FC Spartak Moscow and Real Madrid shared eight goals on Sunday in the Russian capital. But if you thought the Spaniards had joined the Russian Premier League, you’d be wrong.

Veterans of the two sides gathered to bid farewell to Dmitry Alenichev, the most successful Russian footballer in Europe, who managed to lift the Champions League and UEFA Cup Trophies with Porto, and who scored in both finals.

His career kicked off in Spartak Moscow, where he became Russian Player of the Year in 1997.

A year later he decided to test his skills in Italy.

After a brief stint in Italy with Roma and Peruggia, he found a new home with Jose Mourinho's Porto.

His four-year spell with the Portuguese club earned Alenichev respect and recognition far beyond Russia and Portugal.

His titles include three Russian championships and two cups, two Portuguese championships, two cups and two Supercups. And last, but definitely not least, the UEFA Cup and the biggest prize of all, the Champions League

Jose Mourinho showed his respect for the man by coming to Moscow for the farewell match in Moscow.

The near 30,000 Lokomotiv arena in Moscow was stormed by an army of Red and White fans who also came to bid their superhero farewell.

In the mid-90s many Spartak fans had lost interest in their team mainly because they were not satisfied with the club’s transfer policies, which led to poor performances. Dmitry Alenichev, along with other rising stars such as Andrei Tikhonov and Yegor Titov, managed to revive interest in the club and thousands of fans returned to the stands – and their number has been on the rise ever since.

“This is a huge event and almost everyone I wanted to participate made it here. I want to thank Real Madrid for coming. And I want to thank Jose
Mourinho, who didn't think twice about coming to Moscow for my last game,” said Alenichev.

The living legend of the Spartak Moscow fans did not manage to score in this 4-4 draw against Real Madrid. But no one seemed to care and Dmitry Alenichev's name was on the tip of everyone's tongues streaming into the warm Moscow evening.