Abdellah Zoubir Explained

Abdellah Zoubir
Upright:0.7
Birth Date:5 December 1991
Birth Place:Lille, France
Height:1.80 m
Position:Attacking midfielder, winger
Currentclub:Qarabağ
Clubnumber:10
Years1:2011–2013
Clubs1:Grenoble
Caps1:14
Goals1:7
Years2:2013–2015
Clubs2:Istres
Caps2:34
Goals2:1
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Hibernian (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Petrolul Ploiești
Caps4:38
Goals4:5
Years5:2016–2018
Clubs5:Lens
Caps5:66
Goals5:6
Years6:2018–
Clubs6:Qarabağ
Caps6:158
Goals6:43
Club-Update:30 June 2024

Abdellah Zoubir (Arabic: عبدالله زوبير; born 5 December 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Azerbaijan Premier League club Qarabağ.

Zoubir started out his senior career at Grenoble, after which he went on to compete professionally in Scotland, Romania and Azerbaijan, respectively. In the latter country, he aided Qarabağ in winning four national titles and one national cup.

Career

Early career and Istres

Born in Lille of Moroccan descent, Zoubir started playing futsal in his native city at the age of 6. He represented France at youth level in that sport, sharing teams at one point with Wissam Ben Yedder.[1] In 2012, Zoubir signed for Istres in Ligue 2.[2] [3] He was loaned in January 2013 to lower league club Grenoble.

In August 2013, Zoubir joined Scottish side Hibernian on loan[3] after being recommended by former footballer Frédéric Arpinon.[4] He made his first start for his new team in a Scottish League Cup match against Stranraer on 24 September, also scoring the second goal in a 5–3 win.[5] However, after the departure of manager Pat Fenlon, he did not seem to enter the plans of new coach Terry Butcher, coming on mostly as a substitute.

An ankle injury kept Zoubir out for five months,[6] and he ended the season (which ended in relegation after 15 years) with 16 matches and one goal all competitions comprised.[7] He subsequently returned to Istres, now in the Championnat National.[8]

Petrolul Ploiești

On 24 June 2015, Zoubir joined Romanian side Petrolul Ploiești on a three-year contract.[9] He made his Liga I debut on 11 July, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw at defending champions FC Steaua București;[10] he adapted quickly, being voted Footballer of the Month for July by fans on the DoarPetrolul.ro forum.[11] He netted his first goal for the club on 9 November in a 1–1 home draw against Concordia Chiajna,[12] and his second came against CFR Cluj late in the same month (1–0, also at the Ilie Oană Stadium).[13]

During early December 2015, it was reported that Bucharest rivals Steaua and Dinamo were interested in acquiring Zoubir in the winter transfer window.[14] [15]

Qarabağ

On 26 June 2018, Zoubir signed a two-year contract with Qarabağ.[16] [17]

On 29 June 2024, Zoubir signed a new three-year contract with Qarabağ.[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grenoble2011–12Championnat de France amateur 2001010
2012–13Championnat de France Amateur14700147
Total14710157
Istres2012–13Ligue 2800080
2014–15Championnat National26110271
Total34110351
Hibernian (loan)2013–14Scottish Premiership1301021161
Petrolul Ploiești2015–16Liga I3852010415
Lens2016–17Ligue 23542000374
2017–183123110353
Total6665110727
Qarabağ2018–19Azerbaijan Premier League24740131418
2019–2019520142357
2020–212674092399
2021–22258411434312
2022–23328201625010
2023–24328531845515
Total15843214841426361
Career totals3236231541841444282

Honours

Qarabağ

2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23

2021–22

Notes and References

  1. News: Petrolul a adus căpitanul naționalei de futsal U21 a Franței. E "micul Zizou". Petrolul brought the captain of the U21 France futsal team. He's the "little Zizou". Sport News. Romanian. 23 June 2015. 11 July 2015.
  2. News: Hibs swoop to sign Istres winger Abdellah Zoubir. Edinburgh Evening News. David . Hardie. 30 August 2013. 24 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Hibernian secure Paul Heffernan and Abdellah Zoubir. BBC Sport. 30 August 2013. 24 September 2013.
  4. News: Hibbies must be patient with new man Abdellah Zoubir. Edinburgh Evening News. 5 September 2013. 6 June 2014.
  5. News: Abdellah Zoubir steals show from Hibs' hat-trick hero. Edinburgh Evening News. Colleen. Strachan. 25 September 2013. 7 October 2013.
  6. News: Abdellah Zoubir puts himself back in Hibs contention. Edinburgh Evening News. 19 March 2014. 6 June 2014.
  7. Web site: Squads . Hibernian F.C . 6 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140606200154/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/PlayerProfiles/0%2C%2C10290~67643%2C00.html . 6 June 2014 . dead .
  8. News: James McPake and Kevin Thomson exit Hibs. Edinburgh Evening News. 26 May 2014. 6 June 2014.
  9. News: Abdellah Zoubir a semnat un contract pe trei sezoane cu Petrolul Ploieşti. Abdellah Zoubir signed a three-year contract with Petrolul Ploiești. ProSport. Romanian. 24 June 2015. 1 July 2015.
  10. News: Start încurajator: 0–0 pe "Arena Națională" . Encouraging start: 0–0 at "National Arena" . Petrolul Ploiești . Romanian . 11 July 2015 . 12 July 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714232209/http://fcpetrolul.ro/start-incurajator-0-0-pe-arena-nationala/ . 14 July 2015 .
  11. News: Zoubir – Jucatorul lunii iulie. Zoubir – Player of the month July. Doar Petrolul. Romanian. 3 August 2015. 18 August 2015.
  12. News: Petrolul–Concordia 1–1. 13 November 2015. Digi Sport. 9 November 2015. Romanian.
  13. News: Petrolul–CFR Cluj 1–0. Romanian. DigiSport. 27 November 2015. 10 December 2015.
  14. News: Revenirea lui Reghe declanşează primul "război" pe piaţa transferurilor. Pe el "se bat" Steaua şi Dinamo. Reghe's return triggers the first "war" on the transfer market. He is the one Steaua and Dinamo "fight" for. DigiSport. Romanian. 8 December 2015. 10 December 2015.
  15. News: "Perla" Petrolului l-a impresionat şi pe Rednic: "Trebuie să încercăm să-l transferăm". Jucătorul pentru care se luptă Steaua şi Dinamo: e ieftin şi poate juca oriunde în atac. Petrolul's "jewel" also impressed Rednic: "We have to try to transfer him." The player Steaua and Dinamo fight for: he is cheap and can play in any attacking position. ProSport. Romanian. 8 December 2015. 10 December 2015.
  16. Web site: Abdullah Zubir rəsmən "Qarabağ"ımızda. qarabagh.com. Qarabağ FK. 26 June 2018. Azerbaijani. 26 June 2018.
  17. Web site: DÉPART D'ABDELLAH ZOUBIR. rclens.fr. RC Lens. 26 June 2018. French. 26 June 2018.
  18. Web site: Abdullah Zubir daha üç il komandamızda. qarabagh.com. Qarabağ FK. 30 June 2018. Azerbaijani. 28 June 2018.