Adrian Zahra (born 24 September 1990) is an
Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal A ...
professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
who plays for
National Premier League
The National Premier League, also known for sponsorship purposes as the Red Stripe Premier League, is sanctioned by the Jamaican Football Federation as the top division for men's association football in Jamaica. Contested between 12 clubs, it ...
club
Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United Alexander Football Club (founded as Alexander the Great-Melbourne Soccer Club) established in 1958 is a football (soccer) club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg West, Victoria, Australia. The team currently ...
.
Career
Melbourne Knights
Zahra started his career being coached by
Billy Vojtek in the youth system of
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in the suburb of Sunshine North, Melbourne. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, the second-tier of the Australian soccer league ...
before progressing to the senior side for the 2007–08 season.
He played nearly every game for the Knights in 2008 off the bench, but was soon loaned out to
Western Suburbs SC
Western Suburbs Soccer Club is an association football club based in the suburb of Sunshine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1965 and currently competes in the Victorian State League Division 2 North-West. Western Su ...
in 2009 in the league below, the
Victorian State League Division 1
State League 1 is a semi-professional association football league in Victoria, Australia. Sitting at level 4 of the Victorian league system, below the three NPL Victoria divisions, it forms part of the fifth tier of the overall Australian league ...
.
In 2010, Zahra returned to the Knights and capped off a sensational year with the club by receiving the 2010 Victorian Premier League U21 Player of the Year Award.
Melbourne Heart
While still with Melbourne Knights, Zahra made a trial appearance for new A-League side
Melbourne Heart
Melbourne City Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in the south–eastern Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne East, that plays in the A-League, the top level of Australian soccer, under licence from Australian Profession ...
, in an exhibition match against
Premier League
The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Fo ...
team
Everton on 14 July 2010, which Heart lost 2–0. Melbourne Heart went on to sign Zahra midway through their inaugural
2010-11 A-League season on a short-term contract upon the completion of the 2010 Victorian Premier League season. His contract was originally four weeks in length.
He made his début for the Heart in October 2010, in the first ever
Melbourne derby.
After an extended trial period, in which he scored two goals for Heart, he was signed by the club in December for an extra two years, his contract starting at the beginning of the 2011–12 season.
His season was cut short after an infamous incident during the third
Melbourne derby on 22 January 2011. He was tackled by
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Competing in the country's premier men's competition, the A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues (APL), Victor ...
's
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Vincent Muscat (born 7 August 1973) is an Australian former association football player and the current manager of Yokohama F. Marinos. As a player, he represented the Australia national team at international level winning 46 caps and sco ...
late in the game, which made worldwide headlines.
As a result, Zahra sustained a serious knee injury in his right leg. Muscat received a
red card A red card is a type of penalty card that is shown in many sports after a rules infraction.
Red card may also refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media
* ''Red Card'' (album), 1976 release by Streetwalkers
* Red card, suit (cards) of hearts or d ...
for the tackle and was subsequently handed an 8-match ban. Zahra was substituted out of the match, being unable to continue playing. He missed the remainder of the season due to the injury.
Surgery was required on his knee.
Perth Glory
On 27 April 2012, Zahra signed with the
Perth Glory. He made eight appearances for Perth in his first season there, including one goal against Adelaide United in Round 27. The following season, Zahra made 10 appearances, scoring two goals. After the completion of his contract at the end of the 2013–14 season, Zahra left the Glory.
Valletta
Zahra then signed his first overseas contract, penning a deal with Maltese side Valletta. His stay there was only short lived, making five appearances and scoring two goals before being released in early December 2014.
NPL Victoria
Zahra's return to
Melbourne Knights FC
Melbourne Knights Football Club is an Australian professional Association football, soccer club based in the suburb of Sunshine North, Victoria, Sunshine North, Melbourne. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, t ...
was confirmed by the club on 16 February 2015, days before the start of the 2015 NPL Victoria season. The winger left the Knights in mid-2015 to sign for NPL Victoria rivals
Port Melbourne SC
Port Melbourne SC is an Australian soccer club based in Port Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1968 by local Greek Australians, and was promoted over the years to the Victorian Premier League in 1994. It spent ...
. At Port Melbourne, Zahra made 33 appearances and netted two goals.
He left Port Melbourne at the end of the 2016 season to sign with league heavyweights
Heidelberg United FC
Heidelberg United Alexander Football Club (founded as Alexander the Great-Melbourne Soccer Club) established in 1958 is a football (soccer) club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg West, Victoria, Australia. The team currently ...
for the 2017 season.
Personal life
Zahra is of Maltese, Italian descent. He attended high school at
Penola Catholic College
{{Infobox school
, name = Penola Catholic College
, image = Pcc Logo.png
, country = Australia
, type = Private, co-ed, Catholic school, day school
, established = 1995
, principal =Mr. Caldow
, enrolment = 1,490
, campuses = Broadmead ...
.
References
External links
Adrian Zahravideo press interview on The World Game (SBS)
Heart TV interview with Adrian Zahrainterview with Zahra on Melbourne Heart's official YouTube channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zahra, Adrian
1990 births
Living people
Association football midfielders
Melbourne Knights FC players
Melbourne City FC players
Australian people of Maltese descent
Australian people of Italian descent
A-League Men players
Perth Glory FC players
Valletta F.C. players
Soccer players from Melbourne
National Premier Leagues players
Port Melbourne SC players
Australian expatriate soccer players
Heidelberg United FC players
Australian soccer players