Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad, Russia. He is the current president of Russia. After completing his Law Degree, Putin joined the KGB, the Soviet Union's intelligence agency. In political career, Putin served as prime minister (in-office) of Russia from August 9, 1999 to May 7, 2000 and again from May 8, 2008 to May 07, 2012. He also held the position of acting president of Russia from December 31, 1999, to May 7, 2000. And, later Putin served as President (in Office) from May 7, 2008 to May 7, 2012. He assumed office again on May 7, 2012. Since taking office as Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin has been one of the most influential and controversial leaders in the world. Beyond political career, there are still many things about Putin that remain relatively unknown to the average person. Here are some interesting facts about Vladimir Putin that you may not have heard before. 14 Unique and Interesting Facts about Vladimir Putin He is a Soccer Fan Fitness freak Putin has been a fan of sports especially soccer or football since childhood. Even though he is a busy person, Putin continues to follow his favourite sport and he often watches European soccer matches on TV. Argentine legend Diego Maradona and Brazilian star player Pele were his favourite players in football. Putin Learned Judo to Grow up When he was a teenager, Putin noticed that other boys were growing up faster than him. He started learning judo to speed up his growth. He won a black belt in judo at the age of 18. Yet he regularly takes martial arts training. Read Ukraine: 14 Interesting but Lesser-Known Facts