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Karim Ziani

{{Short description|Algerian footballer (born 1982)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Karim Ziani

| image = Karim Ziani 3.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ziani in 2007

| fullname = Karim Koceila Yanis Ziani{{cite web | title = List of Players | url = https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100616010702/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 16 June 2010 | publisher = FIFA | access-date = 13 July 2010}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|8|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sèvres, France

| height = 1.69 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1995–1998

| youthclubs1 = RC Paris

| youthyears2 = 1998–2001

| youthclubs2 = Troyes

| years1 = 2001–2005

| clubs1 = Troyes

| caps1 = 63

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2004–2005

| clubs2 = → Lorient (loan)

| caps2 = 24

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2005–2006

| clubs3 = Lorient

| caps3 = 37

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2006–2007

| clubs4 = Sochaux

| caps4 = 36

| goals4 = 8

| years5 = 2007–2009

| clubs5 = Marseille

| caps5 = 49

| goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2009–2011

| clubs6 = VfL Wolfsburg

| caps6 = 15

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2011

| clubs7 = → Kayserispor (loan)

| caps7 = 13

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2011–2013

| clubs8 = El Jaish

| caps8 = 41

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2013–2014

| clubs9 = Al-Arabi

| caps9 = 23

| goals9 = 3

| years10 = 2014–2015

| clubs10 = Ajman

| caps10 = 3

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2015

| clubs11 = Al-Fujairah SC

| caps11 = 11

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2016

| clubs12 = Petrolul Ploiești

| caps12 = 14

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2016–2019

| clubs13 = Orléans

| caps13 = 78

| goals13 = 9

| totalcaps = 407

| totalgoals = 34

| nationalyears1 = 2004

| nationalteam1 = Algeria U23

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2003–2011

| nationalteam2 = Algeria

| nationalcaps2 = 62

| nationalgoals2 = 5

}}

Karim Koceila Yanis Ziani ({{langx|ar|كريم زياني}}; born 17 August 1982) is a former professional footballer. He played in different midfield positions but was best known as a playmaker. Born in France, he represented Algeria at international level.

Ziani is considered a national hero by many Algerians as it was his cross that led to the goal that put Algeria into their first World Cup since 1986 at the expense of bitter rivals Egypt.{{Cite web|url=http://www.elwatan.com/sports/que-sont-devenus-les-heros-d-omdurman-09-11-2012-191636_110.php|title=Inscription - Connexion|website=www.elwatan.com|access-date=8 February 2018}} He played at the 2004 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the latter in which Algeria finished fourth and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Overall, he participated in 62 official matches for the Algerian national team and scored five goals.

Club career

Ziani began his football career in 1995 with the junior side of Racing Club de Paris at the age of 13.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=205717/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111022805/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=205717/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 November 2012|title = FIFA}}

=Troyes=

In 1998, Ziani was spotted by scouts from Troyes and was subsequently brought into their youth academy. Playing for the youth team there garnered a significant amount of keen admirers interested in him, including the likes of Lens and Nantes. In 2001, having spent three seasons playing with the youth team and because of the level of interest, the president of Troyes offered Ziani a five-year deal, which in turn was his first professional contract. With Ziani agreeing to a five-year deal, he was immediately promoted to the senior squad by Alain Perrin at the age of 17 and was assigned the number 17 shirt. He made his professional debut on 8 December 2001 against SC Bastia coming on as a substitute, replacing David Hamed in the 72nd minute. After making a few substitute appearances, he made his first start on 3 March 2002 in a 1–0 loss to Lille, playing the entire match, adding up to a total of eight in the 2001–02 season. He became a regular in the 2002–03 season as he participated in a total of 24 games. After subsequently spending two seasons playing for Troyes in Ligue 1, the club was relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of the 2002–03 season. Whilst in Ligue 2, during the 2003–04 season, Ziani played 28 games in total and scored his first professional goal against FC Rouen, in the 9th minute with the score ending 3–0. He spent the following season mostly on the bench for Troyes and with interest from other clubs being shown, Troyes had decided to part ways with Ziani. Turkish club Rivaspor had made a bid but could not negotiate a contract with Ziani, as Ziani had put in a condition which Rivaspor rejected. Ziani revealed the condition merely as having Madjid Bougherra have a trial with the club to display his qualities as they had both travelled to Turkey and Ziani would have liked a compatriot with him at the club as he was only 19 at the time. When Rivaspor rejected the condition, both Ziani and Bougherra left Turkey together.{{cite web |url=http://www.lebuteur.com/en/actualites/en-voila-ce-qui-sest-dit-entre-ziani-et-son-coach |title=EN : Voilà ce qui s'est dit entre Ziani et son coach :. Le Buteur |access-date=16 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119100916/http://www.lebuteur.com/en/actualites/en-voila-ce-qui-sest-dit-entre-ziani-et-son-coach |archive-date=19 January 2011}}

=Lorient=

In the summer of 2004, Ziani was loaned out to FC Lorient. In the next two seasons he would become Lorient's top player and would lead them to promotion to Ligue 1. He was voted as the top player in Ligue 2 for the 2005–06 season.

=Sochaux=

In the summer of 2006, Ziani signed a three-year deal with FC Sochaux and reunited with his first coach at Troyes Alain Perrin. While at Sochaux he played as they won the 2007 Coupe de France Final. The game finished 2–2 and went to penalties, and he scored his penalty in the shootout as his side emerged victorious.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6651643.stm |title=African quartet win French Cup |publisher=BBC |access-date=7 January 2020}}

=Marseille=

The following summer, Ziani saw increasing attention from other French clubs, namely Olympique de Marseille. This interest culminated on 29 June 2007, when news broke that Ziani had finalized his move to Marseille for a transfer fee of $11 million. Karim scored his first goal with Marseille in a match against Valenciennes. He became a familiar face in Eric Gerets' starting eleven.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6252966.stm|title=Algeria's Ziani joins Marseille|access-date=30 June 2007|publisher=BBC Sport | date=29 June 2007}}

=VfL Wolfsburg=

On 7 July 2009, it was announced that Ziani had signed a four-year contract with Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg.{{cite news |title=Wolfsburg sign Algeria's Ziani |url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/bundesliga/news/L7287058.php |access-date=2 October 2020 |work=Reuters |date=7 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709202455/http://football.uk.reuters.com/bundesliga/news/L7287058.php |archive-date=9 July 2009}}

During December 2010 and January 2011, a number of clubs showed interest in signing Ziani, these were Newcastle United, AS Monaco, FC Lorient, VfB Stuttgart,{{cite news |title=Ziani vers Newcastle ? |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-sport/2011/01/01/97003-20110101FILSPO00047-ziani-vers-newcastle.php |access-date=2 October 2020 |work=Le Figaro |date=1 January 2011 |language=fr}} Everton, and Birmingham City.{{cite news |title=Premier League Transfer Talk - January 6 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8245340/Premier-League-Transfer-Talk-Club-by-club-Football-Transfers-Football-Rumours-January-6.html |access-date=2 October 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=6 January 2011}} On 14 January 2011, it was reported that Ziani had moved to Turkish high-flyers Kayserispor on an initial six-month loan deal, with an option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-8178/transferts-ziani-officiellement-prete-a-kayserispor/|title=Transferts : Ziani officiellement prêté à Kayserispor|work=DZfoot.com|access-date=8 February 2018|language=fr-FR|archive-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117023227/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-8178/transferts-ziani-officiellement-prete-a-kayserispor/|url-status=dead}}

On 8 July 2011, Wolfsburg and Ziani reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.

=El Jaish=

On 20 July 2011, Ziani signed a three-year contract with Qatari club El Jaish.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9551/transferts-karim-ziani-officiellement-a-al-jaish-qat/ |title=Transferts : Karim Ziani officiellement à Al-Jaish (Qat.) |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723105855/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9551/transferts-karim-ziani-officiellement-a-al-jaish-qat/ |url-status=dead }} On 18 September 2009, Ziani made his Qatar Stars League debut for El Jaish as a starter in a league game against Al Khor.{{cite web | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/09/18/qatar/stars-league/al-jaish/al-khor-sc/1203356/ | title = El Jaish vs. Al Khor – 18 September 2011 – Soccerway | date=18 September 2012 | publisher=SoccerWay | access-date=16 April 2012 }} Although he failed to find the net in his first season, he finished the 2011–12 season as the top assistant with 13 assists.{{Cite news|url=http://koramania.com/main/players.asp?id=4|title=KoraMania.com|date=10 July 2012|work=archive.is|access-date=8 February 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710154946/http://koramania.com/main/players.asp?id=4|archive-date=10 July 2012}}

=Orléans=

Ziani spent three seasons at Ligue club US Orléans, scoring nine goals in 92 matches.{{cite web |last1=C. |first1=Ishak |title=Retraite : Ziani arrête et reste à Orléans |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/06/23/retraite-ziani-arrete-et-reste-a-orleans-155151.php |website=dzfoot.com |access-date=2 October 2020 |language=fr |date=23 June 2019}}

In summer 2019, Ziani ended his 18-year career at the age of 36.

International career

Ziani had stunned many people in 2003 in his choice to represent Algeria instead of France.{{cite web |url=http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=26894 |title=2010 African Cup of Nations - Karim Ziani Player Profile | MTNFootball.com |access-date=11 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809111237/http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=26894 |archive-date=9 August 2011}}

Ziani made his debut for the Algerian national team in 2003 when he was called up by Belgian caretaker Georges Leekens for a friendly against Belgium. He represented Algeria at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, as they finished second in their group before losing to Morocco in the quarter-finals. He was also named in that year's Team of the Tournament.

Ziani scored his first goal in a 1–0 win against the Gambia in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification phase. He then added two more goals to his tally in a 3–0 win against Liberia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as Algeria advanced to the final tournament in South Africa. He also performed well at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Style of play

Though diminutive in stature, Ziani more than makes up for his lack of physicality with his outstanding technique and never-say-die spirit.

Personal life

Ziani was born in Sèvres, France to an Algerian father from Béjaïa and a French mother. Ziani is married and has two children: a girl, Lina and a boy, Kaïs.{{Cite web|url=http://algeriafoot2.voila.net/karimziani2.html|title=Créer un site web gratuit - Pages perso Orange|website=algeriafoot2.voila.net|language=en|access-date=8 February 2018}} Ziani has a twin sister by the name of Karima who is married to fellow Algerian international Antar Yahia.{{Cite news|url=http://www.djazairess.com/fr/infosoir/110659|title=Antar Yahia a officialisé hier son mariage|work=Djazairess|access-date=8 February 2018}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{Soccerway|1350|accessdate=22 April 2018}}{{cite web |title=Karim Ziani » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/karim-ziani/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=2 October 2020}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="5"|Troyes

|2001–02

|rowspan="2"|Ligue 1

|8

020colspan="2"|–100
2002–03

|24

01010colspan="2"|–260
2003–04

|rowspan="2"|Ligue 2

|28

11010colspan="2"|–301
2004–05

|3

0colspan="2"|–30
colspan="2"|Total

!63

140200000691
Lorient (loan)

|2004–05

|Ligue 2

|24

1colspan="2"|–241
Lorient

|2005–06

|Ligue 2

|37

721colspan="2"|–398
Sochaux

|2006–07

|Ligue 1

|36

85031colspan="2"|–449
rowspan="3"|Marseille

|2007–08

|rowspan="2"|Ligue 1

|21

1202130colspan="2"|–282
2008–09

|28

390colspan="2"|–373
colspan="2"|Total

!49

4202112000655
rowspan="3"|VfL Wolfsburg

|2009–10

|rowspan="2"|Bundesliga

|10

020colspan="2"|–40colspan="2"|–160
2010–11

|5

020colspan="2"|–00colspan="2"|–70
colspan="2"|Total

!15

040004000230
Kayserispor (loan)

|2010–11

|Süper Lig

|13

000colspan="2"|–00colspan="2"|–130
rowspan="3"|El Jaish

|2011–12

|rowspan="2"|Qatar Stars League

|22

000colspan="2"|–00colspan="2"|–220
2012–13

|19

100colspan="2"|—70colspan="2"|–261
colspan="2"|Total

!41

100007000481
Al-Arabi

|2013–14

|Qatar Stars League

23321colspan="2"|—00colspan="2"|–254
Ajman

|2014–15

|UAE Pro-League

|3

0000000colspan="2"|–30
Al-Fujairah

|2014–15

|UAE Pro-League

|11

0000000colspan="2"|–110
Petrolul Ploiești

|2015–16

|Liga I

|14

0000000colspan="2"|–140
rowspan="4"|Orléans

|2016–17

|rowspan="3"|Ligue 2

|32

300100020353
2017–18

|24

5002100colspan="2"|–266
2018–19

|22

1212000colspan="2"|–262
colspan="2"|Total

!78

92151002087||11
colspan="3"|Career total

!407

341921442302046540

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/125.html |title=Karim Ziani |website=National-Football-Teams.com |access-date=2 October 2020}}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="9"|Algeria

|2003

30
2004110
200560
200631
200780
200882
200971
2010141
201120
colspan="2"|Total625

:Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ziani goal.[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/alg-ziani-intl.html Karim Ziani - International Appearances]

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Karim Ziani

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|17 October 2006Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria{{fb|GAM}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–02008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align="center"|2rowspan="2"|6 June 2008rowspan="2"|Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeriarowspan="2"|{{fb|LBR}}align="center"|2–0rowspan="2" align="center" |3–0rowspan="2"|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
align="center"|3align="center"|3–0
align="center"|411 October 2009Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria{{fb|RWA}}align="center"|3–1align="center"|3–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
align="center"|55 June 2010Playmobil-Stadion, Fürth, Germany{{fb|UAE}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–0Friendly

Honours

Sochaux

VfL Wolfsburg

El Jaish

Algeria

  • Africa Cup of Nations fourth place: 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2010a-det.html|title=African Nations Cup 2010 - Final Tournament Details}}

Individual

  • Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2004[http://www.lobservateur.bf/Oarticlearchive.php3?id_article=234 L’apport de la légion étrangère] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051628/http://www.lobservateur.bf/Oarticlearchive.php3?id_article=234 |date=27 September 2007 }}. L'Observateur Paalga – Jan 2004.
  • DZFoot d'Or: 2004, 2005, 2006[http://www.dzfoot.com/dzfootor.php?hot_id=2068 DZFoot d'Or 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061220154853/http://www.dzfoot.com/dzfootor.php?hot_id=2068 |date=20 December 2006 }}. DZfoot.com.
  • Ligue 2 Player of the Year: 2006 (FC Lorient)
  • Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2005–06 (FC Lorient)
  • Algerian Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070922130007/http://video.lequipe.fr/video/iLyROoaft3rj.html Video report of Karim Ziani (2006–07 season) on video.lequipe.fr] {{in lang|fr}}
  • {{LFP|ziani-karim}}
  • {{FIFA}}
  • {{NFT}}

{{Navboxes

|title=Awards

|bg=gold

|fg=navy

|list1=

{{2004 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}

{{2005–06 Ligue 2 UNFP Team of the Year}}

{{Algerian Footballer of the Year}}

{{Ligue 2 Player of the Year}}

}}

{{Navboxes

|title=Algeria squads

|bg=white

|fg=#006633

|bordercolor=#006633

|list1=

{{Algeria Squad 2004 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Algeria Squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}

{{Algeria Squad 2010 World Cup}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ziani, Karim}}

Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Sèvres

Category:Kabyle people

Category:French people of Kabyle descent

Category:French men's footballers

Category:Algerian men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Racing Club de France Football players

Category:ES Troyes AC players

Category:FC Lorient players

Category:FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players

Category:Olympique de Marseille players

Category:VfL Wolfsburg players

Category:Kayserispor footballers

Category:Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) players

Category:El Jaish SC players

Category:Fujairah FC players

Category:Ajman Club players

Category:FC Petrolul Ploiești players

Category:US Orléans players

Category:Ligue 1 players

Category:Ligue 2 players

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:Süper Lig players

Category:Qatar Stars League players

Category:Liga I players

Category:UAE Pro League players

Category:Algerian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Algerian expatriate sportspeople in Germany

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany

Category:Algerian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey

Category:Algerian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar

Category:Algerian expatriate sportspeople in Romania

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania

Category:Algeria men's youth international footballers

Category:Algeria men's under-23 international footballers

Category:Algeria men's international footballers

Category:2004 African Cup of Nations players

Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players

Category:Algerian twins

Category:French twins

Category:21st-century French sportsmen

Category:21st-century Algerian sportsmen