10 Players Who Did Nothing At Chelsea (But Excelled For Their Country)

8. Yuri Zhirkov

One of the finest Russian players of the modern era, this wing-back has amassed a myriad of plaudits while donning the red of his home nation over the years. Having made his debut in 2005, he rose to the occasion during his first international tournament, producing some stellar displays as his country surprised many to reach the semi-finals. Yuri Zhirkov€™s performances had not gone unnoticed, and he was subsequently included in the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament, before later being included in the shortlist of 30 nominees for the Ballon d€™Or award. It was as a result of this tournament that Chelsea stumped up the £18 million to bring the Russian to Stamford Bridge - just another example of a club spending big bucks on the hottest young prospect to emerge from an international tournament. While it proved to be a successful year for the club, as Carlo Ancelotti€™s men won the league and cup double, Zhirkov€™s contributions were modest, as injury and loss of form restricted him to just 27 appearances in all competitions. The following season fared no better, as he made just 12 league appearances before being shipped back to Russia in the summer of 2011 at a loss. He has continued to perform well for his country, however, although it took him until June 2014 and during his 61st cap to bag his first international goal, volleying home against Morocco during a preparation game for the World Cup.