Zoltán Gera

Zoltán Gera ( ; born 22 April 1979 in Pécs) is a Hungary national football team footballer who plays for England club Fulham FC after signing from West Bromwich Albion on 1 July 2008. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder.

Personal life

Gera is married and became the father of a baby girl named Hanna in March 2008; following the birth he was given leave by his national team manager Péter Várhidi to miss Hungary's friendly against Slovenia national football team in order to spend time with his family.

In 2005, he featured in a television advertisement for Pepsi, representing the 2006 FIFA World Cup alongside Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos da Silva, Ronaldinho and Raúl González.

Club career

Career in Hungary

Gera captured the Hungarian Football Federation domestic league and cup double for Ferencvárosi TC.

West Bromwich Albion

Gera joined West Bromwich Albion F.C. in July 2004 from Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC for £1.5 million. He signed a three-year deal with Albion, with a further one year option at the club's option.

He made his FA Premier League début on 14 August 2004, replacing Andy Johnson (Welsh footballer) in the 87th minute. That match ended in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers F.C.. His first time in the starting eleven came on 25 August 2004, against Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. He also scored his first FA Premier League goal early in the third minute. That match ended, also, in a 1–1 draw.

He managed to score 6 league goals in his first season and was the only player of his team to appear in all 38 league matches. He helped West Brom stay in the Premiership.

Following the success of West Bromwich Albion F.C. remaining in the FA Premier League, Gera was noticed by many clubs. Aston Villa F.C. claimed interest in him but he remained at West Bromwich.
He was named Hungarian Player of the Year in 2002, 2004 and again in 2005.

Since the start of the 2005-06 in English football season he used to struggle constantly with niggling injuries and finally underwent hernia operation in November 2005. Without Gera, West Brom were relegated, but he committed himself to the club in a bid for them to get back into the top flight.

His performance in Albion's 4–2 win against Charlton Athletic F.C. on 15 December 2007—scoring twice and setting up a third—earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.

Fulham

On 9 June 2008 Gera turned down a new contract at West Brom, having decided instead to join Fulham F.C. on a free transfer. The three-year contract was completed on 11 June 2008. He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Hull City A.F.C. on the opening day of the Premier League 2008–09.

Career Statistics

(Statistics correct as of 30 August, 2008)

International career

Gera earned his first international cap (sport) on 13 February 2002 in a 2–1 defeat to Switzerland national football team. His first international goal was the first of a hat trick on 16 October 2002 in a match against San Marino national football team. Gera was named captain of the Hungary national football team in 2004 and his first match as skipper ended in a 3–1 victory over Latvia national football team.

Quotes

- "He's taken a lot of stuff on board but it doesn't surprise me because of the character he is. He's a great lad to have about the place. He always has a smile on his face and he'll do anything you ask of him in training. Those are the sort of players you want around you. Nearly every manager or coach I talk to at games speaks about Zoltán." — Bryan Robson, WBA
- "The Hungarian was probably West Brom's best player last season with a string of energetic and effective performances down the right. He has an eye for goal too." — Manchester Online
- "I especially like Zoltán Gera on the right, who is a skilful and productive player. If the Baggies do go down, he's the type of player you'd look to pinch." — Mark Lawrenson
- "The 26-year-old has already achieve cult hero status at the Hawthorns after a season where his contribution has played no small part in the Baggies miraculously avoiding the drop." — soccernet.com
- "The Hungarian international has been dubbed by many as the best player outside of the Premier League." - FansFc.com
- "The captain of Hungary and one of the most complete attacking midfielders in the Football League - he's intelligent and unselfish, he scores goals and he sets goals up. On his day, of which there have been many so far this season, he is too good for the Championship." - Oliver Irish (The Guardian)

Honours

Club

Ferencvárosi TC
- Borsodi Liga: 2001, 2004
- - Runners-up: 2002, 2003
- Hungarian Cup: 2003, 2004
- Hungarian Super Cup: 2004

West Bromwich Albion F.C.
- Football League Championship: 2008

Individual

- Player of the Year in Hungary: 2002
- Hungarian Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2005
- Supporters voted and Gera received the 'Tibor Simon Prize': 2003
- Best goalscorer and best player of the Hungarian Inside Football Championship with Ferencvárosi TC: 2003
- Hungarian weekly 100% Fradi named him in the Ferencvárosi TC Team of the Century: 2004
- Named in the 2004/05 Premiership all-star team (soccernet.com)
- Third on the Best Rookie Player of the Season vote of magazin Match: 2004/05
- Fifth on ITV television's Best Foreign Rookie of the Season vote: 2004/05
- According to English site squarefootball.net he was the best player of West Brom in 2005
- The Championship Footballer of the Year : 2007/08 (The Guardian)
- Named in the 2007/08 The Championship all-star team (The Guardian)