Karim Zaza
Encyclopedia
Karim Zaza (born 9 January 1975) is a Danish
-Moroccan
professional footballer, who currently plays for the Danish 1st Division
side FC Hjørring
. Born in Denmark to Moroccan parents, he established himself as one of the top goalkeepers of Danish football
with three consecutive Danish Goalkeeper of the Year
awards from 2001 to 2003. He won the Danish Cup
twice with FC København and the Double
of both Danish Cup and Superliga championship with Brøndby IF
in 2005. He has played five games for the Morocco national football team
.
, but due to his hot temper, he was moved back to goalkeeper to stay out of trouble. He first played at Brøndby IF
, but never got a match for the club, and moved on to main rivals FC København in 1995. Here he was known as a somewhat errant goalkeeper, despite showing good reflexes and technique, and he spent lacklustre time on loan at Fremad Amager (one match) and Silkeborg IF
(no matches).
In 2000 he made a permanent move to provincial club Odense BK
. Here he immediately made an impact, and got his big breakthrough, winning the Danish Goalkeeper of the Year award in both 2001 and 2002. Former club Brøndby then decided to move in after him. In January 2003, Zaza signed a two-year contract with Brøndby, effective after the end of the 2002–03 Superliga
season. He moved back to Brøndby on a free transfer in July 2003, looking to star in the newly built team of coach Michael Laudrup
. Zaza continued his successful run, and won another Danish Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2003.
Following an injury at the start of the 2004–05 Superliga
season, Zaza found himself benched as a result of young substitute Casper Ankergren
's good performances, and only played two matches for his team that year. He did not find more playing time in the first half of the 2005–06 Superliga
season, again sitting on the bench. Following the winter break halfway through the season, Zaza reclaimed his starting position for the remaining half of the season. As his contract with Brøndby expired in June 2006, he made a move to Rot-Weiss Essen
of the German
secondary 2nd Bundesliga division.
He established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper in the Essen team. Despite battling to avoid relegation in the 2006–07 2nd Bundesliga
season, Zaza kept a number of clean sheets for Rot-Weiss Essen. The club was relegated at the end of the season, and Zaza moved back to Denmark.
He signed a two-year contract with Danish Superliga
club Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB), replacing AaB's goalkeeping legend Jimmy Nielsen
. On 17 September 2008 in matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League 2008-09 he saved a penalty from Celtic
's Barry Robson
at Celtic Park
and helped secure a 0–0 draw. On March 21, 2010, Zaza played his 100th game for AaB in all competitions.
in a friendly against Jamaica
, with his national team winning by a score of 1–0.
On 28 March 2009 he played his first official match when Morocco
lost in Casablanca
against Gabon
in the third round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
(2–1).
Brøndby IF
Aalborg BK
FussballDaten statistics
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
-Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
professional footballer, who currently plays for the Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
side FC Hjørring
FC Hjørring
FC Hjørring is a Danish football club from Hjørring, Vendsyssel. It currently plays in the Danish 1st Division. It was formerly known as Hjørring IF.-Current squad:-External links:...
. Born in Denmark to Moroccan parents, he established himself as one of the top goalkeepers of Danish football
Football in Denmark
Association football is the national sport of Denmark, with 342,955 players and 1,647 clubs registered under the Danish FA.- League system :The top 4 levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association...
with three consecutive Danish Goalkeeper of the Year
Det Gyldne Bur
Det Gyldne Bur is an award given to the best goalkeeper in Danish football each year. The winner is found by votes among the goalkeepers in the two top divisions of Danish football; the Danish Superliga and Danish 1st Division. The award has been handed out by Danish sports paper TIPS-Bladet since...
awards from 2001 to 2003. He won the Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
twice with FC København and the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
of both Danish Cup and Superliga championship with Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
in 2005. He has played five games for the Morocco national football team
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
.
Biography
Zaza started his youth career as a strikerStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, but due to his hot temper, he was moved back to goalkeeper to stay out of trouble. He first played at Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
, but never got a match for the club, and moved on to main rivals FC København in 1995. Here he was known as a somewhat errant goalkeeper, despite showing good reflexes and technique, and he spent lacklustre time on loan at Fremad Amager (one match) and Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg IF is a Danish professional football club based in the city of Silkeborg, in the middle of Jutland. Silkeborg IF plays in the Danish Superliga. The club was founded in 1917 and they first reach the highest level of football in Denmark in 1987, at that time called 1st division today known...
(no matches).
In 2000 he made a permanent move to provincial club Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
. Here he immediately made an impact, and got his big breakthrough, winning the Danish Goalkeeper of the Year award in both 2001 and 2002. Former club Brøndby then decided to move in after him. In January 2003, Zaza signed a two-year contract with Brøndby, effective after the end of the 2002–03 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2002-03
The 2002–03 Danish Superliga season was the 13th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
season. He moved back to Brøndby on a free transfer in July 2003, looking to star in the newly built team of coach Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is a retired Danish footballer, who works as a manager and last coached La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La...
. Zaza continued his successful run, and won another Danish Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2003.
Following an injury at the start of the 2004–05 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2004-05
The 2004-05 Danish Superliga season was the 15th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 24, 2004 to the final match on June 19, 2005....
season, Zaza found himself benched as a result of young substitute Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren is a Danish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for English team Brighton & Hove Albion...
's good performances, and only played two matches for his team that year. He did not find more playing time in the first half of the 2005–06 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2005-06
The 2005-06 Danish Superliga season was the 16th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 19, 2005 to the final match on May 14, 2006....
season, again sitting on the bench. Following the winter break halfway through the season, Zaza reclaimed his starting position for the remaining half of the season. As his contract with Brøndby expired in June 2006, he made a move to Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
secondary 2nd Bundesliga division.
He established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper in the Essen team. Despite battling to avoid relegation in the 2006–07 2nd Bundesliga
Second Fußball-Bundesliga 2006/07
Second Fußball-Bundesliga 2006–07 kicked off on 11 August 2006 and concluded on 20 May 2007.Karlsruher SC, F.C...
season, Zaza kept a number of clean sheets for Rot-Weiss Essen. The club was relegated at the end of the season, and Zaza moved back to Denmark.
He signed a two-year contract with Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
club Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB), replacing AaB's goalkeeping legend Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen
Jimmy Nielsen is a Danish professional footballer currently playing for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
. On 17 September 2008 in matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League 2008-09 he saved a penalty from Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
's Barry Robson
Barry Robson
Barry Gordon George Robson is a Scottish footballer who plays for Middlesbrough in the Football League Championship and for the Scotland national squad...
at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
and helped secure a 0–0 draw. On March 21, 2010, Zaza played his 100th game for AaB in all competitions.
International career
On 4 May 2000, Zaza played his first international match with MoroccoMorocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
in a friendly against Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
, with his national team winning by a score of 1–0.
On 28 March 2009 he played his first official match when Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
lost in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
against Gabon
Gabon national football team
The Gabon national football team, nicknamed Azingo Nationale, is the national team of Gabon and is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football...
in the third round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - CAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CAF Third Round matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. The 20 qualifiers were split into 5 groups of four, in the draw held on 22 October 2008 in Zürich, Switzerland...
(2–1).
Club
FC København- Danish CupDanish CupThe Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
: 1995, 1997
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
- Danish SuperligaDanish SuperligaThe Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
: 2004–05Danish Superliga 2004-05The 2004-05 Danish Superliga season was the 15th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 24, 2004 to the final match on June 19, 2005.... - Danish CupDanish CupThe Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
: 20052005 Danish Cup FinalThe 2005 Danish Cup Final was the final and deciding match of the Danish Cup 2004-05. It took place on Thursday 5 May 2006 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen and saw the Superliga leaders Brøndby IF beat no. 3 in the league FC Midtjylland after extra time....
Aalborg BK
- Danish SuperligaDanish SuperligaThe Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
: 2007–08Danish Superliga 2007-08The 2007–08 Danish Superliga season was the 18th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, which determined the winners of the Danish football championship. It was governed by the Danish Football Association. It started with the first match on July 18, 2007 and ended with the final match...
External links
AaB profile Brøndby IF profile FC København profile Superliga stats by Danish Football AssociationDanish Football Association
The Danish Football Association is the governing body of football in Denmark. It is the organization of the Danish football clubs and runs the professional Danish football leagues and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in the city of Brøndby and is a founding member of both FIFA...
FussballDaten statistics