Ron-Robert Zieler

Ron-Robert Zieler

Zieler with Germany in 2012
Personal information
Full name Ron-Robert Zieler[1]
Date of birth (1989-02-12) 12 February 1989
Place of birth Cologne, West Germany
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2][3]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Leicester City
Number 21
Youth career
1994–1999 SCB Viktoria Köln
1999–2005 1. FC Köln
2005–2008 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Manchester United 0 (0)
2008–2009 → Northampton Town (loan) 2 (0)
2010–2011 Hannover 96 II 15 (0)
2010–2016 Hannover 96 185 (0)
2016– Leicester City 4 (0)
National team‡
2004–2005 Germany U16 5 (0)
2005–2006 Germany U17 11 (0)
2007 Germany U18 1 (0)
2008 Germany U19 10 (0)
2009 Germany U20 5 (0)
2011– Germany 6 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:31, 7 November 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:03, 15 August 2015 (UTC)

Ron-Robert Zieler (born 12 February 1989) is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Leicester City and the German national team.

He began his professional career at Manchester United, where he did not play a competitive match, making his debut on loan at Northampton Town. In 2010 he moved to Hannover 96, where he made 221 professional appearances across six seasons; he did not miss a Bundesliga game in any of his five final seasons. Zieler joined Leicester City in 2016.

A former German youth international, Zieler won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2011, and was part of Germany's squads which reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2012 and won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Zieler was born in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. He began his football career with his hometown club SCB Viktoria Köln before joining 1. FC Köln in 2001. In July 2005, he moved to England as a trainee with Manchester United. By the time he moved to Manchester United, Zieler finished his education in Germany.[4]

Manchester United

In his first season with Manchester United, Zieler played 22 times for the Under-18 side, including four in the FA Youth Cup. He was also named as an unused substitute in 11 reserve matches, including the final of the Manchester Senior Cup, earning him a winners medal.[5] The following season, he shared Under-18 goalkeeping duties with Ben Amos, but also made his debut for the reserves on 15 March 2007, a 3–0 home defeat to Sheffield United.[6] Despite that inauspicious start, he made amends four days later by keeping a clean sheet in the 2–0 Manchester Senior Cup win over Oldham Athletic.[7]

The 2007–08 season marked Zieler's emergence as a full member of the reserve team, as he and Tom Heaton shared the majority of the goalkeeping duties, each making 11 appearances. In May 2008, Zieler won another Manchester Senior Cup winners medal, as he played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against Bolton Wanderers.[8] He then played in the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup at the end of July 2008, restricting Liverpool to just two goals as United won 3–2.[9]

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Zieler was given a first team squad number – 38 – for the first time.[10] He got his first taste of first team action on 23 September 2008, when he was named on the bench for United's 3–1 League Cup win over Middlesbrough.[11]

Northampton Town (loan)

On 28 November 2008, Zieler was sent on loan to Northampton Town until 31 December as cover for their one senior goalkeeper, Chris Dunn, as Frank Fielding's loan from Blackburn Rovers was coming to an end.[12] The loan was subsequently extended until 31 January 2009,[13] and then extended again on 2 February until 25 February.[14]

Zieler made his debut for Northampton Town on 21 February 2009, playing for the full 90 minutes of the Cobblers' 2–0 home defeat by Walsall.[15] He then played again three days later, in a 1–1 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion,[16] before returning to Manchester United on 26 February after his loan spell reached 93 days. The loan could not be extended as 93 days is the maximum loan spell allowed outside the transfer window.[17]

Back to Manchester United

Upon returning to Manchester United, Zieler recommenced his duties as reserve team goalkeeper, conceding just one goal in his first four games back. However, in a match against Newcastle United Reserves on 30 March 2009, he suffered a broken arm after colliding with a Newcastle striker in mid-air.[18] He returned to action in the 2009–10 pre-season, but struggled to regain his position in the reserve team; his appearances throughout the season were sporadic and he was most often named as an unused substitute.

Hannover

Zieler training at Hannover 96.

On 22 April 2010, following a trial period, Zieler signed a two-year contract with German side Hannover 96. The contract began on 1 July 2010 and also included the option for a one-year extension.[19][20] Upon joining the club, Zieler was given a number 20 shirt.

His consistent performances for Hannover 96 II earned him a promotion to the first team, appearing on the substitute bench against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 4 December 2010[21] and made his Bundesliga debut on 16 January 2011 away at Eintracht Frankfurt; he kept a clean sheet as his team won 3–0.[22] Since his debut, he was made the first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season, dropping Florian Fromlowitz to the bench. However, Zieler suffered a shoulder injury and was substituted as a result after playing 52 minutes, which saw Hannover 96 lose 4–0 against his former club, 1. FC Köln, on 11 March 2011.[23] After returning to training,[24] Zieler returned to the first team, in a 1–1 draw against Mainz on 9 April 2011.[25] Zieler went on to make fifteen appearances for the club in his first season.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, it was announced on 24 June 2011 that Zieler signed a contract extension, keeping him until June 2015.[26] It came after Zieler was linked with a move to Schalke 04 as a replacement for Manuel Neuer, who joined Bayern Munich.[27] He also switched to the number 1 shirt previously worn by Fromlowitz, who transferred to MSV Duisburg. The 2011–12 season saw Zieler make his first Europa League appearance in the Qualification Round against Sevilla, which saw them win 3–1 in the first leg.[28] In the return leg, Zieler conceded one goal, but helped the club draw 1–1 and helped them go through to the Group Stage.[29] Zieler remained the club’s first choice goalkeeper for the 2011–12 season, both in the league and in the cup competitions, playing 4410 minutes in all competitions.

In the 2012–13 season, Zieler started the season well when he saved two penalties in the second round of DFB-Pokal in the penalty shootout against Dynamo Dresden; Hannover won 5–4 after playing 120 minutes and went through to the next round.[30] In both encounters against Bayern Munich in the league, Zieler conceded eleven goals against the club, as Hannover lost 5–0[31] and 6–1 on 24 November 2012 and 20 April 2013 respectively.[32] Despite this, Zieler continued to remain the first choice goalkeeper for the 2012–13 season, both in the league and in the cup competitions, playing 4440 minutes in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Zieler was linked with a return move to England, with Liverpool keen on signing him, but was ruled out of a move, due to Hannover keen on continuing developing Zieler.[33] Zieler remained at the club throughout the season and started well when he kept a clean sheet in the opening game of the season, with a 2–0 win over Wolfsburg.[34] Zieler then made his 100th league appearance for the club on 21 December 2013 against Freiburg, but was booked in the 88th minute after fouling Admir Mehmedi, resulting in him being substituted and Hannover losing 2–1.[35] Despite this, Zieler continued to remain the first choice goalkeeper for the 2013–14 season, both in the league and in the cup competitions, playing 3240 minutes in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, the club was keen on extending Zieler’s contract, with his contract expected to expire at the end of the season.[36] However, the talks over a new contract for Zieler were set to start after the conclusion of the World Cup.[37] On 9 August 2014, Zieler signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2017.[38] Zieler made his 120th appearance, breaking Horst Podlasly’s record of 120 consecutive appearances, in a 4–3 loss against Hoffenheim on 29 November 2014.[39] After conceding fourteen goals in four games between 22 November 2014 and 13 December 2014, Zieler ended the drought when he finally kept a clean sheet on 16 December 2014, in a 2–0 win over Augsburg, ending a four match losing streak.[40] Zieler went on to remain the first choice goalkeeper for the 2014–15 season, both in the league and in the cup competitions, playing 3240 minutes in all competitions.

Zieler being on the interview by Neue Bult.

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, newly-appointed manager Michael Frontzeck expected Zieler to be the new captain following the departure of Lars Stindl.[41] Instead, Christian Schulz was appointed as the club’s captain.[42] Zieler captained his first match at Hannover 96 on 12 September 2015 against Borussia Dortmund, which saw Hannover 96 lose 4–2.[43] In a 2–1 win over Hamburg on 1 November 2015, Zieler broke the club’s record of 153 appearances; a record formerly held by Hans-Josef Hellingrath.[44] Zieler went to captain Hannover on ten more occasions in the 2015–16 season, but was unable to help the club avoid relegation. Despite the relegation, Zieler continued to remain the first choice goalkeeper for the 2015–16 season, both in the league and in the cup competitions, playing 3240 minutes in all competitions.

It was announced on 16 April 2016 that Zieler would leave the club following the club’s relegation, despite having a year to his contract left, citing his desire to continue playing top–flight football.[45] Zieler was linked with a move to Manchester City,[46] RB Leipzig and Köln.[47] With his 3.5 million Euro release revealed, Zieler's departure to Hannover appeared to be increasingly imminent.[48]

During his time at Hannover 96, Zieler was ever-present in each of Hannover's 34 league games over the next five seasons, which culminated in their relegation.[49]

Leicester City

On 3 June 2016, Zieler returned to England for the first time in six years, signing for champions Leicester City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[49][50] Upon joining the club, Zieler stated that the chance to join the English Champions and play in the Champions League too good of an opportunity to turn down.[51] and was allocated the number 21 shirt.[52]

Zieler made his Leicester debut on 27 August 2016, replacing the injured Kasper Schmeichel in the 57th minute of the club's 2-1 home win against Swansea City.[53]

International career

Zieler playing for the national team against Ukraine on 11 November 2011.

In 2008, Zieler kept goal for the German under-19 side that won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship and played with the U-20 at 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He was called up to the senior squad in August 2011, at first without making an appearance.[54]

On 11 November 2011, 22-year-old Zieler played in the senior side 3–3 draw against Ukraine and was the 50th debutant of the Joachim Löw-era.[55] He conceded all three goals within 17 minutes in the first half, without having saved a single shot until half time break, but observers found that all three goals were not his fault, and in the second half he showed a couple of brilliant saves to keep the score down. He is the first keeper since 1954 to concede as many as 3 goals (or more) in a debut match for Germany.[56]

On 28 May 2012, Zieler was named the third goalkeeper of the German squad for the 2012 European Championship, remaining as back-up as they reached the semi-finals.[57] On 15 August 2012, he started in net in a friendly match versus Argentina and was sent off, becoming the first German goalkeeper to earn a red card since the founding of the German national team. He was sent off after half an hour for conceding a penalty with a foul on José Sosa, but replacement Marc-André ter Stegen saved the penalty from Lionel Messi.[58]

On 2 June 2014, Zieler, once again, was named the third goalkeeper of the German squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, remaining as back-up as they reached the final and won it for the fourth time.[59] However, in the 2016 European Championship, Zieler was left out of the 23 man squad for Germany.[60]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 September 2016
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Other4 Total Ref.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2008–09 Premier League00000000—00 [61]
2009–10 0000000000 [61]
Total 00000000—00 —
Northampton Town (loan) 2008–09 League One 200000——20 [61]
Hannover II 2010–11 Regionalliga Nord 150——150 [62]
Hannover 2010–11 Bundesliga 15000150 [62]
2011–12 34020130490 [63]
2012–13 34030120490 [64]
2013–14 34020—360 [65]
2014–15 34020360 [66]
2015–16 34020360 [67]
Total 1850110—250—2210 —
Leicester City 2016–17 Premier League 200010000030 [61]
Career totals 204011010250002410 —

International

As of 15 August 2015[68]

Germany senior team
YearAppsGoals
201110
201210
201300
201420
201520
201600
Total60

Personal life

On New Year's Eve 2015, Zieler was at The Address Downtown Dubai when a fire broke out. Zieler, who was on the twelfth floor when the fire broke out, escaped unharmed and returned to Germany on an emergency passport.[69]

Honours

International

Germany
Germany U19

References

  1. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2014. p. 16. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010. Headline. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0.
  3. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (2009). The PFA Footballers Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 452. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  4. ↑ "Reds sign German starlet". Manchester Evening News. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Bartram, Steve (25 April 2006). "Reserves: Reds win Senior Cup". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. p. 3. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  6. ↑ Bartram, Steve (15 March 2007). "Reserves: United 0 Sheff U 3". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  7. ↑ Bostock, Adam (19 March 2007). "Reserves: United 2 Oldham 0". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  8. ↑ Bartram, Steve (12 May 2008). "Reserves win Senior Cup". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  9. ↑ Bartram, Steve (30 July 2008). "Reds snare Lancashire Cup". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  10. ↑ Hibbs, Ben (15 August 2008). "Reds squad numbers registered". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  11. ↑ "Man Utd 3–1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  12. ↑ "Cobblers sign Man Utd goalkeeper". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  13. ↑ "Cobblers extend Zieler loan". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  14. ↑ "Zieler earns Cobblers stay". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  15. ↑ "Northampton 0–2 Walsall". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  16. ↑ "Brighton 1–1 Northampton". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  17. ↑ "Stuart Gray: Cheltenham clash a 'must-win' game". Northampton Chronicle. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  18. ↑ Coppack, Nick (31 March 2009). "Zieler suffers break". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  19. ↑ "Von Manchester nach Hannover: Zieler im 96-Team" (in German). Bild.de. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "ManU-Keeper Zieler trainiert in Hannover" (in German). Bild.de. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Ya Konan ist "unverkäuflich" - Miller kann aufatmen" (in German). Kicker.de. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Slomka siegt mit ManU-Torwart" (in German). Bild.de. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Petit packt den Hammer aus" (in French). Kicker.de. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "Zieler und Ya Konan im 96-Training" (in German). Bild.de. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Pinto bereitet vor und vollendet" (in German). Kicker.de. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Vertrag bis 2015: Zieler reizt die Perspektive" (in German). Kicker.de. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "OFFIZIELL! Schalke fragt wegen Zieler an...und blitzt bei Schmadtke ab" (in German). Bild.de. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Schlaudraff schürt die Hoffnungen auf Europa" (in German). Kicker.de. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Abdellaoue veredelt Rauschs Antritt" (in German). Kicker.de. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  30. ↑ "Elfer-Killer Zieler hievt Hannover ins Achtelfinale" (in German). Kicker.de. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "Spielfreudiger FCB demontiert müde 96er" (in German). Kicker.de. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  32. ↑ "Gomez & Pizarro machen das halbe Dutzend voll" (in German). Kicker.de. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  33. ↑ "KIND, DUFNER UND SLOMKA WEHREN LIVERPOOL AB Zieler ist unverkäuflich!" (in German). Bild.de. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "Doppelter Tunnel, doppelter Platzverweis" (in German). Kicker.de. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Mehmedi spielt den Weihnachtsmann" (in German). Kicker.de. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  36. ↑ "Zielers Sechs-Millionen-Klausel" (in German). Kicker.de. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  37. ↑ "ZIELER Neuer Vertrag erst nach der WM" (in German). Bild.de. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  38. ↑ "Weltmeister Zieler verlängert bis 2017 in Hannover" (in German). Goal.com. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  39. ↑ "Rekordmann Zieler überholt Podlasly" (in German). Kicker.de. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  40. ↑ "Zielers siebte "weiße Weste"" (in German). Kicker.de. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  41. ↑ "Klubboss Kind favorisiert Zieler als Kapitän". Kicker.delanguage=German. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  42. ↑ "96-Kollegen wählen Schulz zum neuen Kapitän" (in German). Kicker.de. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  43. ↑ "HANNOVER VERLIERT 2:4 GEGEN DORTMUND Diese PLEITE macht HOFFNUNG" (in German). Bild.de. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  44. ↑ "153 EINSÄTZE IN FOLGE: ZIELER IST HANNOVERS DAUERBRENNER" (in German). DFB Official Website. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  45. ↑ "Zieler announces intention to leave Hannover at season's end". Bundesliga Official Website. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  46. ↑ "FÜR 3 MIO EURO Zieler mit Pep zu ManCity?" (in German). Bild.de. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  47. ↑ "Wie rettet Zieler seine Serie?" (in German). Kicker.de. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  48. ↑ ""Bild": Zieler-Ausstiegsklausel verfällt" (in German). Bild.de. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  49. 1 2 "Leicester City sign Ron-Robert Zieler from Hannover 96". Sky Sports. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  50. ↑ "World Cup Winner Zieler Signs For Leicester City". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  51. ↑ "'I wanted to join the English champions' - Zieler excited by Leicester glory". Goal.com. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  52. ↑ "Squad Numbers For 2016/17 Confirmed". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  53. ↑ "Leicester City 2-1 Swansea City". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016.
  54. ↑ "Köpke: "Mit Zieler gegen Österreich und Polen"" [Köpke: "With Zieler against Austria and Poland"]. dfb.de (in German). German Football Association. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  55. ↑ "Germany to give keeper Zieler debut against Ukraine" [:Zieler to play against Ukraine]. Yahoo sports. Yahoo. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  56. ↑ "Zieler war die ärmste Sau" [:Zieler the pitifullest player] (in German). bild.de. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  57. ↑ "Euro 2012: Striker Cacau left out of Germany squad". BBC Sport. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  58. ↑ Sinanan, Keeghann (15 August 2012). "Germany 1-3 Argentina: Messi on target as 10-man hosts collapse". Goal.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  59. ↑ "Löw streicht Schmelzer, Volland und Mustafi" (in German). Kicker.de. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  60. ↑ "EM-AUS FÜR DEN TORWART-WELTMEISTER Zieler steigt auch bei Löw ab" (in German). Bild.de. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  61. 1 2 3 4 "1. Ron-Robert Zieler". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  62. 1 2 "Ron-Robert Zieler » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  63. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  64. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  65. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  66. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  67. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  68. ↑ "Ron-Robert Zieler". European Football. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  69. ↑ "ZIELER »Ich war im Dubai-Hotel, als das Feuer ausbrach" (in German). Bild.de. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
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