Éamon Zayed
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Éamon Zayed | ||
| Date of birth | 4 October 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Persepolis | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002–2006 | Bray Wanderers | 106 | (54) |
| 2004 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan)[1] | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | → Aalesunds (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Drogheda United | 71 | (20) |
| 2009–2010 | Sporting Fingal | 54 | (21) |
| 2011 | Derry City | 36 | (22) |
| 2011– | Persepolis | 9 | (7) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003–2004 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 7 | (2) |
| 2010– | Libya | 4 | (0) |
| 2011 | League of Ireland XI | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Éamon Zayed (Arabic: أیمن زايد; born 4 October 1983) is an Irish-born, Libyan international footballer who plays for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League. He also writes a weekly column on League of Ireland website, extratime.ie.[2][3]
Contents |
[edit] Youth career
Zayed started his career with Broadford Rovers before moving to St. Joseph's Boys AFC, based in Sallynoggin, Dublin. While with the club, Zayed was selected at U-16 and U-17 levels for both the Leinster Schoolboys and Dublin teams, and was on the Leinster Schools team at U-17. In two years at Leicester City, he played for their youth (U-18), U-19 and Reserve sides. He then returned to Ireland after Leicester's relegation from the English Premiership in 2002.
[edit] Senior club career
[edit] Bray Wanderers
He joined Bray Wanderers and after impressing in the Under-21s, Zayed soon graduated to the senior team making his League of Ireland debut on the 18th of October 2002 at the Carlisle Grounds. He scored the fastest hat-trick ever by a Bray Wanderers player against Dundalk in 2003 within a nine-minute spell from the 7th to the 16th minute.
Zayed signed for Crewe Alexandra in February 2004 on loan, but returned to Bray in May without having made a first team appearance at Gresty Road.
Zayed was the PFAI Young Player of the Year for 2003.[4] He represented the Eircom League Under-21s in a four nations tournament in Scotland in May 2004 and earned his second U-21 international cap against Scotland in May 2004 in Galway.
[edit] Drogheda United
Zayed signed for Drogheda United in July 2006 on a two and a half year full time contract,[5] and scored on his debut on 7 July.[6] His first of 5 goals in the Europa League came in a 1-1 draw with IK Start in August 2006.[7] The following season he scored at A.C. Libertas.[8] His third Drogheda goal in European competition came against Helsingborgs IF.[9] He was a key part of the Drogheda team that won their first League of Ireland title in 2007 and finished as their top scorer.[10]
[edit] Sporting Fingal
In the midst of great financial uncertainty at Drogheda at the end of the 2008 season, Zayed was released from his contract. He went on trial at Incheon United in the K-League,[11] but eventually decided to remain in Ireland and moved to Sporting Fingal in January 2009.[12] He scored twice against his former club Bray in Fingal's 4-2 FAI Cup semi-final victory in October 2009. He also scored twice against C.S. Marítimo in July 2010 in Sporting Fingal's European debut.[13] He was released by Sporting Fingal at the end of the 2010 season. He was set to sign for Al Ahly in the Libyan Premier League, but the transfer was blocked following the introduction of a new rule preventing foreign-born Libyan internationals under the age of 30 from playing in the league.[14]
[edit] Derry City
He joined Derry City in January 2011 on a free transfer, signing a one year contract.[10][15] In his first season at Derry, Zayed finished as the league's top scorer with 23 goals (helping the club to European qualification), and also scored the winner in the Candystripes' League Cup final victory over Cork City. Zayed gained himself a place in the Premier Division team of the season, and went on to win the PFAI Players' Player of the Year award.[16]
[edit] Persepolis
On 23 December 2011, Zayed signed a 6-month contract with Iran Pro League side, Persepolis. He wears the number 12 shirt.
On 2 February 2012, he came on as a substitute in his second appearance, in the Tehran derby with Persepolis being reduced to 10 men and 2-0 behind. He scored in the 82nd minute to make it 2-1 with a beautiful right-footed curling shot. Two minutes later he headed home an angled cross to level the game. In the 92nd minute of the match Zayed left two defenders for dead in a counter-attack move and put Persepolis into a 3-2 lead in dramatic style to be the first non-Iranian player to net a hat-trick in the Tehran derby.[17] He is chosen World Player of the Week after Tehran derby by Goal.com.[18][19][20]
On 21 March 2012, Zayed scored a hat-trick against Al-Shabab in AFC Champions League. Eamon Zayed's hat-trick was the first hat-trick a Persepolis player had scored in the AFC Champions League.[21] Persepolis won the game 6-1.
[edit] International career
[edit] Republic of Ireland
Zayed was eligible to play international football for Ireland, Tunisia, as a result of his father, and Libya, as a result of his grandparents,[22] however he chose to begin his international career with Ireland. Zayed made his international debut for the Irish U-20s against South Korea in January 2003 in a pre-World Cup tournament and followed up with two goals against UAE two days later in a 3-2 win for Ireland. He made his U-21 debut for Ireland against Poland in a 5-1 away win in August 2003. Zayed played in all four of Ireland's games in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, held in United Arab Emirates, starting two and making two appearances as a substitute.[23] Following the tournament, he was contacted by both the Tunisian and Libyan FAs with a view to declaring for either, however, Zayed declined as he wanted to pursue his dream of representing Ireland at senior level.[24]
[edit] Libya
With no further caps at underage level for Ireland, and the chances of him receiving any senior caps looking slim, Zayed declared for Libya in October 2010. He received his first call up to the Libyan national team from Brazilian coach, Marcos Paquetá, for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia in the same month.[25] He made his debut a few weeks later in a friendly against Niger.[22] After impressing on his debut, Zayed was called up to Libya's 23-man training squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in November 2011.[26] He went on to play in the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Doha, Qatar,[27] gaining three caps against Sudan,[28] Palestine[29] and Jordan.[30]
[edit] Club career statistics
- Last Update: 23 May 2012
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Republic of Ireland | League | FAI Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2002–03 | Bray Wanderers | Premier Division | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| 2003 | 31 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 19 | ||
| 2004 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 17 | ||
| 2005 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 12 | ||
| England | League | FA Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2003–04 | Crewe Alexandra (loan) | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norway | League | Norwegian Football Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2005 | Aalesunds FK (loan) | Tippeligaen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Republic of Ireland | League | FAI Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2006 | Drogheda United | Premier Division | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| 2007 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 13 | ||
| 2008 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 7 | ||
| 2009 | Sporting Fingal | First Division | 13 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 13 |
| 2010 | Premier Division | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 11 | |
| 2011 | Derry City | 36 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 23 | |
| Iran | League | Hazfi Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
| 2011–12 | Persepolis | Pro League | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 12 |
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Norway | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Republic of Ireland | 224 | 101 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 247 | 108 | ||
| Iran | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 12 | ||
| Career total | 234 | 108 | 13 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 263 | 120 | ||
- Assist Goals
| Season | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Persepolis | 1 |
| 2012–13 | 0 |
[edit] Honours
[edit] Club
[edit] Individual
- PFAI Young Player of the Year: 1
- 2003
- PFAI Players' Player of the Year: 1
- 2011
[edit] References
- ^ Crewe swoop for Zayed Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Racism - still a problem? March 31, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Extratime.ie www.extratime.ie. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ Shels star Byrne wins top PFAI award www.rte.ie, 23 February 2004. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Drogheda land Bray striker Zayed www.rte.ie, 4 July 2006. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Drogheda United 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 1 Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Defiant Drogs exit on penalties Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Flying starts for Helsingborg and AIK Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Drogs battle back to claim UEFA draw Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ a b Former Drogheda striker Eamon Zayed joins Derry City Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Potential Earnings in Unfamiliar Places Eamon Zayed, March 10 2010. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
- ^ Combination reaps rewards Eamon Zayed, March 03 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Heads held high after Europa exit www.sportingfingal.ie. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ "My lucky escape from the chaos of Libya.". Daily Mail. 3 March 2011. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-14470899/My-lucky-escape-from-the.html. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ Zayed completes Derry City deal www.extratime.ie Retrieved 2011-24-01.
- ^ Derry striker Eamon Zayed wins PFAI award www.bbc.co.uk/sport Retrieved 2011-12-10.
- ^ http://wordpress.hotpress.com/robsmith/2012/02/05/eamon-zayed-roy-of-the-rovers-in-tehran/
- ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/2318/world-player-of-the-week/2012/02/06/2889499/world-player-of-the-week-eamon-zayed-persepolis
- ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/2318/world-player-of-the-week/2012/02/06/2890208/eamon-zayed-honoured-to-be-named-goalcoms-world-player-of
- ^ http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1822/home-page/2012/02/06/2889707/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%A9%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%DA%AF%D9%84-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B2%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3
- ^ http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=430&matchId=4555
- ^ a b "Zayed still willing to answer Libya's call". Independent.ie. 20 March 2011. http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/zayed-still-willing-to-answer-libyas-call-2586332.html. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ Eamon ZAYED Record at FIFA Tournaments Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Sport At 7: Eamon Zayed Retrieved 2011-10-11.
- ^ Libya call on Zayed www.extratime.ie. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
- ^ Zayed's Nations call www.independent.ie. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Football: Libyan national football team in Qatar for Arab Games www.afriquejet.com. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- ^ 2011 Arab Games – Football: Disappointing Defeat for Libya in Opener www.tripolipost.com. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- ^ Doha 2011 - Football: Libya Face Elimination After Another Disappointing Performance www.tripolipost.com. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
- ^ 2011 Arab Games - Football: Below Par Libya Eliminated After Scoreless Tie www.tripolipost.com. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
[edit] External links
- Éamon Zayed on Playerhistory.com
- Transfermarkt profile
- Éamon Zayed at National-Football-Teams.com
- Football Database
- Eamon Zayed at PersianLeague.com
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- Living people
- 1983 births
- Irish people of Libyan descent
- People from County Dublin
- Republic of Ireland association footballers
- Leicester City F.C. players
- Bray Wanderers A.F.C. players
- Drogheda United F.C. players
- Sporting Fingal F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- Republic of Ireland under-21 international footballers
- Derry City F.C. players
- Aalesunds FK players
- Norwegian Premier League players
- Persepolis F.C. players
- Libya international footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Iran
- Libyan people of Irish descent
- League of Ireland XI players