Roman Zozulya
{{short description|Ukrainian footballer}}
{{for|the gymnast|Roman Zozulya (gymnast)}}
{{family name hatnote|Vyacheslavovych|Zozulya|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Roman Zozulya
| image = Roman Zozulya2016.jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Zozulya with Dnipro in 2016
| full_name = Roman Vyacheslavovych Zozulya
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|11|17}}
| birth_place = Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv, Ukraine)
| height = 1.76 m
| position = Striker
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2002–2006 | youthclubs1 = Dynamo Kyiv
| years1 = 2006–2011 | clubs1 = Dynamo Kyiv | caps1 = 35 | goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2006 | clubs2 = → Dynamo-3 Kyiv | caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2006–2008 | clubs3 = → Dynamo-2 Kyiv | caps3 = 59 | goals3 = 10
| years4 = 2011–2016 | clubs4 = Dnipro | caps4 = 85 | goals4 = 22
| years5 = 2016–2017 | clubs5 = Betis | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017 | clubs6 = → Rayo Vallecano (loan) | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2017–2021 | clubs7 = Albacete | caps7 = 142 | goals7 = 26
| years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Fuenlabrada | caps8 = 35 | goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2022–2023 | clubs9 = Rayo Majadahonda | caps9 = 18 | goals9 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2005–2006 | nationalteam1 = Ukraine U17 | nationalcaps1 = 14 | nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008 | nationalteam2 = Ukraine U19 | nationalcaps2 = 15 | nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2011 | nationalteam3 = Ukraine U21 | nationalcaps3 = 22 | nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2010–2016 | nationalteam4 = Ukraine | nationalcaps4 = 33 | nationalgoals4 = 4
| club-update = 18:03, 18 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Roman Vyacheslavovych Zozulya ({{langx|uk|Роман В'ячеславович Зозуля}}, born 17 November 1989) is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
He played in the Ukrainian Premier League for Dynamo Kyiv and Dnipro. In 2016 he moved to Spain, playing six La Liga games for Real Betis before featuring in 175 Segunda División games for Albacete and Fuenlabrada, scoring 19 goals.
Zozulya made his international debut for Ukraine in 2010, and made 33 appearances and scored 4 international goals over the next six years. He was part of their squad at UEFA Euro 2016.
Club career
=Dynamo Kyiv=
Born in Kyiv, Zozulya was a product of the Dynamo youth system progressing through Dynamo-3 and Dynamo-2. In 2008, after the 2007–08 season he was promoted to the main team
=Dnipro=
On 27 February 2014, in a Europa League match against Tottenham Hotspur, Zozulya was sent off after he directed a head-butt towards Jan Vertonghen.{{cite web|title=Europa League: Roman Zozulya gets straight red for head butting Tottenham player, chaos ensues (GIF)|url=http://fansided.com/2014/02/27/europa-league-roman-zozulya-gets-straight-red-for-head-butting-tottenham-player-chaos-ensues-gif/#!brgAff |author=Mike Dyce |work=fanside.com |date=27 February 2014 |access-date=30 July 2014}} Zozulya was sent off and had to be restrained from attacking Vertonghen, who was accused of faking the degree of contact.{{cite web|title=Jan Vertonghen Defends Himself Over Accusations of Simulation for Roman Zozulya Red Card|url=http://www.insidefutbol.com/2014/03/01/jan-vertonghen-defends-himself-over-accusations-of-simulation-for-roman-zozulya-red-card/130012/ |work=insidefutbol.com |date=1 March 2014|access-date=30 July 2014}} Tottenham went on to win the game 3–1, knocking Dnipro out.{{cite web|title=UEFA Europa League: Tottenham 3 Dnipro 1 |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/uefa-europa-league-tottenham-3-dnipro-1-3-2-agg |work=FourFourTwo |date=27 February 2014|access-date=30 July 2014}}
Zozulya was a member of the Dnipro team that reached the final of the Europa League in the following season. On 12 March 2015, he scored the only goal of a home win over AFC Ajax in the first leg of the round of 16.{{cite news |title=Zozulya strikes as Dnipro overcome Ajax |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0253-0d804a139bae-a75529cc7d6c-1000--zozulya-strikes-as-dnipro-overcome-ajax/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |date=12 March 2015}} He missed the final defeat to Sevilla FC in Warsaw due to injury.{{cite news |title=UEFA Europa League Final Starting XI: Dnipro V Sevilla |url=https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/international/europa-league/uefa-europa-league-final-starting-xi-dnipro-v-sevilla-20150527 |access-date=30 March 2025 |publisher=SNL 24 |date=27 May 2015}}
=Betis=
On 27 July 2016, Zozulya signed a three-year contract with La Liga side Real Betis.{{cite web|url=http://realbetisbalompie.es/en/noticias/last-news/7258/roman-zozulya-nuevo-jugador-del-real-betis|title=Real Betis signs Roman Zozulya|publisher=Real Betis|date=27 July 2016|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211184345/http://realbetisbalompie.es/en/noticias/last-news/7258/roman-zozulya-nuevo-jugador-del-real-betis|url-status=dead}} He made his debut on 11 September in a 3–2 win at Valencia CF, as an 80th-minute substitute for Álex Alegría.{{cite news |last1=Castelló |first1=Jordi |title=Final de traca en Mestalla |url=https://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2016_17/la-liga/jornada_3/val_bet/ |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Marca |date=11 September 2016 |language=Spanish}} He played six games, starting once on 22 January in a goalless draw at home to Sporting Gijón.{{cite news |last1=Morán |first1=M. Á. |last2=Cejas |first2=A. |title=Zozulya vuelve a sentirse futbolista |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/betis/2017/07/23/5974671346163f7b158b4632.html |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Marca |date=2 July 2017 |language=Spanish}}
=Rayo Vallecano=
On 31 January 2017, Zozulya joined Rayo Vallecano on loan until the end of the season. His arrival was met with protests from the club's fans, unhappy over his purported far-right links after a picture of him wearing a shirt with the Tryzub and lyrics of poet Taras Shevchenko was featuring the logo of the Right Sector. Zozulya vehemently denied any such links in an open letter to Rayo's fans, declaring that he has only assisted the legitimate Ukrainian army during the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.{{cite web|url=http://en.as.com/en/2017/02/01/football/1485905615_681997.html|title=Zozulya: Rayo sign forward following ideology controversy|publisher=AS English|date=1 February 2017|access-date=1 February 2017}}[https://www.unian.info/society/1755206-ukrainians-cry-foul-over-accusations-of-neo-nazi-links-against-striker-zozulia.html Ukrainians cry foul over accusations of neo-Nazi links against striker Zozulia], UNIAN (1 February 2017) On 1 February 2017, Zozulya had his contract cancelled due to the reactions of Rayo fans and returned to Betis.[https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38834539 Roman Zozulya: Player's Rayo Vallecano loan spell ends as fans call him Nazi], BBC News (1 February 2017) This meant that he could not play anymore in the 2016–17 season because the Royal Spanish Football Federation rules say players cannot register for more than two teams in one campaign.
=Albacete=
On 8 September 2017, free agent Zozulya signed a one-year contract with Albacete Balompié.{{cite web|url=http://www.albacetebalompie.es/roman-zozulya-nuevo-jugador-del-alba/|title=Roman Zozulya, nuevo jugador del Alba|trans-title=Roman Zozulya, new player of Alba|publisher=Albacete Balompié|language=es|date=8 September 2017|access-date=13 September 2017}} On 25 March 2019, Zozulya endured more harassment during an Albacete away game against Lugo, when the fans of the latter club sang chants aimed at Zozulya, explicitly wishing him death for supposedly supporting the Nazi political movement.[https://football24.ua/zozulya_dopomig_albasete_rozgromiti_lugo__fanati_shokuvali_pisnyami_z_pobazhannyam_smerti_ukrayintsyu_n525672/ Zozulya helped Albacete to sack Lugo, fans of which shocked by songs which death to the Ukrainian (Зозуля допоміг Альбасете розгромити Луго – фанати шокували піснями з побажанням смерті українцю)]. Football24.ua. 23 March 2019 As a result of the incident, the fans of Albacete requested that La Liga seriously punish Lugo. Zozulya received the best player award for the month of October 2019, based on the fans' votes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.albacetebalompie.es/noticia/zozulia-jugador-cinco-estrellas-de-octubre|title=Zozulia, Jugador Cinco Estrellas de octubre {{!}} Albacete Balompié|website=Zozulia, Jugador Cinco Estrellas de octubre {{!}} Albacete Balompié|language=es|access-date=1 December 2019}} On 15 December 2019, the league game between Rayo Vallecano and Albacete was abandoned by the referee, after abuse and threats from the home fans over Zozulya's alleged far-right-wing political views.{{cite web|url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/12/15/football/1576442546_578397.html|title=Rayo-Albacete game suspended after nazi insults to Zozulia|publisher=AS.com|date=15 December 2019}} The second half of the game was scheduled to be played the following June, following the resumption of football after the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite news |title=Spanish football to resume a day early with second half of abandoned match |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52904367 |access-date=3 June 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2020}}
=Later career=
On 31 July 2021, after Alba{{'}}s relegation, Zozulya signed a two-year contract with fellow second division side CF Fuenlabrada.{{cite web|url=https://www.cffuenlabrada.es/noticia/el-cf-fuenlabrada-ficha-a-roman-zozulya|title=El CF Fuenlabrada ficha a Roman Zozulya|trans-title=CF Fuenlabrada sign Roman Zozulya|publisher=CF Fuenlabrada|language=es|date=31 July 2021|accessdate=9 August 2021}}
On 8 December 2022, Zozulya signed for Primera Federación club Rayo Majadahonda on a deal until the end of the 2022–23 season. {{cite web|url=https://www.rayomajadahonda.com/post/roman-zozulya-nuevo-ariete-del-cf-rayo-majadahonda|title=Roman Zozulya, nuevo ariete del CF Rayo Majadahonda|trans-title=Roman Zozulya, new striker for CF Rayo Majadahonda|language=Spanish|website=www.rayomajadahonda.com|date=8 December 2022|accessdate=9 December 2022}} On 21 January, away to Deportivo de La Coruña, the home fans chanting allegations of Nazism towards Zozulya; the referee suspended the game using protocols for racist chanting, and messages were displayed through the loudspeakers and scoreboards for the chants not to be repeated.{{cite news |title=Paran el partido Dépor-Rayo Majadahonda por cánticos contra Zozulia|trans-title=Dépor-Rayo Majadahonda match stopped due to chants against Zozulya |url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/01/21/paran-el-partido-depor-rayo-majadahonda-por-canticos-contra-zozulia-cadena-ser/ |access-date=18 March 2025 |publisher=Cadena SER |date=21 January 2023 |language=Spanish}} He played 18 times for the team from the Community of Madrid, scoring once as an added-time winner in a 2–1 victory away to Real Madrid Castilla, who had led until the 88th minute.{{cite news |last1=Forjanes |first1=Carlos |title=Zozulia tumba al Castilla en el 94′|trans-title=Zozulya sinks Castilla in the 94th minute |url=https://as.com/futbol/primera/zozulia-tumba-al-castilla-en-el-94-n/ |access-date=18 March 2025 |work=Diario AS |date=5 March 2023 |language=Spanish}}
International career
Zozulya debuted for Ukraine on 2 June 2010 against Norway at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. He scored a goal after Yevhen Konoplyanka fired a long shot at Jon Knudsen, who fumbled with the ball and let Zozulya kick the ball into the net. He was substituted in the 81st minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.ffu.org.ua/ukr/teams/teams_main/5776/|title=Бог любить трійцю|trans-title=God loves Trinity|language=uk|website=ffu.org|publisher=Football Federation of Ukraine|date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101949/http://www.ffu.org.ua/ukr/teams/teams_main/5776/|archive-date=4 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1223357.html#zozulia+nets+winner+ukraine+debut|title=Zozulia nets winner on Ukraine debut|website=FIFA.com|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621135526/http://www.fifa.com:80/worldfootball/news/newsid=1223357.html|archive-date=21 June 2010}} He was member of the Ukrainian 23-man squad for Euro 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/index.html|title=UEFA Euro 2016 - Teams - Ukraine|website=UEFA|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601104138/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/teams/team=57166/index.html|archive-date=1 June 2016}}
Outside of football
=Civil involvement=
File:Dnipro Dnipro Training Base 5.jpg
Zozulya is the founder of the Narodna Armiya (People's Army) organisation which is a part of the civil volunteer movement helping Ukrainian forces in the war in Donbas. In particular Zozulya's organisation is providing food, clothing and technical equipment to Ukrainian Army and helps families of the military.{{cite web|url=http://fakty.ua/199217-roman-zozulya-prezentoval-fond-narodnaya-armiya-kotoryj-budet-pomogat-nashim-voinam|script-title=ru:Роман Зозуля презентовал фонд "Народная армия", который будет помогать нашим воинам|language=ru|publisher=fakty.ua|author=Юрий Сай|date=29 April 2015|access-date=25 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://dneprpost.com.ua/index.php?newsid=4762|script-title=ru:Роман Зозуля совместно с волонтерами Днепропетровска основали фонд "Народная Армия"|language=ru|publisher=dneprpost.com.ua|date=28 April 2015|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925234404/http://dneprpost.com.ua/index.php?newsid=4762|url-status=dead}} In 2016, he received a special commendation from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for his support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Together with Ruslan Rotan Zozulya is also the co-founder and sponsor of the Rotan and Zozulya Academy of Football in Dnipro.
=Personal life=
His sister Olena is married with another Ukrainian football player Kyrylo Kovalets.{{cite web|publisher=ua-football.com|script-title=uk:Кирило Ковалець: Коли знайшов майбутню дружину ВКонтакте, не знав, що вона сестра Романа Зозулі|url=https://www.ua-football.com/ua/lifestyle/ls-news/1614891487-kirilo-kovalec-koli-znayshov-maybutnyu-druzhinu-vkontakte-ne-znav-scho-vona-sestra-romana-zozuli.html|language=uk|date=5 April 2021}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|26 February 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Super Cup !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Dynamo Kyiv
|rowspan="4"|Ukrainian Premier League |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008–09
|11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2009–10
|11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2010–11
|12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!35 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 6 | |
| rowspan="6"|Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
|rowspan="5"|Ukrainian Premier League |15 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | |
| 2012–13
|23 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 11 | |
| 2013–14
|24 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 11 | |
| 2014–15
|13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2015–16
|10 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!85 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 33 | |
| Betis
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan="5"|Albacete
|rowspan="4"|Segunda División |30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 9 | |
| 2018–19
|37 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 11 | |
| 2019–20
|38 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2020–21
|24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!135 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 26 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!255 | 51 | 18 | 5 | 39 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 313 | 65 |
=International=
{{updated|14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Zozulya, Roman |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/38584/Roman_Zozulya.html |publisher=National Football Teams |access-date=3 June 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Ukraine
|2010 | |1 | 1 | |
| 2011 | |0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | |4 | 0 | |
| 2013 | |9 | 2 | |
| 2014 | |7 | 0 | |
| 2015 | |1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | |11 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 33 | 4 |
:Scores and results list Ukraine's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zozulya goal.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 2 June 2010 | Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway | {{fb|NOR}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 22 March 2013 | National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland | {{fb|POL}} | style="text-align:center"|3–1 | style="text-align:center"|3–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | 15 November 2013 | Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine | {{fb|FRA|1974}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|4 | 29 May 2016 | Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Turin, Italy | {{fb|ROU}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | style="text-align:center"|4–3 | Friendly |
Honors
=Orders=
File:Відзнака Президента України «За гуманітарну участь в антитерористичній операції» (грамота).jpeg
- {{Flag|Ukraine}}: Decoration of the President of Ukraine for Humanitarian Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation{{cite web|url=https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/zhizn/eto-moya-zasluga-ukrainskiy-futbolist-udostoilsya-1509001180.html|title="Це не моя заслуга": український футболіст удостоївся високої нагороди за допомогу бійцям АТО|website=styler.rbc|publisher=Styler|date=26 October 2017|access-date=15 April 2021}}
- {{Flag|Ukraine}}: Honorary badge of the Chief of General Staff for Services to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{BDFutbol|20220}}
- {{FFU}}
- {{Soccerway|roman-zozulya/66074}}
- {{Footballfacts.ru}}
{{Ukrainian Premier League youth championship top scorers}}
{{Ukraine squad UEFA Euro 2016}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zozulya, Roman}}
Category:Footballers from Kyiv
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:FC Dynamo Kyiv players
Category:Ukraine men's international footballers
Category:Ukraine men's youth international footballers
Category:Ukraine men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Ukrainian men's footballers
Category:Ukrainian Premier League players
Category:Ukrainian First League players
Category:Ukrainian Second League players
Category:FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv players
Category:FC Dynamo-3 Kyiv players
Category:UEFA Euro 2016 players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Rayo Vallecano players
Category:Albacete Balompié players
Category:CF Fuenlabrada footballers
Category:CF Rayo Majadahonda players
Category:Ukrainian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Ukrainian expatriate sportspeople in Spain