Ignashevich pays tribute to home support as he hangs up his boots

Russia’s most-capped player Sergei Ignashevich announced his retirement from football yesterday after the hosts were eliminated by Croatia on penalties in the World Cup quarter-final hours earlier.

The 38-year-old defender, who spent his entire club career at Russian clubs, was a key member of Russia’s run to the last eight at their home tournament, having played in each of their five matches.

He earned a total of 127 caps for his country during his career, scoring nine goals, and holding the record for most international appearances by any Russian player.

Ignashevich also captained CSKA Moscow to the 2005 Uefa Cup title. “This was my last World Cup, my last tournament and the last match of my soccer career.

“If it wasn’t for the World Cup, I think I would have ended [my career] earlier,” Ignashevich said in a video on social media. “The World Cup was a strong motivation of me.

“I feel joy, a feeling of peace because I am ending on a high note. I am playing at the World Cup. I am playing in the quarter-finals. I am playing on a great team with a great coach, a real coach and with players who give themselves fully to the game.”

Ignashevich was one of the successful penalty-takers in their 4-3 shoot-out defeat against Croatia and was also on target from the spot when they beat Spain again on penalties in the second round.

“Anything can happen in soccer. But here no one was dissatisfied, not in the dressing room and not on the pitch,” he said.

“I plan to receive a coaching license in December.

“I would like to become a coach, a good coach.”

Ignashevich joined his teammates at a Moscow fan zone yesterday as they took part in a event with supporters to acknowledge their surprise run to the last eight, defeating 2010 world champions Spain along the way.

Ignashevich told supporters: “Yesterday, there were tears. I had them and the guys did. They were tears from the loss, and tears of happiness.”

His feelings were echoed by manager Stanislav Cherchesov, who said he was grateful to the Russian public for the support they had given him.

“You were not the 12th player – you were the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th players,” he said.

“We felt your support from the first second.” Forward Fedor Smolov received a rousing reception from the crowd despite seeing his effort, Russia’s first, in the penalty shoot-out, saved.

“I am so happy to be a citizen of Russia,” he told the crowd.

“No other team in the world has fans like we do.”

Midfielder Denis Cheryshev dedicated his four goals – tied for second-most in the tournament behind England forward Harry Kane’s six -- to “the whole country”.

“Of course we wanted to go further,” he admitted. “Thank you from the bottom of my soul – we love you.”