He also held Portuguese citizenship, and spent the majority of his professional career in Portugal and Spain, mainly with Ponferradina.

His performances there attracted the attention of another club in the north, Primeira Liga's Boavista FC, for which he signed in January 2003.

[4][5] In summer 2005, Yuri moved to Iberian neighbours Spain, representing lowly Pontevedra CF.

[7] Yuri signed for SD Ponferradina in 2009, going on to achieve two promotions to the second tier during his spell[8]– to which he contributed a total of 26 goals – and eventually becoming captain.

[11] On 15 January 2017, following a brief spell in the China League One, Yuri returned to the Estadio El Toralín aged 34.