Enrique Peña Zauner

Enrique Manuel Peña Zauner[lower-alpha 1] (born 4 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eerste Divisie club Roda JC.[2] Born in Germany, Peña has represented Venezuela internationally.

For other people with the same name, see Enrique Peña.

Enrique Peña Zauner
Personal information
Full name Enrique Manuel Peña Zauner
Date of birth (2000-03-04) 4 March 2000
Place of birth Offenbach am Main, Germany
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Roda JC
Number 7
Youth career
2006–2007 SG Rosenhöhe Offenbach
2007–2017 Eintracht Frankfurt
2017–2019 Borussia Dortmund
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 SV Sandhausen 16 (1)
2019 SV Sandhausen II 3 (0)
2021–2023 Eintracht Braunschweig 30 (4)
2023– Roda JC 7 (5)
International career‡
2015–2016 Germany U16 3 (1)
2018–2019 Venezuela U20 11 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:04, 29 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 February 2019

Club career

Early years

Peña Zauner, son of a Venezuelan father and a German mother, was born in Offenbach am Main, Hesse, Germany, where he attended school until the age of 17.[3] He joined the local football club, SG Rosenhöhe Offenbach, before making a move to Eintracht Frankfurt's youth academy.[4] In the summer of 2017, he joined Borussia Dortmund's under-19 team. Initially sidelined due to a fatigue fracture, Peña Zauner later made 13 appearances in the West division of the Under 19 Bundesliga, scoring two goals.[5] The under-19 team of Dortmund qualified for the play-offs but was eliminated by the eventual champions, Hertha BSC.[6]

During the following season, he had a breakout performance, scoring eight goals in 22 matches.[5] He also scored one goal in six games in the UEFA Youth League and another goal in four matches in the DFB-Pokal for youths.[5] In the nationwide championship final, Peña Zauner scored two goals in three matches, contributing strongly to Dortmund winning the Under 19 Bundesliga.[7]

SV Sandhausen

On 12 June 2019, Peña Zauner signed a three-year contract with 2. Bundesliga club SV Sandhausen, despite receiving offers from Royal Excel Mouscron and LASK in top tiers abroad.[8] He made his professional debut for SV Sandhausen in the 2. Bundesliga on 27 July 2019, coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute for Mario Engels in the away match against Holstein Kiel, which finished as a 1–1 draw.[9] At 19 years and 263 days old, he became the youngest ever player to make his debut for Sandhausen.[10]

In his first year as a professional, he failed to establish himself as a starter in the team. He made five appearances as a substitute in the league under the head coach Uwe Koschinat, in which he scored one goal. Additionally, he played three games for the second team in the fifth-tier Oberliga Baden-Württemberg.[5] The following season, Peña Zauner also could not secure a regular spot in the first team. He made 11 substitute appearances under Koschinat and his successors, Michael Schiele, as well as coaching duo Stefan Kulovits and Gerhard Kleppinger.[5] After not featuring in the first two matchdays of the 2021–22 season, Peña Zauner reached an agreement with the club to terminate his contract, which was still running until the end of the season.[11]

Eintracht Braunschweig

He moved to 3. Liga club Eintracht Braunschweig on 5 August 2021, having agreed a two-year contract.[12][13] He made his debut for the club on 8 August in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, replacing Sebastian Müller at half-time of a 2–1 home defeat to Hamburger SV.[14] His league debut followed on 16 August, starting in a 2–0 away win over Hallescher FC.[15][16] In the following game, on 21 August, he scored his first goal for Braunschweig, helping the side to a 2–0 home victory against FSV Zwickau.[17] He reached promotion to the 2. Bundesliga with the club at the end of the season, scoring four goals in 25 appearances in their league campaign.[5][18]

However, Peña Zauner barely played during Braunschweig's first season back in the 2. Bundesliga, and only made five appearances during the campaign – all as a substitute.[19]

On 1 June 2023, after two seasons at the club, it was announced that his contract would not be extended, ending his spell with Braunschweig.[20]

Roda JC

On 27 July 2023, Peña Zauner signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie club Roda JC, with an option for an additional season, after completing a successful trial with the club.[21][22] He made his debut for De Koempels on 11 August 2023, scoring a goal in a 4–1 home victory over Helmond Sport on the opening day of the season.[23] In the following league game, on 18 August, he scored a brace to lead Roda past ADO Den Haag in a 3–0 away win.[24]

International career

Peña Zauner holds both German and Venezuelan citizenship.[25] After representing the Hesse under-15 and under-16 state teams and gaining three caps for the Germany national under-16 team,[26] he decided to declare his eligibility for the Venezuelan national teams.[27] He participated in the 2019 South American U-20 Championship in Chile with the Venezuela U20s, qualifying for the final stage, where they eventually finished bottom of the group.[28]

Style of play

Peña Zauner has been described as a "talented attacking midfielder", who is ambidextrous and can be deployed both in the attacking midfield and on the wings.[12]

Career statistics
As of match played 22 September 2023[5]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SV Sandhausen 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 5100—51
2020–21 2. Bundesliga 11000—110
Total 16100—161
SV Sandhausen II 2019–20 Oberliga-BW 30——30
Eintracht Braunschweig 2021–22 3. Liga 2541000264
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 5000—50
Total 3041000314
Roda JC 2023–24 Eerste Divisie 75000075
Career total 561010005710

    Notes
    1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Peña and the second or maternal family name is Zauner.

    References
    1. Enrique Peña Zauner at kicker (in German)
    2. "Enrique Peña Zauner". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
    3. Merkel, Marco (19 March 2019). "Starker Nachwuchs: Auf diese Talente kann der BVB bauen". Fussball Transfers (in German). Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    4. Düncker, Christian (12 October 2020). "Von der Rosenhöhe in die Bundesliga". Offenbach-Post (in German). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    5. "Enrique Peña » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    6. "Hertha BSC erstmals Deutscher Meister". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    7. "VfB Stuttgart U 19 – Borussia Dortmund U 19, 3:5, Meisterschaft 2019 Finale". DFB Datencenter (in German). 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    8. "SV Sandhausen verpflichtet BVB-Talent Peña Zauner". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 12 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    9. "Holstein Kiel – SV Sandhausen 1:1 (2. Bundesliga 2019/2020, 1. Round)". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
    10. "Die jüngsten Debütanten der aktuellen Zweitliga-Klubs". kicker (in German). 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    11. "Enrique Peña Zauner verlässt den SVS". SV Sandhausen (in German). 4 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    12. "Enrique Peña Zauner wird ein Löwe". Eintracht Braunschweig (Press release) (in German). 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    13. "Eintracht Braunschweig verpflichtet Enrique Pena Zauner". kicker (in German). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
    14. "Glatzels Abstauber hievt den HSV in die nächste Runde". kicker (in German). 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    15. "Hallescher FC – Eintracht Braunschweig, 0:2, 3. Liga 2021/22 3. Spieltag". DFB Datencenter (in German). Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    16. "Erste Tore, erster Sieg: Braunschweig schlägt Halle". kicker (in German). 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    17. "Ihorst und Pena Zauner tüten gegen Zwickau Braunschweigs Heimsieg ein". kicker (in German). 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    18. Lenner, Bettina (8 May 2022). "Aufstieg "auf dem Sofa": Eintracht Braunschweig wieder Zweitligist". NDR (in German). Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    19. Ali, Omar (18 January 2023). "Eintracht Braunschweig: Abschied besiegelt? Löwe jagt seine letzte Chance". news38.de (in German). Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    20. "Pena Zauner verlässt Braunschweig". kicker (in German). 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    21. "Roda JC legt Enrique Peña Zauner vast". Roda JC Kerkrade (Press release) (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    22. Suilen, Maikel (27 July 2023). "Aanvallende versterking voor Roda: Enrique Peña Zauner tekent eenjarig contract". De Limburger (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
    23. Schreurs, Joost (11 August 2023). "Nieuwkomers bezorgen Roda JC verdiende zege". 1limburg (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
    24. Lemmens, Sjors (18 August 2023). "Roda JC wint ook bij ADO Den Haag met ruime cijfers". 1limburg (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
    25. "Der BVB könnte ein großes Talent verlieren: Pena Zauner vor Abgang". 90min (in German). 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
    26. Enrique Peña Zauner at DFB (also available in German)
    27. Hamers, Dominik (14 January 2019). "Warum BVB-Talent Pena Zauner lieber für Venezuela spielt". RevierSport online (in German). Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
    28. "Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia reach world stage". FIFA. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019.
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