Boris Borisovich Rotenberg (Russian: Борис Борисович Ротенберг; born 19 May 1986) is a former professional footballer who played as a right-back. Born in Russia, he made one appearance for the Finland national team in 2015.
Biography
His father, Boris Romanovich Rotenberg, is an oligarch who was listed by Forbes magazine as the 100th wealthiest person in Russia in 2010, with a net worth of US$700m. His father has been a friend of the Russian president Vladimir Putin since the 1960s, when they took judo lessons together.[1] Rotenberg's uncle Arkady Rotenberg was the 99th wealthiest in Russia, according to the same list.[2] His maternal grandfather was a Ingrian Finn.[3]
In July 2008, Boris Rotenberg and a fellow Jewish Russian, Yakov Ehrlich, joined the Israeli club, Hapoel Petah Tikva on trial. The club was interested in the services of both men, since they are Jewish and would not count as foreigners.[4]
He was called up for Finland national team in June 2015, aged 29, for the first time.
On 7 June 2021, he extended his contract with FC Lokomotiv Moscow until 31 December 2021.[6] On 30 December 2021, he extended it once again until the end of the 2021–22 season, despite not playing for three years at that point due to injuries.[7] Rotenberg left Lokomotiv on 30 May 2022.[8]
Criticism
Rotenberg's footballing skills were called into question by several media outlets in Russia, whereas club officials and head coaches of Dynamo, Rostov, and Lokomotiv were accused of bowing to pressure from his wealthy and influential family, seeking his at least occasional inclusion in team's lineup. The player himself, however, has been praised for his hard work at training sessions, as well as for keeping a low profile despite his family background.[9][10]
^Ein-Dor, Izzy (2 July 2008). זלצר: "אני רוצה את חיימוביץ' בהפועל פ"ת" [Zeltzer: "I Want Haimovich at Hapoel PT"]. Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 September 2009.
