Dmitri Sychev

CLUB CAREER

Spartak Moscow and Marseille

After having trials at clubs in FC Nantes and FC Metz, Sychev was picked up by FC Spartak Moscow in January 2002, where he scored eight goals in his first 12 matches, and it was during that time when he was transformed into a striker. With Spartak he reached the final of the 2002 Commonwealth of Independent States Cup. He scored 6 goals and finished second on the top scorer list, after coming in as a substitute in every match he played. He entered the symbolic top players list of the tournament.

In August 2002 Sychev announced he was quitting Spartak, by giving his employers three months' notice. Having already signed a five-year contract with the Russian club he was banned from football for four months by the Russian Professional Football League (RPFL).

After finishing this suspension, Sychev signed a five-year contract with Olympique de Marseille, rejecting an offer from FC Dynamo Kyiv. He was mainly used as a substitute during his days in France. In Olympique de Marseille Sychev was used as a midfielder, both left and right.

Lokomotiv

In January 2004 Sychev returned to Russia to join FC Lokomotiv Moscow on a four-year contract, where he scored twice on the opening day of the season. He went on to claim the Russian Footballer of the Year award in his first season back in the Russian Premier League. With the team he won the Russian Premier League 2004, the 2005 Russian Super Cup, the 2005 Commonwealth of Independent States Cup and 2007 Russian Cup. In FC Lokomotiv Moscow Sychev played mostly as a striker, except the period when Lokomotiv was coached by Anatoliy Byshovets and Rashid Rakhimov respectively. During those times Dmitry was mainly employed as a midfielder. Sychev started playing again in his natural position with the appointment of Yury Semin. In 2009, Dmitry was voted by Lokomotiv fans as the player of the season. In 2012-13 season under manager Slaven Bilić Sychev lost his place in the line-up (only 4 games in the first half of season, including national Cup).

Dinamo Minsk

In March 2013, Sychev moved to FC Dinamo Minsk on loan until July of the same year.

Volga

In July 2013, after returning from Dinamo Minsk, Sychev moved to fellow Russian Premier League side FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod on a year-long loan deal. Sychev featured in 16 league games for Volga, failing to score in any of them, and returned to Lokomotiv Moscow at the end of the season following Volga's relegation to the Russian National Football League.

Okzhetpes

On 16 March 2015, Sychev moved to FC Okzhetpes on a season-long loan deal.

Pyunik

After over a year away from football, Sychev signed for FC Pyunik on 31 August 2019. On 6 December 2019, Sychev left Pyunik by mutual consent having failed to make a first team appearance for the club. On 10 December 2019, he announced his retirement from playing.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Sychev was selected to play for the Russian national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he became the youngest player to appear for the USSR or Russia at 18 years and 222 days. In the event, he scored a goal and set up other three in an otherwise disappointing Russian campaign. This goal made Dmitri Sychev the fourth youngest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup.

Sychev was called up to Russia's squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Despite being a striker at his team Lokomotiv Moscow, during Guus Hiddink's term at the Russian national football team he was used as a midfielder. He won his last cap in 2010.