Biography
Who is Pablo Zabaleta?
Early life and career
Pablo Zabaleta Javier Zabaleta Girod was born on January 16, 1985, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was raised in Arrecifes. He began his youth football career at local club Obras Sanitarias before joining San Lorenzo at the age of 12. He progressed through the youth ranks at San Lorenzo and made his senior debut for the club in 2002. Initially starting his career as a defensive midfielder, he eventually transitioned to playing on the right side of midfield.
During his time with San Lorenzo, Pablo developed his skills and caught the attention of international scouts. He represented the Argentina national under-20 football team and captained the side to victory in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Following this success, he transferred to Spanish La Liga club Espanyol in 2005 for a fee of 3 million euros.
Espanyol and Manchester City career
During the 2005-06 season with Espanyol, Pablo helped the club win the Copa del Rey, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4-1 victory over Real Zaragoza in the final. Despite suffering a shoulder injury in January 2007 that sidelined him for almost three months, he established himself as a first team regular. He also featured in the 2006-07 UEFA Cup final, where Espanyol lost on penalties to Sevilla.
In the summer of 2008, Pablo transferred to Premier League club Manchester City on a five-year deal. He made his debut on September 13, 2008, in a match against Chelsea. Over nine seasons with Manchester City, he made 333 appearances in all competitions. He won all of English football's major honours with the club, including the FA Cup in 2011, the Premier League in 2012 and 2014, the League Cup in 2014 and 2016, and the Community Shield in 2012. He was voted Manchester City Player of the Year for the 2012-13 season and named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year.
West Ham United and international career
After leaving Manchester City, Pablo signed for London-based club West Ham United in May 2017 on a free transfer. He spent three seasons with West Ham, making numerous appearances and scoring his only goal for the club in an FA Cup match against Gillingham in January 2020. He extended his contract in May 2019 and finished his playing career shortly after.
On the international stage, Pablo represented Argentina across various youth levels, including the under-20 and under-23 teams. He was part of the squad that won gold at the 2008 Olympics. As a senior international since 2005, he represented Argentina in the 2011 and 2015 Copa América tournaments. He also played a key role in the team that finished as runners-up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Coaching career
Following his retirement from professional playing, Pablo transitioned into coaching. In January 2023, he took on the role of assistant manager for Albania's national football team. He serves under head coach Sylvinho, helping guide the national team in international competitions.
Birthday and age
Pablo Zabaleta was born on January 16, 1985, which makes Pablo 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Pablo shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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