Rolando Zárate
Encyclopedia
Rolando David Zárate Riga (born 6 August 1978 in Haedo, Buenos Aires Province
), is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Defensa y Justicia in the Argentine Primera B Nacional, as a forward.
, representing the club in two different spells. He made his professional debuts in 1997, playing in only 17 top division games in his first two seasons combined.
In 1998, Zárate moved to Spain
, going on to remain in that country for the following four years, always on loan: he started out at Terrassa FC
in the third division
, joining Real Madrid Castilla
the following year, in the same category. His impressive scoring form prompted Real Madrid
boss Vicente del Bosque
to promote him to the main squad, and he scored in all three official competitions he appeared for the club (La Liga
, Copa del Rey
and UEFA Champions League
). Between 2001 and 2002, he represented Ciudad de Murcia
and its neighbours Real Murcia
, respectively in divisions three and two
.
Zárate played with Livingston
in the 2002–03 season, still owned by Vélez. He scored twice on his debut in the Scottish Premier League
, a 3–2 home win against Motherwell
, and eventually proved instrumental as the Livi Lions retained their division status.
Zárate's last loan would be with Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) in Saudi Arabia
. Again with Vélez, he netted 13 times in the 2004 Clausura Tournament, adding eight in the following year's Apertura. In the subsequent Clausura
, Roly scored seven goals as his team won the national championship for the first time in seven years.
In the following years, Zárate played in Mexico
for two teams, also representing Club Atlético River Plate
without any impact. On 25 July 2009, he re-signed with Vélez on a free transfer, after a period of trial, from Ecuatorian
club Barcelona Sporting Club
, but was released during that year due to injury to his spinal cord
. He returned to training in early 2010 and, eventually, signed a new one-year deal.
For 2010–11
, 32-year old Zárate joined Club Atlético Huracán
in the top division, on a free transfer. At the end of the season, Huracán
was tied with Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata for the second-to-last position in the relegation ranking, and thus needed to play a tiebreaker, which Gimnasia won 2-0.
Following Huracán's relegation, Zárate's contract with the Parque Patricios
side ended, and so he signed with Defensa y Justicia, again on a free transfer, for the 2011-12 Primera B Nacional season.
in 2005, a friendly match
with Mexico
in which the former only fielded players from the domestic league. He scored in a 1–1 draw.
Also in that year, Zárate made his second and last appearance, playing 15 minutes in a 2–1 win in Bolivia
for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
.
|1||February 4, 2003||Memorial Coliseum
, Los Angeles, United States||||0 – 1||0 – 1||Friendly
|}
and older Sergio
and Ariel, with the first two eventually representing the Argentine national team
.
Haedo, Buenos Aires Province
Haedo is a city located in Morón Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It forms part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban conurbation.With a surface of 6.11 km², it holds 38,068 inhabitants , a 13% less than the figures of the 1991 census...
), is an Argentine
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...
footballer who plays for Defensa y Justicia in the Argentine Primera B Nacional, as a forward.
Club career
Zárate played most of his career for Club Atlético Vélez SársfieldClub Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
, representing the club in two different spells. He made his professional debuts in 1997, playing in only 17 top division games in his first two seasons combined.
In 1998, Zárate moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, going on to remain in that country for the following four years, always on loan: he started out at Terrassa FC
Terrassa FC
Terrassa Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Terrassa, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1906, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 5, holding home matches at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, with a capacity of 11.500 spectators.-History:In 1914, Terrassa's...
in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, joining Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
the following year, in the same category. His impressive scoring form prompted Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
boss Vicente del Bosque
Vicente Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque González, 1st Marquis of Del Bosque is a former Spanish footballer He is currently the manager of the Spanish national football team. After taking over from Luis Aragonés who had led Spain to European success in Euro 2008, Del Bosque went on to manage the national team to the...
to promote him to the main squad, and he scored in all three official competitions he appeared for the club (La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
and UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
). Between 2001 and 2002, he represented Ciudad de Murcia
Ciudad de Murcia
Club de Fútbol Atlético Ciudad was a Spanish football club based in Murcia, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 2007, it played its last season in Segunda División B , holding home matches at Estadio Juan de la Cierva, with a 1,600-seat capacity.-History:On June 6, 2007, Ciudad de...
and its neighbours Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
, respectively in divisions three and two
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
.
Zárate played with Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
in the 2002–03 season, still owned by Vélez. He scored twice on his debut in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, a 3–2 home win against Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, and eventually proved instrumental as the Livi Lions retained their division status.
Zárate's last loan would be with Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Again with Vélez, he netted 13 times in the 2004 Clausura Tournament, adding eight in the following year's Apertura. In the subsequent Clausura
Apertura and Clausura
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
, Roly scored seven goals as his team won the national championship for the first time in seven years.
In the following years, Zárate played in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
for two teams, also representing Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
without any impact. On 25 July 2009, he re-signed with Vélez on a free transfer, after a period of trial, from Ecuatorian
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
club Barcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club is an Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil, known best for its professional football team. They currently play in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of football in the country, and hold the distinction of being the only team to have never been relegated.With...
, but was released during that year due to injury to his spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
. He returned to training in early 2010 and, eventually, signed a new one-year deal.
For 2010–11
2010–11 Argentine Primera División season
The 2010–11 Primera División season was the eighty-second season of top-flight professional football in Argentina. A total of 20 teams competed in two championships —the Apertura and Clausura— over the course of the season, which started on August 6, 2010 and ended on June 30, 2011, one...
, 32-year old Zárate joined Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
in the top division, on a free transfer. At the end of the season, Huracán
Huracán
Huracan is the hurricane god of Maya mythology.Huracán may also refer to:*ARM Huracán, a Mexican Navy missile boat*Huracán , a Mexican telenovelaIn sports:*Huracán Buceo, Uruguayan football club...
was tied with Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata for the second-to-last position in the relegation ranking, and thus needed to play a tiebreaker, which Gimnasia won 2-0.
Following Huracán's relegation, Zárate's contract with the Parque Patricios
Parque Patricios
Parque Patricios is a barrio located on the southern side of Buenos Aires, Argentina belonging to the fourth comuna.Parque Patricios underwent a transformation during the beginning of the 1900's...
side ended, and so he signed with Defensa y Justicia, again on a free transfer, for the 2011-12 Primera B Nacional season.
International career
Zárate made his debut for ArgentinaArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in 2005, a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in which the former only fielded players from the domestic league. He scored in a 1–1 draw.
Also in that year, Zárate made his second and last appearance, playing 15 minutes in a 2–1 win in Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
qualifiers
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for South America. 10 teams took part, all in a single group. The rules were very simple: the teams would play against each other in a home-and-away basis, with the four teams with most points qualifying to...
.
International goals
|-|1||February 4, 2003||Memorial Coliseum
Memorial Coliseum
Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena located in the oldest part of, what is now known as the Rose Quarter area, within Portland, Oregon, United States....
, Los Angeles, United States||||0 – 1||0 – 1||Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|}
Team
- Vélez Sársfield:
- Argentine League: 1998 Clausura, 2005 Clausura
- Real Madrid:
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1999–2000
- UEFA Champions League
Individual
- Argentine League: Top scorer 2004 Clausura (13 goals)
Personal
Zárate has three brothers, all footballers: younger MauroMauro Zárate
Mauro Matías Zárate is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Internazionale on loan from Lazio.Zárate started his career with Vélez Sársfield in his native country, playing three years for the team and winning the Primera División title in the 2005 Clausura tournament...
and older Sergio
Sergio Zárate
Sergio Fabián Zárate is a former Argentine football player. He spent most of his career in Germany and Mexico apart from his native Argentina....
and Ariel, with the first two eventually representing the Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.