Kokorin is back in the game. How the striker returned to form

Kokorin is back in the game. How the striker returned to form

The footballer had to shed the extra kilograms he gained in the detention center in a short period of time.

No doubt, returning to the big sport after a long break requires perseverance and effort. History knows many examples when athletes failed to get into the necessary shape and bring themselves back to the previous level. However, modern medicine and qualified work of coaches help players to avoid failures in their careers. A striking example was footballer Alexander Kokorin, who after his release from prison returned to the Zenit squad, played his first match, almost went to Sochi and will now finish the season in Zenit-2. We tell you how the striker managed to get back in shape in a short period of time.

Return: from the pre-trial detention center to Zenit

On September 17, 2019, Kokorin left the penal colony № 4 in Alekseevka on parole. On the same day, the footballer’s lawyer announced the signing of a new contract with Zenit, and the club emphasized that it had submitted an application to the RFU to register the striker for the Russian championship. It was from that moment that his hard work on his physical condition began.

Many remember how Alexander looked during the trial. The footballer himself later admitted that during that period of his life he did not follow nutrition at all and was constantly under stress, which certainly affected his appearance.

Back on the pitch: a scissors goal and Kokorin’s hat-trick

The result of the training sessions didn’t take long to show. During the winter break in the Russian championship, Kokorin finally joined the classes in the general group of footballers.

Of course, Alexander realizes that returning to the lineup is a responsible task, requiring maximum dedication in friendly matches and actions in training. Therefore, the striker from the first days of the winter training camp decided to win not only the head coach, but also the hearts of the fans. First, he scored the only goal in a two-way training match.

And soon he delighted soccer fans by scoring with a “scissors” kick.

The listed achievements of the footballer surpassed the first in a friendly match against the Qatari team “Al-Uwaynah”. The striker made a hat-trick and gave a goal, and all this in the first 45 minutes.