Saba Andreyevich Sazonov (Russian: Саба Андреевич Сазонов; Georgian: საბა საზონოვი; born 1 February 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Empoli, on loan from Torino. Born in Russia, he plays for the Georgia national team internationally.
Early life
His mother Nino Nishnianidze is a former professional Georgian volleyball player from Samtredia. She moved to Saint Petersburg where she met her Russian husband. During his childhood, Sazonov moved to Georgia and then back to Russia, to feel more comfortable with both countries' language and culture.[2]
Club career
Sazonov made his debut in the Russian Premier League for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg on 16 May 2021 in a game against FC Tambov. He was substituted on for Magomed Ozdoyev in the 76th minute.[3]
In June 2021, he joined Dynamo Moscow on trial.[4] On 9 July 2021, after impressing on trial, he signed a three-year contract with Dynamo.[5]
On 31 August 2023, he signed for Serie A club Torino, becoming the third Georgian in the Serie A ahead the 2023–24 season.[6]
Having taken part in 13 league matches for Torino, Sazonov signed a year-long loan contract with Empoli on 30 August 2024.[7]
International career
In September 2022, Sazonov was called up to the Georgia national under-21 football team.[8] He was also called up to the Russia national under-21 football team for the same dates,[9] but chose to represent Georgia. He debuted with the senior Georgia national team in a friendly 3–0 loss to Morocco on 17 November 2022.[10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of matches played on 17 August 2024
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zenit-2 St. Petersburg | 2019–20 | Russian Second League | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | Russian Second League | 18 | 3 | – | – | – | 18 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 | 3 | |||
| Zenit St. Petersburg | 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| Dynamo-2 Moscow | 2021–22 | Russian Second League | 9 | 2 | – | – | – | 9 | 2 | |||
| Dynamo Moscow | 2021–22 | Russian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Russian Premier League | 24 | 1 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2023–24 | Russian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 | 1 | |||
| Torino | 2023–24 | Serie A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 | 0 | |||
| Empoli (loan) | 2024–25 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 81 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 6 | ||
Honours
Zenit Saint Petersburg
References
- ^ "Saba Sazonov" (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Саба Сазонов: "На отборе в "Газпром"-Академию был в майке сборной Бразилии. Меня так и внесли в список — "бразилец""" (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Tambov v Zenit game report". Russian Premier League. 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Динамовцы уступили ЧФР в первом матче на "ВТБ тренировочном сборе" в Австрии" (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Саба Сазонов перешёл в "Динамо"" (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Saba Sazonov becomes third Georgian in Serie A with move to Torino". Agenda.ge. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "ოფიციალურად: საბა საზონოვი "ემპოლის" ფეხბურთელია". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Динамовцы в национальных сборных" [Dynamo players in national teams] (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 19 September 2022.
- ^ "Тренерский штаб молодёжной команды объявил состав на сентябрьский сбор" (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Morocco vs. Georgia". www.national-football-teams.com.
External links
- Saba Sazonov at Soccerway
- Saba Sazonov at Russian Premier League
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