Zahir Zerdab
Zahir Zerdab | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 9, 1982 France |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (retired) |
| Years active | –2023 (amateur) |
| Known for | Midfielder for US Camon; capped by Algerian national team |
Zahir Zerdab (; born 9 January 1982) is a retired professional football player who currently competes at the amateur level as a midfielder for US Camon. Although born in France, he has been capped by the Algerian national side.
Club career
Zerdab’s football journey began with ASM Rivery before he transitioned to US Camon at the age of nine, where he spent ten years honing his skills. His career advanced through various tiers, starting from regional competitions and moving on to professional teams such as US Roye-Noyon, AS Beauvais Oise, Stade de Reims competing in Ligue 2, and S.V. Zulte Waregem in the top division of Belgium, the Belgian Pro League. In 2009, he transferred to Algeria to play for JSM Béjaïa.
On 16 June 2011, Zerdab departed from JSM Béjaïa to sign with FC Rouen in the Championnat National. Following Rouen’s administrative relegation despite achieving promotion on the pitch, he returned to Algerian football by joining CS Constantine and subsequently MO Béjaïa. During his stint with MO Béjaïa, he finished as runner-up in the 2014–15 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and netted the winning goal in the final of the 2015 Algerian Cup. His accomplishments at MO Béjaïa facilitated a move to MC Alger for the 2016–17 campaign.
After concluding his professional tenure in Algeria, Zerdab went back to France where he rejoined US Camon, participating for four seasons within regional leagues before spending a year at AC Amiens competing in the Championnat National 3. In 2023, at 41 years old, he made another return to US Camon and scored a decisive goal against a superior-ranked opponent during the fifth round of the 2023–24 Coupe de France.
International career
Zerdab earned his first cap for the Algerian A' National Team on 8 October 2010 in a friendly encounter versus Mali. He was included in the starting lineup and was substituted later on by Moustapha Djallit.