Aleksei Berezutski
A rock-solid defender who formed half of Russian football's most famous twin partnership, anchoring CSKA Moscow's golden era.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Russian footballer·Birthday: June 20·Millennials
Biography
Aleksei Berezutski, alongside his identical twin brother Vasili, was the defensive bedrock of CSKA Moscow and the Russian national team for over 15 years. His career is almost impossible to separate from his brother's; they debuted together, won trophies together, and retired from international duty on the same day. Aleksei, often the slightly more aggressive and positionally astute of the pair, was a classic, no-nonsense centre-back—strong in the tackle, commanding in the air, and utterly dependable. His entire club career was spent at CSKA, where he helped transform the army club into a domestic powerhouse and a consistent presence in European competition. The pinnacle was the 2005 UEFA Cup victory, a historic first for a Russian club. For the national team, he was a fixture through multiple European Championships and the 2014 World Cup. After hanging up his boots, he moved seamlessly into coaching, eventually taking the helm at CSKA, tasked with maintaining the standards he helped set.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aleksei was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aleksei Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Aleksei's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won six Russian Premier League titles with CSKA Moscow, forming the core of their defense for over a decade.
- Lifted the UEFA Cup in 2005, a landmark victory for Russian club football.
- Earned 58 caps for the Russian national team, playing in three UEFA European Championships.
- Played his entire professional club career (over 350 matches) for a single team, CSKA Moscow.
Did You Know?
He and his twin brother Vasili are the only twins to have both scored in the same UEFA Champions League match (for CSKA against Inter Milan in 2007).
They received honorary medals "For Services to the Fatherland" from President Vladimir Putin.
He holds a degree in coaching from the Russian State University of Physical Education.
After retiring as a player, he first worked as an assistant coach to his brother Vasili at CSKA.
“On the pitch, my brother and I shared a single mind.”
