Róbinson Zapata
Encyclopedia
Róbinson Zapata Montaño, aka Rufay (born 30 September 1978, Florida
, Colombia
), is a Colombia
n football
player who plays for Deportivo Pereira
.
and Real Cartagena
. In 2004 he moved to Argentina
where he had spells with Rosario Central
, Independiente
and Belgrano. In 2006 he joined La Serena
in Chile
before returning to Colombia to play for Cúcuta Deportivo
.
On July 23, 2007: Steaua bought Zapata for € 500.000 and signed a four-year contract with Romania
nSteaua Bucureşti from Cúcuta Deportivo
.
During the season's first half, he became the most appreciated player in the Romanian team. (seen in this statistic made by Steaua supporters). After a mediocre second year at Steaua, Rufay became the first option as a goalkeeper after Ciprian Tătăruşanu
's mistakes, and showed outstanding form.
In the beginning of 2010–11 season, Rufay was demoted to the B squad
after the arrival of new coach Victor Piţurcă
. Soon after Piţurcă left the club, new coach Dumitrescu
called him back to the first squad. On December 2010, Robinson Zapata ended the contract with Steaua.
club Galatasaray
.
He has been in a bad shape since his arrival, with just two clean sheets in 13 games, with a shot/save ratio of 42%. In June 2011, Robinson Zapata was fired from Galatasasay, becoming a free agent. He returned to Colombia where he is set to play for Deportivo Pereira in the second half on 2011.
Florida, Valle del Cauca
Florida is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia.Its first inhabitants: indigenous peoples, mestizos, afro-Latinos and mulattos, established a new and vibrant home to a mix of the many cultures existent in the South-Eastern region of Valle del Cauca...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
), is a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who plays for Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
.
Colombia
Zapata started his career in Colombia with América de CaliAmérica de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
and Real Cartagena
Real Cartagena
Real Cartagena, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Cartagena. The club was founded in 1971 and play their home games at the Estadio Jaime Morón León, which has a capacity of 20,000 approximately.-Current roster:As of Jan 28, 2011...
. In 2004 he moved 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...
where he had spells with Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
, Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
and Belgrano. In 2006 he joined La Serena
Club de Deportes La Serena
Club de Deportes La Serena S.A.D.P., is a Chilean football club based in the city of La Serena, Coquimbo Region. The club was founded December 9, 1955 and plays in the first division of the Chilean football league. Their home games are played at the La Portada stadium, which has a capacity of...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
before returning to Colombia to play for Cúcuta Deportivo
Cúcuta Deportivo
Corporación Nuevo Cúcuta Deportivo is a football club based in the city of Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia. The club was officially founded on September 10, 1924 and plays its home games at the General Santander Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000....
.
Steaua Bucureşti
Rufay, as he's called by his colleagues, joined Steaua a few years agoOn July 23, 2007: Steaua bought Zapata for € 500.000 and signed a four-year contract with Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
nSteaua Bucureşti from Cúcuta Deportivo
Cúcuta Deportivo
Corporación Nuevo Cúcuta Deportivo is a football club based in the city of Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia. The club was officially founded on September 10, 1924 and plays its home games at the General Santander Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000....
.
During the season's first half, he became the most appreciated player in the Romanian team. (seen in this statistic made by Steaua supporters). After a mediocre second year at Steaua, Rufay became the first option as a goalkeeper after Ciprian Tătăruşanu
Ciprian Tatarusanu
Anton Ciprian Tătărușanu is a Romanian footballer currently playing for Steaua Bucureşti.In June 2011, Napoli offered €3 million for the player, but the offer was rejected.- Club career :...
's mistakes, and showed outstanding form.
In the beginning of 2010–11 season, Rufay was demoted to the B squad
FC Steaua II Bucuresti
FC Steaua II Bucureşti was a Romanian professional football club from Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2004 and dissolved in 2011. It was the reserve team of Steaua Bucureşti.-Honours:Liga III:*Winners : 2008-09...
after the arrival of new coach Victor Piţurcă
Victor Piturca
Victor Piţurcă is a Romanian football manager and former player.-Club career:Piţurcă was one of the prolific strikers of Steaua Bucureşti, being one of the team's top scorers – he scored 137 goals in 174 league games...
. Soon after Piţurcă left the club, new coach Dumitrescu
Ilie Dumitrescu
Ilie Dumitrescu is a former Romanian football player and current coach, he last managed Steaua Bucureşti. A tricky forward, he shot to fame when his frontline partnership with Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Răducioiu led the Romania national football team to the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal,...
called him back to the first squad. On December 2010, Robinson Zapata ended the contract with Steaua.
Galatasaray
On 21 January 2011, Zapata agreed a one-and-a-half-year deal with TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
.
He has been in a bad shape since his arrival, with just two clean sheets in 13 games, with a shot/save ratio of 42%. In June 2011, Robinson Zapata was fired from Galatasasay, becoming a free agent. He returned to Colombia where he is set to play for Deportivo Pereira in the second half on 2011.
International career
- July 5, 2007: Zapata represented ColombiaColombia national football teamThe Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
at the Copa America 2007Copa América 2007The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams...
, playing against USAUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, but he was sent off in the 86th minute after being cautioned twice.
Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 |  Colombia Cúcuta Deportivo |
Colombian Primera A |
External links
Official FCSB profile- Róbinson Zapata Montaño's career - RomanianSoccer.ro
- Argentine Primera statistics - Futbolxxi.com (Spanish)