Zoltán Gera
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| Zoltán Gera | ||
| ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 22 1979 | |
| Place of birth | Pécs,  Hungary
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| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |
| Playing position | Forward | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club |  West Bromwich Albion
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| Youth clubs | ||
| 1993–1996 | Pécsi Bőrgyár
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| Senior clubs | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls) |
| 1996–1997
1997–2000 | Harkány SE
| |
| National team | ||
| 1999–2000
2002–2009 | Hungary U21
| 3 ( 0)
71 ( 21) |
Contents |
Edit
Zoltán Gera (born 22 April 1979) is a Hungarian footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder, though he has also played on both the right and left wings throughout his career. He is well known for his overhead-kick goals and his cartwheel to back-flip celebration, which he demonstrated particularly in Fulham's Europa League quarter-final win against Juventus in April 2010. He has been named Hungarian Player of the Year three times in 2002, 2004, and 2005. For his efforts in the 2009–10 season and his goals in the Europa League, Gera was named Fulham's Player of the Season.
Club careerEdit
Early careerEdit
PAST CLUBSEdit
Gera joins Fulham from West Brom
Fulham have signed Zoltan Gera from West Bromwich Albion after the Hungarian midfielder passed a medical with the Premier League club.
The 29-year-old was out of contract at West Brom and, despite being offered a new deal, opted for a move to Fulham.
Gera is thought to have had offers from two other Premier League clubs but has signed a three-year deal with Fulham.
He signed for £1.5m from Hungary's Ferencvaros in July 2004 and scored 25 goals in 155 games for the Baggies.
Gera, who has 53 caps and has captained his country, becomes Fulham manager Roy Hodgson's third signing of the season, following after goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer on a free from Middlesbrough, and David Stockdale, who joined for a small fee from League Two Darlington.
Hodgson brought in six new signings during the January transfer window and has pledged to keep much-coveted midfielder Jimmy Bullard at the club.
However, 10 players have left the club, including former captain Brian McBride, fellow American defender Carlos Bocanegra, goalkeeper Tony Warner and midfielder Simon Elliott.
Another American, veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller, has not been offered an extension to his expired one-year contract and is likely to retire.
BBC Sport (11 June 2008)
West Brom open talks with Zoltan Gera
West Brom have confirmed they have opened talks with midfielder Zoltan Gera about a return to the Hawthorns.
But any deal will be subject to Gera proving his fitness after undergoing surgery on an ankle problem yesterday.
Gera spent four seasons at the Hawthorns before moving to Fulham in the summer of 2008.
He is a free agent after his contract at Craven Cottage expired last month.
Albion said in a statement: "In light of recent media speculation, Albion can confirm they are in discussions with former player Zoltan Gera and his advisors about a return to The Hawthorns.
"The Hungarian star decided to seek a new challenge after his Fulham contract expired on June 30 and he is now a free agent.
"The Baggies have opened contract talks with Gera, who became a firm fans' favourite during his previous four-year spell at the club between 2004 and 2008.
"The 32-year-old has undergone a Hawthorns medical, which revealed he was carrying an ankle injury from last season.
"Gera underwent surgery to rectify the problem yesterday and Albion have agreed to oversee his rehabilitation.
"If, as expected, he makes a full recovery - to the satisfaction of the club's medical staff - and agrees personal terms, he will rejoin Albion.
"Gera is not eligible for the first three games of the 2011-12 season after he was sent off in his final match for Fulham."
By John Curtis, PA (8 July 2011)
Zoltan Gera rejoins West Brom after Fulham exit
Zoltan Gera has returned to West Bromwich Albion on a two-year deal.
The Hungarian winger - who spent three years with the Baggies before moving to Fulham in June 2008 - was out of contract after his deal at Craven Cottage ended this summer.
While at Craven Cottage, Gera, 32, played under West Brom manager Roy Hodgson, who said: "I think it is a massive coup for the club."
"We've acquired not only a first-class player but a first-class person."
Gera's spell at Fulham saw him play 117 matches, scoring 17 goals. He was voted as Player of the season in 2009-10 as the club reached the Europa League final.
Hodgson signed Gera 
for Fulham and is delighted to again be working with the Hungarian international, saying: "The last time he played at West Bromwich Albion he was a very popular figure with everyone at the club, not least of all the fans.
"I know him well and admired him in the two years we worked together at Fulham, where he was an integral part of the team that did well during those years."
Gera is unavailable for the first three games of the season after being sent off in his final match for Fulham against Arsenal. He is also receiving treatment for an ankle injury and is likely to be available for selection by mid-September.
In his previous spell at The Hawthorns, Gera was part of the squad which won the Championship title in 2007-08.
BBC Sport (2 August 2011)
International careerEdit
Gera granted baby break by Hungary
Zoltan Gera is looking forward to 'holding the baby' after being given permission by Hungary coach Peter Varhidi to miss his country's friendly with Slovenia on Wednesday.
The Magyars star has been given time out to spend with his first-born child Hanna, who is just one-week old.
And the proud father almost had double cause for celebration on Friday night, with only the crossbar denying him a spectacular last-gasp winner at Charlton.
"I spoke to my national team coach and told him that I wanted to stay here because of my family," said Gera.
"I don't want to leave my wife alone with the baby.
"We have lots of games and I have a good relationship with my coach in Hungary so he has backed me and there is no problem.
"Sometimes we need a rest because there are too many games and too much travelling.
"When we get back from international duty, we just train with the team for one day on a Friday, which is not good enough."
Gera then quipped: "I have already changed a nappy so I am a good dad!
"I am enjoying every day and every minute and I'm looking forward to more.
"It's hard work, but not for me, for my wife really.
"I am happy."
Gera felt Albion deserved more than the point they picked up at The Valley as he helped lead a late siege on the Addicks' goal.
"It was a good game and the second half was good for us," he added.
"But after the game I have to say that one point was not good enough for us - we should have won.
"In the second half we controlled the game.
"We had a lot of chances and I think we were unlucky.
"I put too much power on the ball for my shot at the end.
"Maybe if it had been a bit slower the ball would have been in the net and not come back off the crossbar."
Tony Mowbray gathered his troops into a huddle at the final whistle.
And Gera has revealed the message the Baggies boss was eager to get across to his men ahead of next Saturday's crucial home clash with struggling Colchester (ko 3pm).
"We need to win the next home game but who knows what will happen?" the Albion midfielder added.
"In the huddle we spoke about the need to keep going like we did against Charlton.
"We need to keep playing like we did in this game and if we do that I think we will get automatic promotion.
"We need to stick together.
"The team has a good spirit and we spoke after the game about being ready for the next game.
"That's why we had the huddle."
Posted on: Wed 26 Mar 2008
Gera retires from Hungary
Fulham midfielder Zoltan Gera has announced his retirement from the Hungarian national team after being snubbed by coach Erwin Koeman for the World Cup qualifier against Denmark.
The 30-year-old was controversially stripped of the captaincy recently and it would seem the latest snub for the game against Denmark was the overriding factor in his decision to bring an end to his international career.
"I have told Erwin Koeman that I don't consider myself as a member of the squad anymore," Gera told reporters.
"In the past months I felt it several times that the national coach doesn't really believe in me and there were many things that were undeserving with me.
"I did my best and I accepted when my captain belt was taken away from me and I had to sit on the bench. I tried to prove my abilities with extra resolve.”
"The coach told me on Wednesday that I wouldn't play against Denmark. This time I decided to tell him my decision and added that I didn't want to bother the team in the evening with my presence," he added.
However, Gera who first made his debut with the Magical Magyars in 2002 and was named skipper way back in 2004, has not ruled out a return to the international fold.
"I don't say that the decision will last until the end of my career because it can happen in the far future that my name will be in the national team again - but it can also happen that I'll never play again," he affirmed.
Gera has won 63 caps with for his country scoring 18 goals.
2009-10-15 - Added by ExtraFootie
Career statisticsEdit
HonoursEdit
ClubEdit
IndividualEdit
External links and referencesEdit
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