Playing Career
Born in Sochi, Lediakhov started playing professionally with modest FC SKA Rostov-on-Don, moving in 1990 to FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
After impressing with FC Rotor Volgograd, he was bought by Soviet Union giants FC Spartak Moscow, being essential as the capital side conquered three consecutive league titles, which included the inaugural edition of the competition, as the player scored in double digits in two of the three seasons.
In the 1994 summer, 26-year old Lediakhov moved abroad, signing with Spain's Sporting de Gijón. Even though he netted nearly 50 overall goals for the club (17 in four La Liga seasons) whilst showcasing good offensive skills, his eight-year old stay in Asturias was an inconsistent one, marred by irregular performances and disciplinary problems: he received a six-match ban after a 22 February 2000 match at Albacete Balompié, after assaulting an opponent then repeatedly pushing referee Téllez Sánchez after receiving his marching orders. At the club, he teamed up with compatriots Dmitri Cheryshev (five seasons), Yuri Nikiforov (two) and Alexei Kosolapov (one).
Lediakhov also spent a few months in Japan (loaned by Sporting and coinciding with Portuguese Paulo Futre), after which he returned – with the club now in the second level – having further disciplinary problems which led to a suspension from the club. He eventually bought out his contract and retired in 2003 (aged 35), after one season with SD Eibar, also in division two.
Lediakhov gained 16 international caps, for both the CIS and Russia, which he represented respectively at UEFA Euro 1992 (did not leave the bench) the 1994 FIFA World Cup (played one match, the 6–1 group stage routing of Cameroon).
Read more about this topic: Igor Lediakhov
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