Víctor Zapata
Encyclopedia
Víctor Eduardo Zapata is an Argentine
football midfielder
. He currently plays for Vélez Sársfield
in the Argentine Primera División. Originally a pacey left winger, Zapata has developed his game as a deep-lying playmaker since his arrival to Vélez in 2007.
. In 1999, he moved to River Plate
, where he won four league titles during his first spell with the club. During the 2003–04 season, he was loaned to Real Valladolid
in the Spanish La Liga
, but returned to River after Valladolid was relegated at the end of the season.
In 2007, Zapata joined Vélez Sársfield
in a free transfer, after River denied the possibility of extending his contract. He was a regular starter in the team's 2009 Clausura championship, playing 18 of the 19 games (and scoring one goal). He also played 13 games as a starter (1 goal) in Vélez' 2011 Clausura winning campaign, his second Argentine league title with the club and sixth in his career.
's coaching, Zapata played a friendly match with the Argentine national team
in 2005. The game was a 1–1 draw with Mexico
, in which Argentina had a squad formed exclusively by local league players.
Vélez Sársfield
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He currently plays for Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
in the Argentine Primera División. Originally a pacey left winger, Zapata has developed his game as a deep-lying playmaker since his arrival to Vélez in 2007.
Club career
Zapata started his career in 1998 with Argentinos JuniorsArgentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
. In 1999, he moved to River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, where he won four league titles during his first spell with the club. During the 2003–04 season, he was loaned to Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
in the Spanish La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, but returned to River after Valladolid was relegated at the end of the season.
In 2007, Zapata joined Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
in a free transfer, after River denied the possibility of extending his contract. He was a regular starter in the team's 2009 Clausura championship, playing 18 of the 19 games (and scoring one goal). He also played 13 games as a starter (1 goal) in Vélez' 2011 Clausura winning campaign, his second Argentine league title with the club and sixth in his career.
International career
Under José PekermanJosé Pekerman
José Néstor Pékerman is an Argentine football coach and an ex-football player. He become famous as a youth level coach for Argentina, winning the FIFA World Youth Championship three times, and the U-20 South American Youth Championship twice...
's coaching, Zapata played a friendly match with the Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in 2005. The game was a 1–1 draw with Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, in which Argentina had a squad formed exclusively by local league players.
Honours
River Plate- Argentine Primera División (4): 1999 Apertura, 2000 Clausura, 2002 Clausura, 2003 Clausura
Vélez Sársfield
- Argentine Primera División (2): 2009 Clausura, 2011 Clausura
External links
- Profile at Vélez Sársfield's official website
- Argentine Primera statistics at Fútbol XXI
- Career statistics at BDFA