Alberto Zapater

Alberto Zapater

Zapater playing for Lokomotiv Moscow in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Alberto Zapater Arjol
Date of birth	13 June 1985 (1985-06-13)
Place of birth	Ejea de los Caballeros, Spain
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Lokomotiv Moscow
Number	4
Youth career
2000–2004	Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2009	Zaragoza	177	(5)
2009–2010	Genoa	28	(3)
2010–2011	Sporting CP	22	(2)
2011–	Lokomotiv Moscow	10	(1)
National team
2005	Spain U20	5	(1)
2004–2006	Spain U21	14	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:51, 27 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Zapater and the second or maternal family name is Arjol.

Alberto Zapater Arjol (born 13 June 1985) is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, mainly as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Zapater was born in Ejea de los Caballeros, Province of Zaragoza, Aragon. In 2004, he was first touted as a promising young player, after completing a successful season in the youth leagues with hometown Real Zaragoza. He scored fourteen goals and was noted for being a strong midfielder, with great passing ability.

Then team manager, former Spanish international Víctor Muñoz, was impressed enough, allowing Zapater to join the first team in pre-season training. He was given his first-team debut on Zaragoza's first game of 2004–05, against Valencia CF in the Spanish Super Cup. Although Zaragoza ended up losing 1–0, Zapater put up a solid performance, confirmed in the 3–1 second leg away win.

At just 19, Zapater went on to feature in 31 league matches during the league campaign, netting in a 2 March 2005 defeat at Real Sociedad, where he was sent off. In the 2005–06 season, he helped the club finish as runners-up in the Spanish Cup, losing the final to RCD Espanyol, while also only missing three league matches. During the season, his strong tackling and the amount of fouls he committed earned him the nickname of 'The Bull', given by Diego Maradona.

In the following two seasons, Zapater remained an undisputed starter, only missing four games combined, while experiencing UEFA Cup qualification honours (in 2006–07) and relegation in the following year.

In July 2009, after being instrumental in the Aragonese's return to the top division, and already immerse in pre-season with the club, Zapater left for Genoa C.F.C. for around €4.5 million. On 17 September, he had the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in the UEFA Europa League proper, with a fourth-minute strike against Slavia Prague. He started throughout most of his debut season, as Genoa finished in mid-table.

On 30 July 2010, Zapater was sold to Sporting Clube de Portugal, as Miguel Veloso moved in the opposite direction. Used intermittently in his only season, he did appear in 34 official games for the Lions, scoring four times.

On 3 August 2011, Zapater moved to Russian Premier League club FC Lokomotiv Moscow on a free transfer, signing a five-year contract.

International career

Zapater took part in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, in a side that also featured future senior international Cesc Fàbregas. He scored his first and the only goal in a 3–1 defeat to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

After that, he immediately established himself as an under-21 regular.

Club statistics

As of 16 February 2012

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Zaragoza	2004–05	31	1	1	1	-	-	8	0	2	0	42	2
	2005–06	35	0	9	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	44	0
	2006–07	36	0	3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	39	0
	2007–08	36	2	4	0	-	-	2	0	-	-	42	2
	2008–09	39	2	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	40	2
	Total	177	5	18	1	0	0	10	0	2	0	207	6
Genoa	2009–10	28	3	1	0	-	-	7	1	-	-	36	4
	Total	28	3	1	0	0	0	7	1	0	0	36	4
Sporting	2010–11	22	2	1	0	3	2	8	0	-	-	34	4
	Total	22	2	1	0	3	2	8	0	0	0	34	4
Lokomotiv Moscow	2011–12	10	1	1	0	-	-	8	0	-	-	19	1
	Total	10	1	1	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	19	1
Career Totals		237	11	21	1	3	2	33	1	2	0	296	15

Honours

Zaragoza

• Supercopa de España: 2004

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Alberto Zapater – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile