| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 October 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Salé, Morocco | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Middlesbrough | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2001 | Chabab Tabriquet | ||
| 2001–2006 | Raja Casablanca | 23 | (2) |
| 2004–2005 | → Qatar SC (loan) | ||
| 2006–2011 | Hibernian | 77 | (10) |
| 2008–2009 | → Al-Shaab (loan) | ||
| 2011– | Middlesbrough | 16 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Morocco | 7 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Merouane Zemmama (born 7 October 1983 in Salé) is a Moroccan football player who currently plays for English Championship club Middlesbrough. Zemmama represented Morocco at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was first capped at full international level in 2008.
Contents |
Zemmama started his professional career when he joined Raja Casablanca in 2001. He helped the club win the CAF Confederation Cup in 2003.[1]
Zemmama joined Hibernian under freedom of contract in August 2006. A diminutive playmaker, Zemmama made his debut for Hibernian on 12 August 2006 in a 0–0 draw at Inverness. He was hailed by manager Tony Mowbray as a new Russell Latapy[2] and his early performances excited the Hibernian fans.[3][4] Zemmama scored his first goal for Hibs in a 2–2 draw with Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts on 15 October 2006.[5]
Zemmama was part of the team that won the 2007 Scottish League Cup Final and featured significantly in both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. During the later stages of the 2007–08 season, Zemmama broke a bone in his foot after turning awkwardly during training. This injury kept him out of the rest of the season and the start of the following season.
In August 2006 it was reported that Raja Casablanca were disputing the legality of Zemmama's transfer to Hibernian.[6] Raja stated that the player had signed a contract with them until 2009, which would have precluded him from signing a contract with Hibernian. Rod Petrie refuted the claim that Zemmama had a contract with Raja.[7]
The Moroccan Football Federation announced on August 30 that they had suspended the player pending an investigation into the transfer. FIFA stated that the player could continue to be selected for Hibs during the investigation.[8] FIFA then stated that the main allegation – that the international transfer certificate had been forged – is a criminal matter, and they have therefore closed their investigation pending the outcome of enquiries by the Moroccan police.[9]
During early September 2008, Zemmama was transferred to Al-Shaab on a season-long loan deal due to personal issues.[10] His pregnant wife was unable to enter the UK because she was only 17 years old.[10] Zemmama requested to Hibs that he be transferred to a club where he could live with his wife.[10] The intention of the loan deal was that Zemmama's wife would be 18 years old by the time it expired, making her able to enter the UK.[10] However, after Zemmama moved to the Al-Shaab, the Government increased the age at which brides could enter the UK to 21, throwing Zemmama's return to Hibernian into doubt.[10][11] Zemmama returned to Edinburgh for the start of the 2009–10 season, however, in the belief that his wife and young son would be allowed to live in Edinburgh.[12]
After returning from the loan to Al-Shaab, Zemmama again became a "key influence" in the Hibs team.[13] He suffered injury problems during the 2009–10 season, however, and was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering cruciate ligament damage during a match against Falkirk on 27 March.[13] That match had been his comeback from unrelated injuries that had prevented him from starting a game since 17 February.[13] Manager John Hughes admitted in August that he did not expect Zemmama to return before Christmas, as he had not yet commenced jogging exercises as part of his rehabilitation.[14] Zemmama, whose contract with Hibs is due to expire at the end of the 2010–11 season,[15] returned to full training in December.[16]
Zemmama signed for Middlesbrough on 31 January 2011.[17] He agreed a contract to the end of the 2013–14 season, having been transferred for a fee reported to be around £200,000.[17] He made his debut against Swansea City. In his second appearance, against Millwall, he set up goals for Scott McDonald and Leroy Lita. Zemmama scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win against Derby County.[18] Zemmama scored in Middlesbrough's Carling Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.
Zemmama represented his country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece, but only played in the second half of Morocco's last game, a 2–1 win against Iraq.[19] The Moroccan federation banned him from international football, however, after his transfer to Hibernian was disputed.[1] The dispute was resolved and the ban was lifted in 2008, allowing Zemmmama to be selected for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mauritania.[20] Zemmama won his first cap as a second half substitute in that game, and he scored a goal a minute after coming onto the field.[21]
|
|||||