Nicolas Lombaerts
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Lombaerts is a Belgian
left-footed football
defender
who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
and the Belgium national team. He is tall, a leader on the pitch and a good header, both strong in defence as in constructive play.
and Thomas Matton
. Several times he was selected for the Belgian national youth teams such as the Belgium national under-21 football team
. Highlights were the 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
and the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
.
at Ghent University
.
in Russia
. At that point he quit his studies and chose for a football career. Zenit eventually won its first Russian league title with the 2007 Russian Premier League
. At the beginning of 2008, Lombaerts was sidelined for over half a year as the result of a knee
injury. In the meantime without him, his team won the 2007–08 UEFA Cup and he also missed the 2008 Summer Olympics
where Belgium became fourth.
Lombaerts finally made his return to Zenit on 19 July 2009, coming on in the 71st minute for Aleksei Ionov
against Terek Grozny. Even though Zenit were defeated 3-2, Lombaerts described the happiness of taking the pitch again as similar to "a small child's joy when walking into a shop full of sweets." He then quickly became a fixture in defense for caretaker
Anatoliy Davydov
, helping Zenit win six consecutive matches to get back into the title hunt. On 29 November 2009, Lombaerts scored the game-winning goal against rival Spartak Moscow
to put Zenit into the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League as third-place team in Russia.
On 5 July 2010, Lombaerts signed a four-year contract to remain with Zenit.
, and played 3 matches in Euro 2008 qualifying.
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Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
left-footed football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg
Football Club Zenit is a Russian football club from the city of Saint-Petersburg. Founded in 1925 , the club plays in the Russian Premier League...
and the Belgium national team. He is tall, a leader on the pitch and a good header, both strong in defence as in constructive play.
Brugge
Lombaerts joined Club Brugge at young age where he went through all youth ranks. He claimed various league titles at young age as he was part of a strong generation at Brugge, with players such as Jason Vandelannoite, Glenn VerbauwhedeGlenn Verbauwhede
Glenn Verbauwhede is a Belgian football goalkeeper who currently plays for KV Kortrijk on loan from Club Brugge K.V..- Career :...
and Thomas Matton
Thomas Matton
Thomas Matton is a Belgian footballer. He currently plays for S.V. Zulte Waregem in Belgium.-References:*...
. Several times he was selected for the Belgian national youth teams such as the Belgium national under-21 football team
Belgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
. Highlights were the 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
2004 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship was held in Switzerland from 13 to 24 July 2004. Players born after 1 January 1985 can participate in this competition...
and the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
.
Gent
As his ambition was to play in the starting lineup of a first division team as soon as possible and Club Brugge was not able to guarantee this, he moved to Gent where he soon was able to play almost every match in the 2005–06 Belgian First Division and also got his first appearance for the Belgium national football team. Apart from football, he was at that point still studying lawLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at Ghent University
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
.
Zenit
In July 2007, he chose a lucrative transfer to the FC Zenit Saint PetersburgFC Zenit Saint Petersburg
Football Club Zenit is a Russian football club from the city of Saint-Petersburg. Founded in 1925 , the club plays in the Russian Premier League...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. At that point he quit his studies and chose for a football career. Zenit eventually won its first Russian league title with the 2007 Russian Premier League
Russian Premier League 2007
Russian Premier League 2007 was the 16th official season of Rosgosstrakh Russian Football Championship, and 6th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season started with the match between Luch-Energia and Moskva in Vladivostok on Saturday, 10 March 2007, at 18:00 local time...
. At the beginning of 2008, Lombaerts was sidelined for over half a year as the result of a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury. In the meantime without him, his team won the 2007–08 UEFA Cup and he also missed the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
The men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
where Belgium became fourth.
Lombaerts finally made his return to Zenit on 19 July 2009, coming on in the 71st minute for Aleksei Ionov
Aleksei Ionov
Aleksei Sergeyevich Ionov is an association footballer who played midfielder, who currently plays for Zenit.He started playing football at the age of six. Later he graduated from SCYSSOR Zenit, and started playing for Zenit Reserves in 2007. He played for Zenit three times in UEFA Cup...
against Terek Grozny. Even though Zenit were defeated 3-2, Lombaerts described the happiness of taking the pitch again as similar to "a small child's joy when walking into a shop full of sweets." He then quickly became a fixture in defense for caretaker
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
Anatoliy Davydov
Anatoli Davydov
Anatoli Viktorovich Davydov is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. Currently, he is an assistant coach of FC Zenit St. Petersburg.- Career :...
, helping Zenit win six consecutive matches to get back into the title hunt. On 29 November 2009, Lombaerts scored the game-winning goal against rival Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
to put Zenit into the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League as third-place team in Russia.
On 5 July 2010, Lombaerts signed a four-year contract to remain with Zenit.
International career
He has made his debut in full internationals in May 2006 in a friendly against Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
, and played 3 matches in Euro 2008 qualifying.
International goals
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Club
Zenit St. Petersburg- Russian Premier LeagueRussian Premier LeagueThe Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
(2): 2007Russian Premier League 2007Russian Premier League 2007 was the 16th official season of Rosgosstrakh Russian Football Championship, and 6th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season started with the match between Luch-Energia and Moskva in Vladivostok on Saturday, 10 March 2007, at 18:00 local time...
, 2010 - Russian Cup (1): 20102009–10 Russian CupThe Russian Cup 2009–10 is the eighteenth season of the Russian football knockout tournament since the dissolution of Soviet Union. The competition started on April 20, 2009 and finished with the Final held on 16 May 2010.-First round:...
- Russian Super CupRussian Super CupThe Russian Super Cup is a one-match football annual competition. Its official sponsored name is TransTeleCom Russian Supercup . The two participating clubs are holders of the Russian Premier League champions title and the Russian Cup...
(2): 20082008 Russian Super CupThe 2008 Russian Super Cup was the 6th Russian Super Cup match, a football match which was contested between the Russian Premier League 2007 champion, Zenit St. Petersburg, and the winner of Russian Cup 2006-07, Lokomotiv Moscow. The match was held on 9 March 2008 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow,...
, 20112011 Russian Super CupThe 2011 Russian Football Super Cup was the 9th Russian Super Cup match, a football match which was contested between the 2010 Russian Premier League champion and 2009–10 Russian Cup champion, Zenit St. Petersburg, and the runner-up of 2010 Russian Premier League, CSKA Moscow... - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(1): 2007-08 - UEFA Super Cup (1): 20082008 UEFA Super CupThe 2008 UEFA Super Cup was the 33rd UEFA Super Cup, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. The 2008 competition was contested by Manchester United of England, who won the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, and Zenit St....