Aleksei Sapogov

Aleksei Viktorovich Sapogov is a retired Russian professional football player who played as a forward. He is best known for his time with FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod in the Russian Premier League.

Career

Sapogov was born in Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Kemerovo Oblast. A graduate of the Lokomotiv Moscow youth system, he started his professional career in 2006 with FC Torpedo Moscow. He later played for FC Zelenograd, FC Volga Tver, and FC Gornyak Uchaly, where he became one of the top scorers in the Russian Football National League, netting 17 goals in 33 appearances.
In 2012, he signed with FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod and made his debut in the Russian Premier League, scoring 8 goals in 22 matches during the 2012–13 season.
In 2014, he joined FK Spartaks Jūrmala in the Latvian Higher League, making 10 appearances and scoring three goals.

In early 2014, while on trial with FC Anzhi Makhachkala during a training camp in Turkey, Sapogov was reportedly involved in a physical altercation with striker Shamil Asildarov, resulting in a jaw fracture.
The conflict gained renewed attention in 2021 when Sapogov challenged Asildarov to a public fight via social media, suggesting a cage match with bare fists.

In 2012, Sapogov was called up to the Russia-2 squad, where he scored one goal in his only appearance.