Ex-Everton star Diniyar Bilyaletdinov summoned to join Russian army in war effort in Ukraine
Former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has been called up by Russian forces to fight in Ukraine, according to his father. The 37-year-old, born in Moscow, spent 14 years playing professional football before ending his career in 2018 - the same year his country hosted the World Cup final.
After five seasons with boyhood club Lokomotiv Moscow after making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2004, Bilyaletdinov was signed by Everton boss David Moyes - on the recommendation of the manager. national team Guus Hiddink - in a deal worth up to £9million.
He would play over 60 times for the Toffees, winning the club's Goal of the Season 2009/10 award for his memorable goal against Manchester United, before returning to his native country with Spartak Moscow in January 2012. versatile man won an impressive 46 caps for Russia and was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
After other stints with Anzhi Makhachkala, Torpedo Moscow and Rubin Kazan, Bilyaletdinov's career finally came to an end in Lithuania with Trakai, where he finished with 12 goals in 34 outings.
However, the heights of professional football and the Premier League seem like a distant memory for Bilyaletdinov, who was summoned by the Russian military.
His father, Rinat Bilyaletdinov, confirmed the news to Russian media, saying: "Diniyar really got a call-up. It's hard to talk about emotions, because he didn't serve, although he did his military service, but it was specific, with a sporting bias. That was 19 years ago.
"That is to say, yes, he was sworn but served in the sports line. The law always says - to call people up to 35, and he is 37, so he there is some kind of inconsistency here.
"Now he will find out if this agenda is correct or if it was sent in advance. Anything can happen.
"If there has been a general mobilization, then there is no need to ask questions. In the meantime, the president has established a partial one, everything should happen according to the law."< /p>
Despite finishing his professional career in 2018, Bilyaletdinov is still expected to play football at amateur level, but his exploits may now be on hold.
His father, who is also a former professional player, remains involved in the game after a coaching career that spanned approximately 23 years.
Rinat Bilyaletdinov has managed some of Russia's biggest clubs, including Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan. His last job was in 2020, when he coached Olimp-Dolgoprudny in the country's second division.
Everton, as a club, felt the full emotional impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine following the January signing of 23-year-old left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv.
The full-back broke down in tears alongside compatriot and international team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko in a moving tribute to their homeland ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in February.
>Mykolenko would later reveal that the war effort at home put into perspective his own personal struggles to move to Merseyside.
He said: "Before the war, I thought my problems were the biggest ones and now I realize that they are small problems.
"When the war started, I only thought about my country and my team and I did my best. My parents stay in Kyiv now and we keep in touch with them.
“My friends and family are in different parts of the country and we try to keep in touch with them, but it's not always possible, but I keep in touch with all of them and thank God they are safe now."
Everton publicly declared their support for the player during the early stages of the Russian invasion.
Former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has been called up by Russian forces to fight in Ukraine, according to his father. The 37-year-old, born in Moscow, spent 14 years playing professional football before ending his career in 2018 - the same year his country hosted the World Cup final.
After five seasons with boyhood club Lokomotiv Moscow after making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2004, Bilyaletdinov was signed by Everton boss David Moyes - on the recommendation of the manager. national team Guus Hiddink - in a deal worth up to £9million.
He would play over 60 times for the Toffees, winning the club's Goal of the Season 2009/10 award for his memorable goal against Manchester United, before returning to his native country with Spartak Moscow in January 2012. versatile man won an impressive 46 caps for Russia and was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
After other stints with Anzhi Makhachkala, Torpedo Moscow and Rubin Kazan, Bilyaletdinov's career finally came to an end in Lithuania with Trakai, where he finished with 12 goals in 34 outings.
However, the heights of professional football and the Premier League seem like a distant memory for Bilyaletdinov, who was summoned by the Russian military.
His father, Rinat Bilyaletdinov, confirmed the news to Russian media, saying: "Diniyar really got a call-up. It's hard to talk about emotions, because he didn't serve, although he did his military service, but it was specific, with a sporting bias. That was 19 years ago.
"That is to say, yes, he was sworn but served in the sports line. The law always says - to call people up to 35, and he is 37, so he there is some kind of inconsistency here.
"Now he will find out if this agenda is correct or if it was sent in advance. Anything can happen.
"If there has been a general mobilization, then there is no need to ask questions. In the meantime, the president has established a partial one, everything should happen according to the law."< /p>
Despite finishing his professional career in 2018, Bilyaletdinov is still expected to play football at amateur level, but his exploits may now be on hold.
His father, who is also a former professional player, remains involved in the game after a coaching career that spanned approximately 23 years.
Rinat Bilyaletdinov has managed some of Russia's biggest clubs, including Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan. His last job was in 2020, when he coached Olimp-Dolgoprudny in the country's second division.
Everton, as a club, felt the full emotional impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine following the January signing of 23-year-old left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv.
The full-back broke down in tears alongside compatriot and international team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko in a moving tribute to their homeland ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in February.
>Mykolenko would later reveal that the war effort at home put into perspective his own personal struggles to move to Merseyside.
He said: "Before the war, I thought my problems were the biggest ones and now I realize that they are small problems.
"When the war started, I only thought about my country and my team and I did my best. My parents stay in Kyiv now and we keep in touch with them.
“My friends and family are in different parts of the country and we try to keep in touch with them, but it's not always possible, but I keep in touch with all of them and thank God they are safe now."
Everton publicly declared their support for the player during the early stages of the Russian invasion.
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