Kheireddine Zarabi

Kheireddine Zarabi
Personal information
Full name	Kheireddine Zarabi
Date of birth	18 July 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Hussein Dey, Algeria
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Covilhã
Number	30
Youth career
1994–1997	IRB Ouargla
1997–1999	NA Hussein Dey
1999–2002	RC Kouba
Senior career*
Years	Team
2002–2005	RC Kouba
2005–2006	ES Sétif
2006–2007	CR Belouizdad
2007–2008	Turun Palloseura
2009	Belenenses
2009–2010	Vitória Setúbal
2011	Leixões
2011–2013	Arouca
2013–2016	União Madeira
2016	Nîmes
2016	Nîmes B
2016–	Covilhã
International career
2005	Algeria U23
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 January 2020

Kheireddine "Kiko" Zarabi (born 18 July 1984) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays for Portuguese club S.C. Covilhã as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Hussein Dey District, Algiers, Zarabi started his career at age 10 with IRB Ouargla. When he turned 13 his family returned to live in the capital, and he joined NA Hussein Dey first before leaving to RC Kouba two years later; he made his senior debut with the latter in 2002, remaining three seasons with the club.

In May 2005, Zarabi went on trial with French Ligue 2 side FC Lorient.^[1] However, nothing came of it, and he returned to his homeland where he successively represented ES Sétif and CR Belouizdad.

In late 2007, Zarabi signed a two and a half year contract with Finland's Turun Palloseura.^[2] On 19 January 2009 he moved to Portugal where he would remain the following years, with C.F. Os Belenenses,^[3] Vitória de Setúbal,^[4] Leixões S.C.^[5] and F.C. Arouca,^[6] the first two teams in the Primeira Liga and the other in the second division.

In his second season with Arouca, Zarabi contributed with 14 matches and two goals^[7]^[8] as the Aveiro District club reached the top division for the first time in its history.^[9]

International career

During his time at Kouba, Zarabi was a regular member of the Algeria under-23 team and participated in various tournaments, most notably the 2005 Mediterranean Games.

Personal life

Zarabi's father, Abdelaziz, was also a footballer and a full Algerian international. His older brother, Abderraouf, also a defender, also played with Hussein Dey and in Finland.^[10]

References

^ Verts: essai non-concluant pour Zarabi (Greens: inconclusive trial for Zarabi) Archived 6 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine; DZFoot, 11 May 2005 (in French)
^ Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi en Finlande (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi to Finland) Archived 2 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine; DZFoot, 9 October 2007 (in French)
^ Saulo e Zarabi reforçam azuis (Saulo and Zarabi strengthen blues); Record, 19 January 2009 (in Portuguese)
^ Tiago Silva observado (Tiago Silva watched) Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 30 December 2010 (in Portuguese)
^ Zarabi estreia-se nos convocados (Zarabi gets first callup) Archived 2014-12-15 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 20 January 2011 (in Portuguese)
^ Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi signe au FC Arouca (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi signs with FC Arouca); DZFoot, 21 August 2011 (in French)
^ Sporting B segue na liderança da II Liga (Sporting B still atop of the II League); SAPO, 16 September 2012 (in Portuguese)
^ Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Reviravolta dos anfitriões (Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Hosts come from behind); Record, 30 March 2013 (in Portuguese)
^ Arouca festeja histórica subida (Arouca celebrate historical promotion); O Jogo, 12 May 2013 (in Portuguese)
^ Football / Ligue 2: Hermach quitte Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrive (Football / League 2: Hermach leaves Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrives); Midi Libre, 29 December 2015 (in French)

External links

Kheireddine Zarabi at ForaDeJogo (archived)
Kheireddine Zarabi at Soccerway

[1] Verts: essai non-concluant pour Zarabi (Greens: inconclusive trial for Zarabi) Archived 6 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine; DZFoot, 11 May 2005 (in French)

[2] Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi en Finlande (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi to Finland) Archived 2 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine; DZFoot, 9 October 2007 (in French)

[3] Saulo e Zarabi reforçam azuis (Saulo and Zarabi strengthen blues); Record, 19 January 2009 (in Portuguese)

[4] Tiago Silva observado (Tiago Silva watched) Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 30 December 2010 (in Portuguese)

[5] Zarabi estreia-se nos convocados (Zarabi gets first callup) Archived 2014-12-15 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 20 January 2011 (in Portuguese)

[6] Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi signe au FC Arouca (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi signs with FC Arouca); DZFoot, 21 August 2011 (in French)

[7] Sporting B segue na liderança da II Liga (Sporting B still atop of the II League); SAPO, 16 September 2012 (in Portuguese)

[8] Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Reviravolta dos anfitriões (Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Hosts come from behind); Record, 30 March 2013 (in Portuguese)

[9] Arouca festeja histórica subida (Arouca celebrate historical promotion); O Jogo, 12 May 2013 (in Portuguese)

[10] Football / Ligue 2: Hermach quitte Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrive (Football / League 2: Hermach leaves Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrives); Midi Libre, 29 December 2015 (in French)

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