Pablo Zabaleta
Pablo Zabaleta was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 16th, 1985 and is the Soccer Player. At the age of 39, Pablo Zabaleta biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 39 years old, Pablo Zabaleta has this physical status:
Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod (American Spanish) [paleta]; born 16 January 1985) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a right back. Zabaleta has captained his team on several occasions and was known for his tenacious style of play.
Zabaleta, a Manchester city, has received all of England football's top awards: the FA Cup (2011), the Premier League (2012 and 2014), the Community Shield (2012). Zabaleta played for RCD Espanyol, where he won the 2005-06 Copa del Rey before joining Manchester City. He made 333 appearances for Manchester City in the nine seasons before moving to West Ham United in London in the summer of 2017.
Zabaleta, the country's full international since 2005, represented Argentina at the 2011 and 2015 Copa América, and was part of their squad that finished runners-up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was also a member of the 2008 Olympics team that lost gold.
Personal life
Zabaleta was born in Buenos Aires to a family of Spanish (Basque) descent. Zabaleta's chest has a tattoo that bears the name of his mother.
He appeared as a pundit for the BBC's Match of the Day 2018 World Cup coverage from Russia in June 2018.
He now works for ESPN in La Liga reporting.
Club career
Zabaleta was born in Buenos Aires and raised in Arrecifes. He started his career at Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro in 2002 after progressing through their youth ranks, having been signed at the age of 12 from local club Obras Sanitarias. He began playing as a defensive midfielder but then moved to the right side of midfield.
After being Argentina's under-20s captain in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, which Argentina defeated, Zabaleta was moved to Espanyol in 2005 for €3 million. Zabaleta was assisting Espanyol in winning the Copa del Rey in the 4–1 victory over Real Zaragoza in the final during the 2005–06 season, playing the full 90 minutes.
Zabaleta sustained a shoulder injury in January 2007 and kept him off the field for almost three months, despite him being regarded as the undisputed first team pick. He appeared in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup final, where Espanyol lost on penalties to Sevilla's fellow Spanish side Sevilla.
After rejecting Juventus' offer, Zabaleta moved to Premier League Manchester City in the summer of 2008. "The invitation is impossible to refuse and not simply because of the money," he said on his arrival. "I want to go to England and Manchester." Zabaleta completed a five-year contract with the city on August 31, 2008, for an undisclosed fee that Zabaleta had agreed to in exchange for a buy-out clause. Zabaleta arrived a day before Manchester City was purchased by Abu Dhabi United Group, led by Sheikh Mansour, which resulted in a lot of investment in the club.
In a 3–1 loss to Chelsea at the City of Manchester Stadium on September 13, 2008, Zabaleta made his debut for Manchester City. In his fourth Premier League appearance, he was issued his first red card in English football on October 5th. In a 1–0 league victory over Wigan Athletic, he scored his first goal for City on January 17, 2009, his only goal of the game.
In Manchester City's 4–1 victory over Fulham on November 21, 2010, Zabaleta scored his second Premier League goal in his second Premier League victory. He was instrumental in a Carlos Tevez goal, assisting his compatriot in scoring his ninth goal for the club in 2010-2011.
Zabaleta played his 100th game for Manchester City in any competition, starting off the bench against Blackpool in a 1–0 victory at Eastlands on January 1st. In a 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Zabaleta recorded his second assist of the season on January 15th. With this victory, City climbed to the top of the league table over local rivals Manchester United. However, in February and March 2011, City's title challenge faded due to a lack of energy.
In a Premier League match against West Ham United on May 1, 2011, Zabaleta scored his second goal of the season. The Citizens won by 2–1 on Saturday, putting them seven points ahead of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the fight for fourth place.
Manchester City defeated Stoke City 1–0 on May 14, 2011, Zabaleta as the 88th-minute replacement for Carlos Tevez in the 2011 FA Cup Final.
Roma were keen on a signing Zabaleta in the summer of 2011, but Manchester City denied that the player was for sale, and Zabaleta agreed to a three-year deal in July 2011. In a 4–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in the Premier League on October 1, 2011, Zabaleta started and played the full 90 minutes at right-back. Micah Richards, the Premier League's regular starter, was not available. In the tense 1–6 win over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Richards was an unfit substitute, with Richards starting at right-back.
Zabaleta's deal with the City lasted until the summer of 2015. "I'm in a really good squad, and I try to do my best for the club, the team, and the fans," Zabaleta said. I didn't think twice, I gave a quick answer because I was so eager to sign." Zabaleta became a cult hero among Manchester City supporters who adored his never-say-die attitude and dedication to the club in his first three-and-a-half years with the club.
In a 1–0 win over rivals Manchester United thanks to a first-half stoppage time header from a corner at City of Manchester Stadium, he got off and played the full 90 minutes in the right-back slot. Zabaleta scored his first goal in City's 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season, a victory that gained the club's first league title since 1968. Zabaleta scored a late equalizing goal in a 3–2 loss to Manchester United on December 9, 2012.
He scored the first goal in a 3–0 victory over Stoke City on January 1, 2013, doubling his goal total from the previous season. In a 1–0 victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup fourth round on January 25, 2013, Zabaleta scored his third goal of the season and the only goal of the game. Manchester City made it to the fifth round thanks to his goal.
Zabaleta was named Manchester City Player of the Month for both December 2012 and January 2013, and he was voted the club's stand-in captain during Vincent Kompany's injury absence from January to March 2013. He was the only City player to be selected in the 2012-2013 Premier League PFA Team of the Year. Zabaleta was named 2012-2013 Manchester City Player of the Year after a stellar season.
After a foul foul on Callum McManaman 84 minutes into the match, Zabaleta was dismissed in the 2013 FA Cup Final against Wigan Athletic for his second yellow card. In stoppage time, Wigan defeated 1–0 thanks to a Ben Watson goal in stoppage time. He was the third player to be sent off in an FA Cup final and the first for the losing team.
Zabaleta played the full 90 minutes in Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Sunderland in the 2014 League Cup Final, completing a complete set of major titles in English football. In a 3–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the City of Manchester Stadium on April 21, he scored his first goal of the season. Zabaleta was part of the victory over West Ham, who won Manchester City the Premier League for the second time in three seasons, on May 11th.
Due to a challenge against Chelsea's Diego Costa, Zabaleta was suspended for her second yellow card on September 21, 2014. Both players were given a yellow card, Zabaleta for the first challenge and Costa for his reaction.
It was announced on August 21, 2015, that Zabaleta was out for a month due to a knee injury. In Manchester City's 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace on January 17, 2016, Zabaleta made 200 appearances for the club.
Zabaleta scored two goals in all competitions in the 2016-17 season, including against Watford in the Premier League and against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. He made his last appearance for Manchester City on May 16, 2017, a 3–1 home win over West Bromwich Albion. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, was praised as a "legend" after the game. To commemorate the number of City appearances he made, Zabaleta received a lifetime ticket to Manchester City and a shirt that read "Zabaleta 333."
On Friday, Zabaleta signed for West Ham United in Premier League on a free transfer, agreeing to a two-year deal. He was assigned number five as his squad number.
Manuel Pellegrini was appointed as the manager of West Ham United on May 22, reuniteing him with his former manager at Manchester City.
Zabaleta's deal with West Ham lasted until the summer of 2020. In a 2–0 victory over Gillingham in the FA Cup third round on January 5, Zaabaleta scored his only goal for West Ham. Zabaleta made history by becoming the first Argentinean and only the third South American to reach 300 Premier League appearances on January 10, 2020. West Ham's chairman, Mark Ham, announced his departure from the club at the end of the month in June 2020. Zabaleta played 80 times for West Ham over three seasons, scoring one goal.
Zabaleta officially announced his retirement from professional football on October 16th, 2020.
International career
Hugo Tocalli called Zabaleta up to the Argentina under-15 team at the age of 14. He appeared in numerous youth tournaments, including the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2003 and 2005, winning the latter in the Netherlands. He has been on more than 75 caps to national youth teams and has began representing the senior team in 2005. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2008 Summer Olympics, starting right-back and watching all six matches.
Under new Argentina head coach Diego Maradona's new Argentina manager, Zabaleta was the first-choice right-back after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for which Zabaleta was not selected by head coach Diego Maradona. For the first time in a friendly against Nigeria, Zabaleta captained Argentina on June 1st.
Zabaleta was named in Argentina's squad for the 2014 World Cup in June 2014. He made his World Cup debut in Argentina's 2–1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Estádio do Maracan, playing the full match in defense.
As Argentina defeated holders Uruguay in their second group match, Zabaleta sent in the cross from which his Manchester City teammate Sergio Agüero scored the only goal of the game.