Biography
Who is Karim Ziani?
Early life and career beginnings
Karim Ziani was born in Sèvres, France, to an Algerian father and a French mother. He began his football path in 1995 with the junior side of Racing Club de Paris at the age of 13. In 1998, scouts from Troyes spotted him and brought him into their youth academy.
After spending three seasons in the youth system, the president of Troyes offered Karim his first professional contract with a five-year deal. Alain Perrin promoted him to the senior squad at the age of 17, assigning him the number 17 shirt. He made his professional debut on December 8, 2001, against SC Bastia as a substitute.
Club career highlights
Karim joined FC Lorient on loan in the summer of 2004, leading the club to promotion in Ligue 1 and earning recognition as the top player in Ligue 2 for the 2005-06 season. He then signed a three-year deal with FC Sochaux, reuniting with his former coach Alain Perrin. While at Sochaux, he played in the 2007 Coupe de France Final, scoring a penalty in the shootout as his team won the trophy.
In June 2007, Karim finalized a transfer to Olympique de Marseille for a fee of eleven million dollars. He later signed a four-year contract with Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg in July 2009. His career also included stints with Kayserispor, El Jaish, and US Orléans before he ended his 18-year career in the summer of 2019.
International career
Karim chose to represent the Algeria national team at the international level, making his debut in 2003 during a friendly match against Belgium. He played a crucial role in securing Algeria qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, providing the cross that led to the decisive goal against Egypt.
Throughout his international career, Karim participated in 62 official matches for the Algerian national team and scored five goals. He also appeared in the 2004 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament during the 2004 edition.
Birthday and age
Karim Ziani was born on April 17, 1982, which makes Karim 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Karim shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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