Ilya Meshcheryakov

Ilya Meshcheryakov made the leap from academy to first team in a single year: after signing his first professional contract with Spartak Kostroma in October 2024, aged 16, he was promoted to the senior squad in early 2025. He had come through Kostroma's SShOR-1 academy after starting out in his native Samara, where he trained in the city's youth football system before moving to join Spartak Kostroma's ranks.

His senior debut season doubled as a title-winning one: Meshcheryakov made six appearances in the Second League's Division A "Gold" group as Spartak Kostroma won the championship and secured promotion to the First League. He carried that experience into the step up in competition, making ten appearances in the 2025/2026 FNL season for 190 minutes on the pitch. The current campaign has brought him three appearances and 103 minutes so far. He has yet to register a goal or an assist in senior competitive football.