Kheireddine Zarabi

Kheireddine "Kiko" Zarabi (born 18 July 1984) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays as a central defender.

Kheireddine Zarabi
Personal information
Full name Kheireddine Zarabi[1]
Date of birth (1984-07-18) 18 July 1984[1]
Place of birth Hussein Dey, Algeria[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1994–1997 IRB Ouargla
1997–1999 NA Hussein Dey
1999–2002 RC Kouba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 RC Kouba
2005–2006 ES Sétif 13 (0)
2006–2007 CR Belouizdad
2007–2008 Turun Palloseura 25 (0)
2009 Belenenses 6 (0)
2009–2010 Vitória Setúbal 19 (0)
2011 Leixões 12 (1)
2011–2013 Arouca 25 (2)
2013–2016 União Madeira 74 (4)
2016 Nîmes 2 (0)
2016 Nîmes B 2 (0)
2016–2020 Covilhã 90 (5)
2020–2021 Cova Piedade 13 (1)
International career
2005 Algeria U23 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 March 2021

Club career

Born in Hussein Dey District, Algiers, Zarabi started his career at age 10 with IRB Ouargla. When he turned 13 his family returned to live in the capital, and he joined NA Hussein Dey first before leaving to RC Kouba two years later; he made his senior debut with the latter in 2002, remaining three seasons with the club.

In May 2005, Zarabi went on trial with French Ligue 2 side FC Lorient.[2] However, nothing came of it, and he returned to his homeland where he successively represented ES Sétif and CR Belouizdad.

Zarabi signed a two and a half year contract with Finland's Turun Palloseura in late 2007.[3] On 19 January 2009, he moved to Portugal where he would remain the following years, with C.F. Os Belenenses,[4] Vitória de Setúbal,[5] Leixões S.C.[6] and F.C. Arouca,[7] the first two teams in the Primeira Liga and the other in the second division.

In his second season with Arouca, Zarabi contributed 14 matches and two goals[8][9] as the Aveiro District club reached the top flight for the first time in its history.[10] A brief spell in the French Ligue 2 with Nîmes Olympique notwithstanding,[11] he continued competing in the Portuguese second tier until his retirement, with C.F. União,[12] S.C. Covilhã[13][14] and C.D. Cova da Piedade.[15]

International career

During his time at Kouba, Zarabi was a regular member of the Algeria under-23 team and participated in various tournaments, most notably the 2005 Mediterranean Games.

Personal life

Zarabi's father, Abdelaziz, was also a footballer and a full Algerian international. His older brother, Abderraouf, also a defender, also played with Hussein Dey and in Finland.[16]

References
  1. "K. Zarabi" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  2. Verts: essai non-concluant pour Zarabi (Greens: inconclusive trial for Zarabi) Archived 6 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine; DZFoot, 11 May 2005 (in French)
  3. Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi en Finlande (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi to Finland); DZFoot, 9 October 2007 (in French)
  4. Saulo e Zarabi reforçam azuis (Saulo and Zarabi strengthen blues); Record, 19 January 2009 (in Portuguese)
  5. Tiago Silva observado (Tiago Silva watched) Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Record, 30 December 2010 (in Portuguese)
  6. Zarabi estreia-se nos convocados (Zarabi gets first callup); Record, 20 January 2011 (in Portuguese)
  7. Transferts: Kheireddine Zarabi signe au FC Arouca (Transfers: Kheireddine Zarabi signs with FC Arouca); DZFoot, 21 August 2011 (in French)
  8. Sporting B segue na liderança da II Liga (Sporting B still atop of the II League); SAPO, 16 September 2012 (in Portuguese)
  9. Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Reviravolta dos anfitriões (Arouca-Freamunde, 3–2: Hosts come from behind); Record, 30 March 2013 (in Portuguese)
  10. Arouca festeja histórica subida (Arouca celebrate historical promotion); O Jogo, 12 May 2013 (in Portuguese)
  11. Kheireddine Zarabi signe à Nimes (Kheireddine Zarabi signs with Nimes); Le Buteur, 29 December 2015 (in French)
  12. U. Madeira: Zarabi renova por mais uma época (U. Madeira: Zarabi renews for another season); Mais Futebol, 4 June 2015 (in Portuguese)
  13. Sporting da Covilhã regressou ao trabalho com 16 jogadores (Sporting da Covilhã returned to work with 16 players); Diário Digital Castelo Branco, 1 July 2016 (in Portuguese)
  14. Central de saída do Covilhã: "Eu tenho objetivos e a proposta não me convenceu" (Stopper leaving Covilhã: "I have goals and was not convinced by the offer"); O Jogo, 20 May 2020 (in Portuguese)
  15. Vizela-Cova da Piedade, 2–1: triunfo vale subida ao quarto posto (Vizela-Cova da Piedade, 2–1: win equals climb to fourth place); Record, 10 January 2021 (in Portuguese)
  16. Football / Ligue 2: Hermach quitte Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrive (Football / League 2: Hermach leaves Nîmes Olympique, Kheireddine Zarabi arrives); Midi Libre, 29 December 2015 (in French)
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