Dmitri Sychev
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Dmitri Yevgenyevich Sychev (Russian: Дмитрий Евгеньевич Сычёв Template:Audio) (duh-MEE-tree see-CHOFF) (born October 26, 1983) is a soccer player from Russia. His last name is also transcribed as Sytchev, and his first name as Dmitry. He has been hailed by the international press as "The Russian Michael Owen" and as "The most sensational young Russian forward since Vladimir Beschastnykh". He usually plays the attacking midfielder or forward position.
Sychev was born in Omsk, a city in south-central Russia, near the Kazakhstan border. He spent his formative years at St. Petersburg's famous Smena soccer academy before joining FC Spartak Tambov, a second division club.
After having trials at clubs in FC Nantes and FC Metz, he was picked up by FC Spartak Moscow in January 2002, where he scored eight goals in his first 12 matches.
Sychev was then selected to play for the Russian national team at the 2002 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.
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 early days in France but none the less scored three goals in 17 appearances.
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.