Knyazev began playing football with local side
FC Metallurg Magnitogorsk. In 1995, he had a brief spell playing the
Russian Top League with
FC KAMAZ-Chally Naberezhnye Chelny, scoring one goal in seven league matches. He also represented Russia at the
1995 Summer Universiade in Japan. Knyazev didn't feature regularly for KAMAZ, and he returned to Metallurg the following season. In 1997, Knyazev joined
FC Rubin Kazan, then playing in the Russian Second Division. He scored 25 league goals in his first season to lead the club to promotion to the
Russian First Division. After his success with Rubin, Knyazev had brief spells with
FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow and
FC Sokol Saratov, playing in the Russian First Division before both clubs achieved promotion at the end of the 2000 season. ==References==