- The native form of this personal name is Gera Zoltán. This article uses the Western name order.
| Zoltán Gera | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zoltán Gera | |
| Date of birth | 22 April 1979 | |
| Place of birth | Pécs, Hungary | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |
| Playing position | Right winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Fulham | |
| Number | 11 | |
| Youth career | ||
| 1993–1996 | Pécsi Bőrgyár Pécsi Zsolnay Pécsi Kinizsi |
|
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1996–1997 1997–2000 2000–2004 2004–2008 2008– |
Harkány SE Pécsi MFC Ferencváros West Bromwich Albion Fulham |
87 (19) 115 (32) 135 (21)[1] 55 (6) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1999–2000 2002–2009 |
Hungary U21 Hungary |
3 (0) 63 (18) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Zoltán Gera (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈzoltaːn ˈɡɛrɒ]; born 22 April 1979 in Pécs) is a Hungarian footballer who plays for English club Fulham after signing from West Bromwich Albion on 1 July 2008. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder.
Contents |
Club career
Career in Hungary
He started to play in a national league team, Pécs, where he was trained by Antal Róth. He got some attention from the media and other football teams started to be interested as well. He signed a contract with Ferencváros and moved to Budapest, Hungary.
For Ferencváros, Gera played 115 league games and scored 32 goals. He won twice both the league title and the Hungarian Cup and made his way into the Hungarian national team.
West Bromwich Albion
Gera joined West Bromwich Albion in July 2004 from Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC for £1.5 million.[2] He signed a three-year deal with Albion, with a further one year option at the club's option.
He made his Premiership début on 14 August 2004, replacing Andy Johnson in the 87th minute. That match ended in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers. His first time in the starting eleven came on 25 August 2004, against Tottenham Hotspur. He also scored his first league goal early in the third minute. That match ended, also, in a 1–1 draw.
He managed to score 6 league goals in his first season and was the only player of his team to appear in all 38 league matches. He helped West Brom stay in the Premiership. He was nominated in the end of season dream team by soccernet.com, attracting the attention of Aston Villa.
He was named Hungarian Player of the Year in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
In the 2005–06 season Gera has struggled with injuries and underwent hernia operation in November 2005. At the end of the season, West Brom were relegated though Gera committed himself to the club in a bid for them to get back into the top flight.
His performance in Albion's 4–2 win against Charlton Athletic on 15 December 2007—scoring twice and setting up a third—earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[3][4]
Fulham
On 9 June 2008 Gera turned down a new contract at West Brom, having decided instead to join Fulham on a free transfer.[5] The three-year contract was completed on 11 June 2008.[6] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Hull City on the opening day of the 2008–09 Premier League. Just minutes after coming off the bench , he scored Fulham's second goal in their 2-0 win against league leaders Manchester United. During the 2009-10 Premier League season,Gera scored his first goal of the season against West Ham United in the 2-2 draw.[7] On the 28 December 2009, he then scored his second goal of the season at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea F.C, when he hooked the ball over Petr Čech from 12 yards to stun the home crowd after 4 minutes. Despite this early goal, Fulham went on to lose the game 2-1, with a goal from Ivorian forward Didier Drogba and an own goal by fellow team mate Chris Smalling.[8]
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Premiership | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Fulham | 2009–10 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 33 | 7 |
| 2008–09 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 44 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 60 | 7 | |
| Club | Season | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | — | Total | |||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2007–08 | 43 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 10 |
| 2006–07 | 43[1] | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 48 | 6 | |
| Premiership | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2005–06 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 3 | |
| 2004–05 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 6 | |
| Subtotal | 139 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 155 | 25 | |
| Club | Season | NB I | Magyar Kupa | — | Europe | Total | |||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Ferencvárosi TC | 2004–05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 37 | 17 | |
| 2002–03 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 35 | 7 | |
| 2001–02 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 29 | 8 | |
| 2000–01 | 32 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 7 | |
| Subtotal | 115 | 32 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 12 | 2 | 134 | 39 | |
| Club | Season | NB I | Magyar Kupa | — | — | Total | |||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Pécsi MFC | 1999–00 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 4 |
| NB II | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1999–00 | 16 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 5 | |
| 1998–99 | 31 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 8 | |
| 1997–98 | 25 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 2 | |
| Subtotal | 87 | 19 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 87 | 19 | |
| Grand total | 385 | 75 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 4 | 436 | 90 | |
(Statistics correct as of 30 May 2009)
International career
Gera earned his first international cap on 13 February 2002 in a 2–1 defeat to Switzerland. His first international goal was the first of a hat trick on 16 October 2002 in a match against San Marino. Gera was named captain of the Hungarian national team in 2004 and his first match as skipper ended in a 3–1 victory over Latvia.
Before the October 14, 2009 World Cup qualification match between Denmark and Hungary, Gera was excluded from the match squad by coach Erwin Koeman after he arrived late to a team meeting. Following the incident Gera announced his retirement from the national team.[12]
| Team | Year | Friendlies | International Competition |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Conceded | App | Conceded | App | Conceded | ||
| Hungary | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 3 | |
| Total | 29 | 5 | 31 | 13 | 60 | 18 | |
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 October 2002 | Budapest |  San Marino |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 Qual. |
| 2 | 16 October 2002 | Budapest | San Marino |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 Qual. |
| 3 | 16 October 2002 | Budapest | San Marino |
3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 Qual. |
| 4 | 30 April 2003 | Budapest |  Luxembourg |
1–0 | 5–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 7 June 2003 | Budapest |  Latvia |
3–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2004 Qual. |
| 6 | 8 September 2004 | Budapest |  Iceland |
1–1 | 3–2 | FIFA World Cup 2006 Qual. |
| 7 | 17 November 2004 | Ta' Qali |  Malta |
1–0 | 2–0 | FIFA World Cup 2006 Qual. |
| 8 | 4 June 2005 | Reykjavík | Iceland |
1–1 (p) | 3–2 | FIFA World Cup 2006 Qual. |
| 9 | 4 June 2005 | Reykjavík | Iceland |
2–1 (p) | 3–2 | FIFA World Cup 2006 Qual. |
| 10 | 16 August 2006 | Graz |  Austria |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2 September 2006 | Budapest |  Norway |
1–4 (p) | 1–4 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 12 | 6 September 2006 | Zenica |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 13 | 28 March 2007 | Budapest |  Moldova |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 14 | 22 August 2007 | Budapest |  Italy |
1–1 (p) | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 15 | 8 September 2007 | Székesfehérvár | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–0 (p) | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 16 | 6 February 2008 | Limassol |  Slovakia |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 17 | 19 November 2008 | Belfast |  Northern Ireland |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 18 | 1 April 2009 | Budapest | Malta |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
Personal life
Gera married on 19 June 2004. Gera became the father of a baby girl named Hanna-Shahil in 15 March 2008; following the birth he was given leave by his national team manager Péter Várhidi to miss Hungary's friendly against Slovenia in order to spend time with his family.[13][14]
In 2005, he featured in a television advertisement for Pepsi, representing the 2006 FIFA World Cup alongside Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Raúl.[15]
Quotes
- "He's taken a lot of stuff on board but it doesn't surprise me because of the character he is. He's a great lad to have about the place. He always has a smile on his face and he'll do anything you ask of him in training. Those are the sort of players you want around you. Nearly every manager or coach I talk to at games speaks about Zoltán." — Bryan Robson, WBA
- "The Hungarian was probably West Brom's best player last season with a string of energetic and effective performances down the right. He has an eye for goal too." — Manchester Online
- "I especially like Zoltán Gera on the right, who is a skilful and productive player. If the Baggies do go down, he's the type of player you'd look to pinch." — Mark Lawrenson
- "The 26-year-old has already achieve cult hero status at the Hawthorns after a season where his contribution has played no small part in the Baggies miraculously avoiding the drop." — soccernet.com
- "The Hungarian international has been dubbed by many as the best player outside of the Premier League." - FansFc.com
- "The captain of Hungary and one of the most complete attacking midfielders in the Football League - he's intelligent and unselfish, he scores goals and he sets goals up. On his day, of which there have been many so far this season, he is too good for the Championship." - Oliver Irish (The Guardian)
Honours
Club
Ferencvárosi TC
- Hungarian League: 2001, 2004
- Runners-up: 2002, 2003
- Hungarian Cup: 2003, 2004
- Hungarian Super Cup: 2004
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
Individual
- Player of the Year in Hungary: 2002
- Hungarian Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Supporters voted and Gera received the 'Tibor Simon Prize': 2003
- Best goalscorer and best player of the Hungarian Inside Football Championship with Ferencvaros: 2003
- Hungarian weekly 100% Fradi named him in the Ferencvaros Team of the Century: 2004
- Hungarian Football Federation nominated him to be the best domestic footballer of the year: 2005
- Hungary captain: 2004-2009
- Named in the 2004/05 Premiership all-star team (soccernet.com)
- Third on the Best Rookie Player of the Season vote of magazin Match: 2004/05
- Fifth on ITV television's Best Foreign Rookie of the Season vote: 2004/05
- According to English site squarefootball.net he was the best player of West Brom in 2005
- The Championship Footballer of the Year : 2007/08 (The Guardian)
- Named in the 2007/08 The Championship all-star team (The Guardian)
References
- ^ a b During the season 2006-2007 he had 40 league games and 3 playoff games, but this 3 games don't count towards league games, so the official stats. 2008-04-19.
- ^ "Albion bag Gera". BBC Sport. 2004-07-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3940947.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
- ^ "WBA vs Charlton". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2007-12-15. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10366~37314,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ "Coca-Cola Championship Team Of The Week. (17/12/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 2007-12-17. http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/5a/c8/0,,10794~116826,00.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ "Gera decides to join Fulham". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2008-06-09. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1325649,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "Gera joins Fulham from West Brom". BBC Sport. 2008-06-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7435637.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "West Ham 2-2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 2009-10-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8282382.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- ^ "Smash and grab from Chelsea in W.London clash". BBC Sport. 2009-12-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8428887.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- ^ "Gera stats". soccerbase.com. 2008-02-07. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30134. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Stat". origo.hu. 2008-02-07. http://origo.hu/gerazoltan/karrier/statisztika/20050920statisztika.html. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Gera profile and stats on West Bromwich site". wba.premiumtv.co.uk. 2008-02-07. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10366~30543,00.html. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ Gera retires from Hungary
- ^ "PHOTO GALLERY: Albion 1 Leicester 4". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2008-03-15. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Gallery/0,,10366~1266305,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ "Gera granted baby break by Hungary". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2008-03-22. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1271267,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ^ "Gera joined the Blue Team!". Careers Management Group. 2005. http://www.careersmanagementgroup.com/en/news/gerapepsi0623. Retrieved 2005.
External links
- Zoltán Gera career stats at Soccerbase
- (English) Zoltán's official site
- (Hungarian) Zoltán's official site
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