn't stay in Russia long though and in January 2007 came back to the Premiership by signing a two and a half year deal with Fulham.