Robert Zabica
Encyclopedia
Robert Zabica is an Australia
n former football (soccer) player of Croatia
n descent. Zabica played as a goalkeeper
. Zabica represented the Australian national football team 28 times in 'A' international matches and also represented Western Australia
.
before joining Adelaide City
for seven seasons, winning National Soccer League
championships in 1992 and 1994. He played for Australia in the qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
finals, losing narrowly to Argentina
. A nagging knee injury forced his international retirement, but he made a comeback in 1995 with Dalmatinac with whom he won the D'Orsogna Cup. He made his State debut at the age of 31, captaining the side that beat West Ham United
in 1995, and went on to play a further five times for Western Australia. He returned to national league level in 1997, making seven appearances for Perth Glory and taking his career tally to 202 games. He had a three-match spell in England with Bradford City
in late 1997 and returned to Perth
to play for Bayswater City SC
, Inglewood United
and Fremantle City
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former football (soccer) player of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n descent. Zabica played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. Zabica represented the Australian national football team 28 times in 'A' international matches and also represented Western Australia
Western Australia state association football team
The Western Australia state association football team is an association football team representing the Australian state of Western Australia. The state team is currently administered by Football West.-Competitions:...
.
Playing career
Zabica started his career with Cockburn CityCockburn City
Cockburn City Soccer Club is an Australian Football Club currently playing in the Football West State League Premier Division in Perth, Western Australia however on 7 August 2011 they were relegated to Division One for the 1st time since 1998 as they lost 1 - 0 to Mandurah City FC confirming...
before joining Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
for seven seasons, winning National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
championships in 1992 and 1994. He played for Australia in the qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
finals, losing narrowly to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. A nagging knee injury forced his international retirement, but he made a comeback in 1995 with Dalmatinac with whom he won the D'Orsogna Cup. He made his State debut at the age of 31, captaining the side that beat West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1995, and went on to play a further five times for Western Australia. He returned to national league level in 1997, making seven appearances for Perth Glory and taking his career tally to 202 games. He had a three-match spell in England with Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in late 1997 and returned to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to play for Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City Soccer Club is a football club based in Bayswater, Western Australia. They play in the Football West State League Premier Division.-History:...
, Inglewood United
Inglewood United
Inglewood United is a football team from Perth, Western Australia. They play in the Football West State League, the top league in Western Australia. Their home ground, Clipsal Stadium, is located in Inglewood....
and Fremantle City
Fremantle Spirit
Fremantle Spirit Soccer Club is a football club from Fremantle, Western Australia. The Spirit currently play in the Premier Division of the Western Australia State League.-History:...
.