Jonathan Zebina

Jonathan Zebina

Personal information
Full name	Jonathan Zebina
Date of birth	(1978-07-19) 19 July 1978
Place of birth	Paris, France
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Right Back, Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Toulouse
Number	11
Youth career
1995–1996	Cannes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1998	Cannes	27	(0)
1998–2000	Cagliari	48	(0)
2000–2004	Roma	88	(1)
2004–2010	Juventus	98	(0)
2010–2011	Brescia	28	(0)
2011–2012	Brest	28	(0)
2012–	Toulouse	27	(0)
National team
2005	France	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 January 2014. † Appearances (Goals).

Jonathan Zebina (born 19 July 1978 in Paris) is a French footballer playing for Toulouse. He used to play as a right back but has since become a centre back, although he started his career as a striker.

He also owns a large collection of contemporary art^[1] and owns an art gallery in Milan.

Club career

Cannes

Zebina began his career with Cannes in the French Championnat National in 1996. Zebina made his professional debut with Cannes in a home game against Metz in Ligue 1, which ended 0–0. The 1996–97 season saw Zebina made 6 league appearances, with his potential already showing. The following year he continued to develop and made 21 league appearances as Cannes were relegated to Ligue 2.

Cagliari

Zebina was then signed by Cagliari, whose president had spotted him during a match against Marseille while scouting Cyril Domoraud. He was given the chance at right-back after injuries to two other defenders and soon made the position his own, in the process establishing a reputation as one of the most promising defenders in Europe. Zebina made 48 appearances for the Sardinian club in Sardinia between 1998 and 2000, at which point Cagliari were relegated to Serie B.

Roma

In 2000, Zebina moved to Roma in a co-ownership deal for 9.5 billion Italian lire,^[2][3] linking up with countryman and fellow full-back Vincent Candela. In his first season with the Rome club, he played 22 games and won the Scudetto, followed by the Italian Supercup at the beginning of the next season. Manager Fabio Capello saw Zebina's skill and he soon became Roma's first-choice right-back. Roma bought him outright in July 2001.^[4] Between 2001 and 2004, Zebina made 94 appearances for Roma in both domestic and European competitions. While at Roma, Zebina was involved in a minor car crash, but escaped with cuts and bruises. His car crash didn't affected having sidelines and first team^[5]

Juventus

Towards the end of his spell in the Italian capital, bigger clubs in Italy began to take notice of him and, after nearly signing with Milan,^[6] elected to join Juventus on a free transfer, where he was reunited with departing Roma manager Capello.^[7] Zebina revealed he rejected big move to Chelsea, Liverpool and Milan to join Turin side^[8] and says joining Juventus was his best choice.^[9]

In his first season, Zebina made 24 appearances in Serie A and six in the Champions League, making thirty appearance in all competition.^[10]

Primary a backup player, Zebina occasionally played in the right-fullback position. The 2005–06 season was not his finest as a professional: after an argument with the Juventus management over his request for a pay rise^[11] and rumours linking him with English club Tottenham Hotspur.^[12] His move to Tottenham Hotspur would collapsed after Capello persuaded him to stay, according to agent Jon Smith from First Artist to Sky Sports News.^[13] It couldn't get worse when He was sent off in Juventus' Champions League quarter-final loss to Arsenal, along with Mauro Camoranesi. Juventus claimed the Scudetto to compensate for the European disappointment, but were stripped of their title after a match-fixing scandal that saw the club relegated to Serie B.

Despite coming under fire several times for his perceived instability, Zebina stayed with Juventus following their relegation. His first-team opportunities increased after the sale of Gianluca Zambrotta to Barcelona, but he was still criticised by Juventus fans. In spite of this, in the 2007 winter transfer window he turned down prospective moves to Marseille or Real Madrid; following Juventus' Serie B title success, he signed a new 4-year deal that would keep him at the club until 2011.^[14]

In the 2007–08 season, Zebina faced competition from Zdeněk Grygera for the right-back place. In September 2007 he was banned for four games and ordered to pay a €15,000 fine after slapping a flight attendant, after being sent off for two bookable offenses in the match against Cagliari. He ultimately only played in 16 league games because of disagreements with coach Claudio Ranieri^[15] and an injury suffered in January.

He was injured by suffering an Achilles Tendon Rupture in at the start of 2008–09 season and ruled him out half of the season, just only make 8 appearance this season.^[16] During the 2008–09 season, He denies his possible transfer to Bordeaux during the transfer window.^[17]

In 2009–10 season, Zebina wore number 15 instead of number 5, following former captain Fabio Cannavaro's return to the club. He lost his starting place to Martín Cáceres that season, despite Cáceres was also criticized for his instability. After the injury of Cáceres, Zebina returned to starting XI, but Juventus also faced a landslide slip on their result, starting from shocking exit from 2009–10 UEFA Europa League by losing to Fulham. Zebina also received a red card on final minutes (and suspended 2 matches).^[18] After being sent of in a match against Fulham, Zebina has apologised for gesturing to Juventus supporters but claims he was driven to act inappropriately by their behaviour.^[19] Zebina remained in starting XI ahead Cáceres despite Cáceres was recovered from injury. That season Juventus finished as the 7th and numbers of players were sold or their contract were not renewed, including Cannavaro. On 29 March 2010, Zebina was a subject of racial abuse by Atalanta fans as Juventus won 2–1 after being hit by a fan as he was about to board the team's bus ahead of the Atalanta clash. Zebina describes it "It is a racist act, I believe one has the right to criticise the team. We, players, are fortunate.We have an important responsibility considering the social climate in which we live, where people are losing their jobs.Hence, those that pay for a ticket to watch a game can protest as long as it is done with civility." This led the Italy's players' union want racism stamped out in Serie A.

At the end of season Juventus decided not to buy Cáceres outright, but signed Marco Motta from Udinese on loan as new right back. In although he was included in Juventus's 25-men squad list A for 2010–11 UEFA Europa League playoffs round (he was excluded in qualifying round^[20]), Juventus was had to include him in order to let Zebina served the ban he received last season.^[21] He also not attended the pre-season camp as he had an international duty which delayed his vacation.^[22][23]

Follow Motta quickly became the starting right back for Juventus in the first 4 matches of the season in Europa League, Zebina was not call-up to the Serie A first round of the season.^[24]

On the last day of transfer windows, his contract was mutually terminated after strengthen their own options in defence in the coming days, by signing Arsenal defender Armand Traoré on loan for the rest of the season, view to an on a permanent basis.^[25][26] On the same day Juve also released Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet few days before.

Brescia

On the same day he was released, he signed a 2-year contract with Serie A newcomer Brescia.^[27] After signing for the club, Zebina suffered an injury on his knee and had an operation on it which kept him out for about 5 weeks. After recovering from his knee injury, Zebina finally made debut for Brescia against Udinese in a 1–0 loss. Unfortunately, Zebina had a frustrating campaign that ended with the club being relegated. Zebina went on to make 28 appearance for Brescia.

On 8 July 2011 he mutually terminated his contract.^[28]

Stade Brestois 29

After being released by Brescia just only one season with them which resulted the club got relegated, Zebina returned to France after 11 years at Italy by joining Ligue 1 newcomer Brest on a free transfer on 4 August 2011, on a one-year contract with an option on the following season.^[29][30] After joining Brest, Zebina revealed he express desire to move to England this summer but a lack of interest shown in his services and he was forced to turn his attentions elsewhere, before he heads going to France.^[31] He was previously linked back to his country, with Ligue 1 rival's Saint-Étienne and Nice.^[32]

On 20 August 2011 at the opening day of Ligue 1, Zebina made his debut for Brest in a 1–1 draw against Lyon. Following his Brest at Ligue 1 which the club went 15th place, the club announced on 22 May 2012 that Zebina will not extend his contract, which expires at the end of June.^[33]

Toulouse

After only one season in Brittany, he joined Toulouse as a replacement for the outgoing Daniel Congré.^[34] He was given the number 11 jersey, and is currently the club captain.^[35] His season has been hampered by injuries,^[36][37] and Zebina himself, has been at fault for a few goals in the few times he's played this season.^[38] His experience, however, is still seen as important, and he is still a key member of the squad. On 30 March 2012, Zebina scored an own-goal, against Ajaccio, to give the opposition the lead. Eventually, Toulouse would win 3-2 after a comeback fight.^[39]

International career

Despite being a regular during his time at Roma and Juventus, he has earned only one cap for France; on 9 February 2005 in a 1–1 draw against Sweden. Zebina remained in Jacques Santini's plans throughout his tenure. However, after Santini departed the national side, Zebina was never called up for France again after falling out of favour with new coach Raymond Domenech.

Personal life

He was born to a father named Denis and a mother named Martine. He has a brother and sister, named Alexis and Julia married to Zakaria Bakkali, respectively.^[40] He has a high school diploma in accounting and is a true arts lover. His main hobby is still his family though: he adores spending whole days with them talking about many different things. He loves wine, but doesn't drink spirits. Zebina is very careful about the way he looks. He chooses to dress according to the occasion and most of all according to his mood. He also love's wearing: watches, rings and glasses are his accessories he chooses more and wore carefully.

Statistics

^[41]

International

^[42]

References

External links

• ESPN Soccernet Profile