A left-sided player who can play full-back or winger, Zhirkov began his career at local club Spartak Tambov before joining top-flight CSKA Moscow in 2004.

His performance at UEFA Euro 2008, in which Russia reached the semi-finals, was recognised with his inclusion in the Team of the Tournament and award as well as Futbol's Russian Footballer of the Year.

[citation needed] Zhirkov began his participation in the following season of European competition on 18 September 2008, against Croatian club Slaven Belupo.

[citation needed] In 2009, Zhirkov participated in three matches in European competitions, two against Aston Villa and one against Shakhtar Donetsk.

[citation needed] On 6 July 2009, Zhirkov joined Chelsea on a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of £18 million,[5][6] exceeding the £15 million Arsenal paid for Andrey Arshavin in January 2009, thus making Zhirkov the most expensive Russian football player of all-time.

[8] After regaining fitness from a knee injury, he made his competitive debut at left back against Queens Park Rangers in a League Cup tie on 23 September.

[9] After battling a knee injury he made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 25 November against Porto, playing as a left back and setting up Nicolas Anelka's goal in a 1–0 win.

Zhirkov made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Joe Cole against West Ham United on 20 December 2009.

Due to Ashley Cole's injury against Everton on 10 February, which ruled him out for three months, Zhirkov became first-choice left-back.

[13] Zhirkov also started for the first team as a replacement for the injured Ramires against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge and Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, providing two crucial assists.

[14] On 14 August 2011, Chelsea announced the departure of Zhirkov to Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be around £13.2 million.

[16][17] Zhirkov's first Anzhi goal came in a 2–1 win against Amkar Perm on 29 October 2011, hitting a rebound from a corner into the back of the net.

[citation needed] On 6 August 2013, Anzhi listed their entire squad up for sale as they announced plans to restructure the business, focusing on youth development.

The first players to leave were Igor Denisov, Aleksandr Kokorin and Zhirkov on 15 August 2013, who all joined Dynamo Moscow for undisclosed fees.

[28] In October 2008, Zhirkov was named as one of the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award, given to the top player in Europe.

[29] On 18 November 2009, Zhirkov received his first red card for the national side – he was sent off late in the game for a second bookable offence in the dying minutes of Russia's 0–1 away loss to Slovenia in the second leg of the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off after pushing a Slovenian substitute.

[citation needed] In August 2011, Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match against Serbia in Moscow nearly every time he contacted the ball; he was even bombarded with a cigarette packet near the corner area.

[32] In the final preparation match for the tournament, his 61st cap, he scored his first international goal with a volley to open a 2–0 win over Morocco.

[33] He featured in one match at the finals, playing 71 minutes of the opening 1–1 draw against South Korea before being replaced by Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

[35] Zhirkov was not included in Russia's squad for Euro 2016,[36] but returned for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup where he was in the starting line-up for all three of the team's matches.

[43] He started Russia's opening game against Belgium on 12 June 2021, but had to be substituted in the first half due to leg injury.

In December 2008, Zhirkov graduated from Tambov State University[50] International goals Russia's score listed first.