Abdellah Zoubir

Abdellah Zoubir (Arabic: عبدالله زوبير; born 5 December 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Azerbaijan Premier League club Qarabağ.

Abdellah Zoubir

Zoubir with Lens in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth	(1991-12-05) 5 December 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth	Lille, France
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Qarabağ
Number	10
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2013	Grenoble	14	(7)
2013–2015	Istres	34	(1)
2013–2014	→ Hibernian (loan)	13	(0)
2015–2016	Petrolul Ploiești	38	(5)
2016–2018	Lens	66	(6)
2018–	Qarabağ	158	(43)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024

Zoubir started out his senior career at Grenoble, after which he went on to compete professionally in Scotland, Romania and Azerbaijan, respectively. In the latter country, he aided Qarabağ in winning four national titles and one national cup.

Career

Early career and Istres

Born in Lille of Moroccan descent, Zoubir started playing futsal in his native city at the age of 6. He represented France at youth level in that sport, sharing teams at one point with Wissam Ben Yedder.^[1] In 2012, Zoubir signed for Istres in Ligue 2.^[2][3] He was loaned in January 2013 to lower league club Grenoble.

In August 2013, Zoubir joined Scottish side Hibernian on loan^[3] after being recommended by former footballer Frédéric Arpinon.^[4] He made his first start for his new team in a Scottish League Cup match against Stranraer on 24 September, also scoring the second goal in a 5–3 win.^[5] However, after the departure of manager Pat Fenlon, he did not seem to enter the plans of new coach Terry Butcher, coming on mostly as a substitute.

An ankle injury kept Zoubir out for five months,^[6] and he ended the season (which ended in relegation after 15 years) with 16 matches and one goal all competitions comprised.^[7] He subsequently returned to Istres, now in the Championnat National.^[8]

Petrolul Ploiești

On 24 June 2015, Zoubir joined Romanian side Petrolul Ploiești on a three-year contract.^[9] He made his Liga I debut on 11 July, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw at defending champions FC Steaua București;^[10] he adapted quickly, being voted Footballer of the Month for July by fans on the DoarPetrolul.ro forum.^[11] He netted his first goal for the club on 9 November in a 1–1 home draw against Concordia Chiajna,^[12] and his second came against CFR Cluj late in the same month (1–0, also at the Ilie Oană Stadium).^[13]

During early December 2015, it was reported that Bucharest rivals Steaua and Dinamo were interested in acquiring Zoubir in the winter transfer window.^[14][15]

Qarabağ

On 26 June 2018, Zoubir signed a two-year contract with Qarabağ.^[16][17]

On 29 June 2024, Zoubir signed a new three-year contract with Qarabağ.^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played on 2 June 2024^[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Grenoble	2011–12	Championnat de France amateur 2	0	0	1	0	—		—		1	0
	2012–13	Championnat de France Amateur	14	7	0	0	—		—		14	7
	Total		14	7	1	0	—		—		15	7
Istres	2012–13	Ligue 2	8	0	0	0	—		—		8	0
	2014–15	Championnat National	26	1	1	0	—		—		27	1
	Total		34	1	1	0	—		—		35	1
Hibernian (loan)	2013–14	Scottish Premiership	13	0	1	0	2	1	—		16	1
Petrolul Ploiești	2015–16	Liga I	38	5	2	0	1	0	—		41	5
Lens	2016–17	Ligue 2	35	4	2	0	0	0	—		37	4
	2017–18		31	2	3	1	1	0	—		35	3
	Total		66	6	5	1	1	0	—		72	7
Qarabağ	2018–19	Azerbaijan Premier League	24	7	4	0	—		13[c]	1	41	8
	2019–20		19	5	2	0	—		14[d]	2	35	7
	2020–21		26	7	4	0	—		9[e]	2	39	9
	2021–22		25	8	4	1	—		14[f]	3	43	12
	2022–23		32	8	2	0	—		16[g]	2	50	10
	2023–24		32	8	5	3	—		18[h]	4	55	15
	Total		158	43	21	4	—		84	14	263	61
Career totals			323	62	31	5	4	1	84	14	442	82

1. Includes Coupe de France, Scottish Cup, Cupa României, Azerbaijan Cup
2. Includes Scottish League Cup, Coupe de la Ligue
3. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
4. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
5. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
6. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
7. Eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
8. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, 14 appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Qarabağ^[19]

• Azerbaijan Premier League: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
• Azerbaijan Cup: 2021–22

References

1. "Petrolul a adus căpitanul naționalei de futsal U21 a Franței. E "micul Zizou"" [Petrolul brought the captain of the U21 France futsal team. He's the "little Zizou"] (in Romanian). Sport News. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
2. Hardie, David (30 August 2013). "Hibs swoop to sign Istres winger Abdellah Zoubir". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
3. "Hibernian secure Paul Heffernan and Abdellah Zoubir". BBC Sport. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
4. "Hibbies must be patient with new man Abdellah Zoubir". Edinburgh Evening News. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
5. Strachan, Colleen (25 September 2013). "Abdellah Zoubir steals show from Hibs' hat-trick hero". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
6. "Abdellah Zoubir puts himself back in Hibs contention". Edinburgh Evening News. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
7. "Squads". Hibernian F.C. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
8. "James McPake and Kevin Thomson exit Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
9. "Abdellah Zoubir a semnat un contract pe trei sezoane cu Petrolul Ploieşti" [Abdellah Zoubir signed a three-year contract with Petrolul Ploiești] (in Romanian). ProSport. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
10. "Start încurajator: 0–0 pe "Arena Națională"" [Encouraging start: 0–0 at "National Arena"] (in Romanian). Petrolul Ploiești. 11 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
11. "Zoubir – Jucatorul lunii iulie" [Zoubir – Player of the month July] (in Romanian). Doar Petrolul. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
12. "Petrolul–Concordia 1–1" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
13. "Petrolul–CFR Cluj 1–0" (in Romanian). DigiSport. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
14. "Revenirea lui Reghe declanşează primul "război" pe piaţa transferurilor. Pe el "se bat" Steaua şi Dinamo" [Reghe's return triggers the first "war" on the transfer market. He is the one Steaua and Dinamo "fight" for] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
15. ""Perla" Petrolului l-a impresionat şi pe Rednic: "Trebuie să încercăm să-l transferăm". Jucătorul pentru care se luptă Steaua şi Dinamo: e ieftin şi poate juca oriunde în atac" [Petrolul's "jewel" also impressed Rednic: "We have to try to transfer him." The player Steaua and Dinamo fight for: he is cheap and can play in any attacking position] (in Romanian). ProSport. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
16. "Abdullah Zubir rəsmən "Qarabağ"ımızda". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Qarabağ FK. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
17. "DÉPART D'ABDELLAH ZOUBIR". rclens.fr (in French). RC Lens. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
18. "Abdullah Zubir daha üç il komandamızda". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Qarabağ FK. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
19. Abdellah Zoubir at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 March 2024.

External links

• Abdellah Zoubir at L'Équipe Football (in French)
• Abdellah Zoubir at Soccerbase
• Abdellah Zoubir – UEFA competition record (archive)