Aleksei Bugayev
Full nameAleksei Ivanovich Bugayev
Birth date25 August 1981
Birth placeMoscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Death date28 December 2024 (aged 43)[1][2]
Death placeUkraine
Height1.80 m
PositionDefender
Years 11999–2000
Clubs 1Torpedo-2 Moscow
Caps 136
Goals 13
Years 22001
Clubs 2Torpedo Moscow
Caps 22
Goals 20
Years 32001–2002
Clubs 3Tom Tomsk
Caps 334
Goals 31
Years 42003–2004
Clubs 4Torpedo Moscow
Caps 439
Goals 40
Years 52005–2006
Clubs 5Lokomotiv Moscow
Caps 58
Goals 50
Years 62006–2008
Clubs 6Tom Tomsk
Caps 654
Goals 61
Years 72008
Clubs 7Khimki
Caps 70
Goals 70
Years 82009–2010
Clubs 8Krasnodar
Caps 820
Goals 80
Totalcaps193
Totalgoals5
Nationalyears 12001–2003
Nationalteam 1Russia U21
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22004–2005
Nationalteam 2Russia
Nationalcaps 27
Nationalgoals 20

Aleksei Ivanovich Bugayev (Russian: Алексе́й Ива́нович Буга́ев; 25 August 1981 – 28 December 2024) was a Russian professional footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Bugayev played for Tom Tomsk, Torpedo Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, Khimki, and Krasnodar.[3]

International career

Bugayev made his debut for the Russia national team in 2004, playing 90 minutes in a friendly match against Austria ending in a goalless draw.[4] He was then included in the squad at the UEFA Euro 2004. He was an unused substitute in the 1–0 loss against Spain, but played the full 90 minutes in the 0–2 loss to Portugal[5] and in the 2–1 win against Greece.[6] He earned three more caps in 2006 World Cup qualification, playing 90 minutes in 4–0 wins against both Luxembourg[7] and Estonia[8] and a 1–7 loss against Portugal.[9] His last appearance for Russia was in a friendly against Italy in 2005.[10] He retired from his career in 2010.[11][12]

Personal life and death

Bugayev had issues with alcohol addiction throughout his adult life and retired early from playing football at the age of 29. He worked for a recycling business after retirement but turned to crime to pay for his alcohol debts. [13]

On 28 October 2023, Bugayev was arrested in Krasnodar in possession of 495 grams of mephedrone.[14] On 24 September 2024, he pled guilty to drug distribution and was sentenced to 9.5 years of imprisonment.[15] While imprisoned, Bugayev sought to enlist in the military to participate in the war against Ukraine.[11]

On 29 December 2024, Bugayev was reported to have been killed in action the previous day.[3][11] Due to his death in the war zone, his body could not be immediately recovered.[11] His funeral took place on 19 January 2025 in an undisclosed location in Voronezh Oblast.[16]

Honours

References

  1. ^ https://notariat.ru/ru-ru/help/probate-cases Номер наследственного дела: 39562696-16/2025
  2. ^ https://hochuvernut.com/single/103360-bugaev-aleksej-ivanovich
  3. ^ Daniil Arshavsky (29 December 2024). "Бывший футболист сборной России Бугаев погиб в зоне СВО" [Former Russian national team football player Bugayev has died in the SMO zone] (in Russian). Sport Express. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Austria vs. Russia. 0 - 0". int.soccerway.com. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  5. ^ "History: Russia 0-2 Portugal UEFA EURO 2004". UEFA. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  6. ^ "History: Russia 2-1 Greece UEFA EURO 2004". UEFA. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Luxembourg - Russia. FIFA WC 2006 Prel. Comp. European Zone". Fifa.org. 9 October 2004. Archived 23 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Russia - Estonia. FIFA WC 2006 Prel. Comp. European Zone". FIFA.com. 17 November 2004. Archived 23 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Portugal - Russia. FIFA WC 2006 Prel. Comp. European Zone". FIFA.com. 13 October 2004. Archived 23 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Italy vs. Russia 2 - 0". int.soccerway.com. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  11. ^ Ron Popeski (29 December 2024). "Former Russian national team member killed in Ukraine war". Hugh Lawson (ed.). Reuters. Retrieved 30 December 2024. "Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei's death is true. It happened today."
  12. ^ Yokhin, Michael (2 January 2025). "Aleksey Bugaev: Russian footballer's spiralling story ends with death in Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  13. ^ Yokhin, Michael (2 January 2025). "Aleksey Bugaev: Russian footballer's spiralling story ends with death in Ukraine". The Guardian
  14. ^ Yevgeniya Lepyokhina (1 November 2023). "Экс-футболиста сборной России Бугаева задержали с мефедроном" [Ex-football player of the Russian national team Bugayev has been detained with mephedrone] (in Russian). RTVI. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Экс-футболист осужден за покушение на незаконный сбыт наркотиков" [Ex-football player convicted for attempt to sell illegal drugs] (in Russian). Telegram. Krasnodar Krai Court. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  16. ^ https://rtvi.com/news/byvshego-futbolista-sbornoj-rossii-pohoronili-v-voronezhskoj-oblasti