Irena Kuznetsov (Hebrew: אירנה קוזנצוב, Russian: Ирена Кузнецов; born 24 April 2002) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as defender for German club 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and the Israel women's national team.
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![]() Kuznetzov playing for Israel in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 20) | ||
Place of birth | Hadera, Israel | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Turbine Potsdam | ||
Number | 4 | ||
Youth career | |||
2010–2012 | Ironi Sport Hadera (boys) | ||
2012–2016 | Maccabi Kishronot Hadera | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2019 | Girls Football Academy | 45 | (4) |
2019–2020 | Maccabi Emek Hefer | 15 | (3) |
2020 | AEL Limassol | 9 | (0) |
2020–2021 | Maccabi Kishronot Hadera | 9 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Ramat HaSharon | 5 | (0) |
2022– | Turbine Potsdam | 4 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2017–2018 | Israel U19 | 7 | (0) |
2020– | Israel | 14 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 June 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2022 |
She also holds a Russian passport.[1]
Kuznetsov was born and raised in Hadera, Israel,[2] to parents who immigrated from Russia to Israel.[1]
After having played in the boys' sections of the professional men's Israeli Premier League club of Ironi Sport Hadera, Kuznetsov was scouted in 2012 by the professional women's club of the Israeli Ligat Nashim's club, Maccabi Kishronot Hadera.[3]
In 2012, she began her junior career in a club in the Israeli women's Premier League, where she played until 2016.
In 2016, she signed with the Ligat Nashim club of the Israeli National Women's Football Academy, and made her professional debut at the age of 14.
In 2019, she signed for the season and joined the Israeli club Maccabi Bnot Emek Hefer.
During the summer of 2020, at 18 years of age, she joined the Cypriot first division club AEL Limassol.[4][5]
In November 2020, following poor working conditions, she terminated her contract to engage with Israeli club Maccabi Kishronot Hadera.
In January 2022, Kuznetsov joined German Bundesliga Turbine Potsdam, signing a 3.5 year contract.[6] In May 2022, she played in the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal Final, which they lost 4–0 to VfL Wolfsburg.[7]
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam – current squad | |
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