Pavel Yakovlev

Pavel Yakovlev was born on 7 April 1991 in Lyubertsy, Russian SFSR. He nominally plays as a striker but feels comfortable at left wing.

Pavel started training at Zvezda football school but then moved to Spartak youth academy. Valery Karpin, the former manager of Spartak Moscow, noticed the promising youngster and in 2009 Pavel Yakovlev signed a professional contract with Spartak. On 13 June 2009, he celebrated his debut in the Russian Premier League in a match against FC Khimki. Pavel came on as a substitute in a cup match against FC Krasnodar. He also came on the pitch in a match between Spartak and CSKA in the 82th minute. On 16 August 2009, Pavel Yakovlev clinched his debut goal in a match against FC Moscow.

In August 2010, Yakovlev was loaned out to Krylia Sovetov. He played 12 matches and scored 4 goals during the season, which made him the key player of the team. Pavel made his UEFA Europa League debut in February 2011 in a match against FC Basel. In March 2011, he netted his first season goal in 1/8 final stage of the Russian Cup. In July 2011 Krylia extended Yakovlev’s loan for another year. In June 2012 his loan at Krylia expired and he returned to Spartak.

Pavel made his debut on the international level for the Russia U-21 team in September 2009.