Igor Shalimov

Igor Mihailovich Shalimov born 2 February 1969 is a Russian football manager and former player who manages Ural Yekaterinburg. During his playing career, he played as a midfielder, primarily in the wide position.

Playing career

Shalimov started his playing career in Spartak Moscow. After a few successful seasons with Spartak Moscow he transferred to Foggia. He impressed enough to garner the attention and eventual transfer to Inter Milan. He has also played in the Italian Serie A for Bologna, Udinese and Napoli, as well as MSV Duisburg in Germany and FC Lugano in Switzerland.

He was a member of the USSR national team which participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union he represented the unified CIS team at the European Championship held in Sweden. He was one of a number of key players who refused to play for then-coach Pavel Sadyrin at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Two years later, in 1996, he became a member of the Russia national team for the European Championship held in England.

Shalimov ended his playing career in Napoli after being banned for two years for testing positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid substance. He has claimed that an anabolic, containing nandrolone was given to him while he was hospitalized in Moscow, to stop an internal bleeding.

Managerial career

Shalimov was appointed manager of Russia women's national team in 2008, before being promoted to deputy sporting director for national teams and selection at the Russian Football Union in 2011.

He was dismissed as the manager of FC Krasnodar on 2 April 2018.

On 5 June 2018, he signed a two-year contract with FC Khimki. He left Khimki on 2 April 2019, with the team in 14th place and three points out of relegation zone.

On 30 September 2019, he was hired by Russian Premier League club Akhmat Grozny. He left Akhmat on 26 July 2020 as his contract expired.

On 10 August 2021, he was hired by Russian Premier League club Ural Yekaterinburg.