#INSERT type:image caption:Spartak Moscow has signed Russia captain Roman Shirokov on a free transfer. END#
MOSCOW -- Spartak Moscow has signed Russia captain Roman Shirokov on a free transfer.
Shirokov, 33, joins as a free agent after his contract expired at Spartak's fierce rival, Zenit St. Petersburg, where the midfielder won two Russian Premier Leagues.
Following a reported feud with Zenit management, he was loaned to FC Krasnodar for the latter half of last season.
Spartak finished sixth in the Russian league last season, missing out on European qualification.
Shirokov is the regular captain of Russia, but missed the World Cup in Brazil because of an Achilles tendon injury.