Monday marks the 50th anniversary of the former midfielder and coach of Dynamo, the best player of 2007 according to the fans of the blue and whites Dmitry Khokhlov.
Dmitry Valerievich was born on December 22, 1975, in Krasnodar, where he began playing football. From an early age, he was distinguished by his good physical attributes, a powerful shot with both feet, and excellent vision. In 1992, the promising footballer was invited by CSKA Moscow, where he made his debut for the senior team just a year later.
Before joining Dynamo, Dmitry Valerievich also played for Torpedo Moscow (1997), PSV Eindhoven (1998-2000), where he won the Dutch Super Cup, and Real Sociedad (2000-2003), with whom he finished second in La Liga. In 2003, he returned to Russia, joining Lokomotiv Moscow, where he won the Russian Championship and Super Cup.
In early 2006, Khokhlov joined Dynamo Moscow at the invitation of Yuri Semin. In just five seasons with Dynamo, he played 147 games, scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists. Following the 2007 season, fans almost unanimously voted Khokhlov the best player of the season, and a year later, he helped the team win bronze in the Russian Premier League – Dynamo's first in 11 years.
Dmitry Valerievich was one of the most impressive midfielders of his generation, becoming a leader at every club – at Dynamo, he captained the team in over 60 games. Thanks to his talent and high footballing IQ, he led the team's play, able to make subtle passes or make solo runs. He possessed a well-placed shot, often scoring spectacular goals.
Khoklov played 53 matches for the Russian national team, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He participated in Euro 1996 in England and the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
After retiring from playing, he remained with Dynamo as a coach of the youth, reserve, and first teams. From 2017 to 2019, he served as head coach. He later coached Rotor Volgograd and Sochi, and since December 2023, he has been coaching Lokomotiv's youth team.