Ronald Zubar
Encyclopedia
Ronald Zubar is a French
footballer of Guadeloupe
an descent who plays as a defender
for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
Zubar's efforts at French club Caen
earned him a string of admirers and, ultimately, a move to Marseille in 2006. His time at Marseille ended sourly though, after individual errors saw fans turn against him and him relegated to the sidelines. He found an exit in Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he signed in 2009.
Guadeloupe
, one of France’s overseas regions, Zubar began his professional football career at Ligue 2
side Caen
and was part of their Youth Team, which were runners up in the 2001 Gambardella Cup
. He made his first team debut for Caen
against fellow Ligue 2
side Lorient
on the 8 March 2003, which ended in a goalless draw. Zubar sustained a run of games in the first team and helped his team win promotion to Ligue 1
in the 2003-04 season. He was part of the team that reached the French League Cup Final in 2005. However Caen
was relegated at the end of the season, finishing in 18th place in Ligue 1
. Zubar remained with the club for another season as he tried to help them back into Ligue 1
, but he was unsuccessful. Despite Caen’s failure to get promotion, he was named as the best defensive midfielder in Ligue 2’s Team of the Year. He made a total of 96 appearances for Caen
, scoring 2 goals.
, being linked with Premier League teams Arsenal
and Chelsea
and fellow Ligue 1
rivals Lyon and Bordeaux
, Zubar finally joined Marseille on 15 June 2006, signing a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. His first season with the team saw him narrowly miss out on two honours. Marseille finished runners up in Ligue 1
to fellow side Lyon, and lost the French Cup Final
. Zubar himself missed the decisive penalty in the shootout against Sochaux in the final, after a 2-2 draw. At the start of the 2007-08 season, Zubar was converted to defence, playing various games at centre back and right back, from his former defensive midfield role. This campaign was hard for Zubar as he found himself under pressure from fans after several costly mistakes in defence, in a season that only brought the club third place in Ligue 1
. He made a total of 98 appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals, before leaving the club in the summer of 2009.
on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £2.5m. After a long period of adjustment due to the language barrier and a newborn child in France, he finally made his Premier League debut on 17 October 2009 in a 1–1 draw at . He scored his first Premier League goal against West Ham United on 23 March 2010, helping Wolves to a 3–1 win at Upton Park
. On 15 January 2011, Zubar scored his second league goal for the club in the 86th minute against Manchester City in a 4-3 loss at the City of Manchester Stadium
. His season was ended two months early after he underwent back surgery.
.
He has represented his country of birth, Guadeloupe
, at full international level though. As they are not a FIFA
member, he is still eligible to play for France at senior level too.
, is also a professional footballer who currently plays for Bournemouth
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
footballer of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
an descent who plays as a defender
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
Zubar's efforts at French club Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
earned him a string of admirers and, ultimately, a move to Marseille in 2006. His time at Marseille ended sourly though, after individual errors saw fans turn against him and him relegated to the sidelines. He found an exit in Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he signed in 2009.
Caen
Born in Les AbymesLes Abymes
Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the west side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the metropolitan area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest urban area in Guadeloupe.Pointe-à-Pitre...
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, one of France’s overseas regions, Zubar began his professional football career at Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
and was part of their Youth Team, which were runners up in the 2001 Gambardella Cup
Coupe Gambardella
The Coupe Gambardella is a French football cup competition held between the under-19s of the French football clubs, organized by the French Football Federation ....
. He made his first team debut for Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
against fellow Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
on the 8 March 2003, which ended in a goalless draw. Zubar sustained a run of games in the first team and helped his team win promotion to Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
in the 2003-04 season. He was part of the team that reached the French League Cup Final in 2005. However Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
was relegated at the end of the season, finishing in 18th place in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. Zubar remained with the club for another season as he tried to help them back into Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, but he was unsuccessful. Despite Caen’s failure to get promotion, he was named as the best defensive midfielder in Ligue 2’s Team of the Year. He made a total of 96 appearances for Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
, scoring 2 goals.
Marseille
After speculation over his future at CaenSM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
, being linked with Premier League teams Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and fellow Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
rivals Lyon and Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, Zubar finally joined Marseille on 15 June 2006, signing a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. His first season with the team saw him narrowly miss out on two honours. Marseille finished runners up in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
to fellow side Lyon, and lost the French Cup Final
Coupe de France Final 2007
The Coupe de France Final 2007 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on May 12, 2007, that saw FC Sochaux-Montbéliard defeat Olympique de Marseille in a penalty shoot out. After normal time and extra-time could not separate the two sides, the match was to be decided on penalty...
. Zubar himself missed the decisive penalty in the shootout against Sochaux in the final, after a 2-2 draw. At the start of the 2007-08 season, Zubar was converted to defence, playing various games at centre back and right back, from his former defensive midfield role. This campaign was hard for Zubar as he found himself under pressure from fans after several costly mistakes in defence, in a season that only brought the club third place in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He made a total of 98 appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals, before leaving the club in the summer of 2009.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
On 4 July 2009, Zubar signed for Premier League club Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £2.5m. After a long period of adjustment due to the language barrier and a newborn child in France, he finally made his Premier League debut on 17 October 2009 in a 1–1 draw at . He scored his first Premier League goal against West Ham United on 23 March 2010, helping Wolves to a 3–1 win at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
. On 15 January 2011, Zubar scored his second league goal for the club in the 86th minute against Manchester City in a 4-3 loss at the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
. His season was ended two months early after he underwent back surgery.
International career
Zubar has represented France at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-21 level. He was part of the French under-17 side which reached the final of the 2002 European Under-17 Championships2002 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Group C:---------------------Group D:---------------------Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Third Place Playoff:-Final:-References:**...
.
He has represented his country of birth, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe national football team
The Guadeloupe regional football team represents the French overseas department and region of Guadeloupe in international football. The team is controlled by the Ligue Guadeloupéenne de Football , a local branch of French Football Federation ....
, at full international level though. As they are not a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
member, he is still eligible to play for France at senior level too.
Personal life
His younger brother, StéphaneStéphane Zubar
Stéphane Zubar is a French footballer who plays for Football League One club Bournemouth as a defender, having previously played for Caen, Pau, Brussels, Vaslui and Plymouth Argyle. He has been capped by Guadeloupe at international level....
, is also a professional footballer who currently plays for Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
.