Rony Azar

Rony Charbel Azar (Arabic: روني شربل عازار‎; born 20 February 1983) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Lebanese Second Division club Racing Beirut.

Rony Azar
Personal information
Full name Rony Charbel Azar
Date of birth (1983-02-20) 20 February 1983
Place of birth Jernaya, Lebanon
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Racing Beirut
Number 10
Youth career
1996–2002 Nejmeh Sahraa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Nejmeh Sahraa
2005–2018 Safa (25)
2016–2018 → Tripoli (loan) 18 (2)
2018– Racing Beirut 9 (0)
National team
2003–2004 Lebanon U23
2004 Lebanon 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 July 2019

Coming through the youth system, Azar began his career at Nejmeh Sahraa, helping them win the Lebanese Third Division in 2002–03 and gain promotion to the Lebanese Second Division. In 2005 Azar moved to Safa in the Lebanese Premier League, staying there 10 seasons. During his stay, he helped Safa win multiple cups, most notably the club's first two league titles. He was also runner-up at the 2008 AFC Cup. Azar moved on a two-year loan to Tripoli, before joining Racing Beirut in 2018.

Azar played for the Lebanon national under-23 team between 2003 and 2004, during the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifiers. He also represented the senior side in 2004 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, playing three games.

Club career

Growing up in the Sin el Fil district of Beirut, Azar began his career at Nejmeh Sahraa in 1996, aged 13.[1] He helped his side win the Lebanese Third Division in 2002–03,[2] gaining promotion to the Lebanese Second Division.[3]

In 2005, Azar moved to Lebanese Premier League club Safa.[4] He helped the club lift their first two league titles, in 2011–12 and 2012–13, their first two Lebanese Elite Cups (2009 and 2012),[5] and their first Lebanese Super Cup (2013).[5] Azar also won a Lebanese FA Cup with Safa, in 2012–13.[5] Azar was also runner-up at the 2008 AFC Cup with Safa, losing the final 10–5 on aggregate to Al-Muharraq.[6][7] Azar scored 25 league goals In his 10 seasons at Safa.[4]

In 2016 Azar moved on a two-year loan to Tripoli, from Safa.[8] He stayed there two seasons, scoring two league goals in 18 games in total.[4] In 2018 Racing Beirut bought Azar from Safa on a permanent deal.[8]

International career

Azar played for the Lebanon national under-23 team at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifiers, helping his side qualify to the second round of qualifications.[3] His international senior debut for Lebanon came on 9 June 2004, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification game against the Maldives; Lebanon won 3–0.[4] Azar played three games for Lebanon, all in 2004 at the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.[4]

Style of play

Azar is known for being a prolific goalscorer from the bench; he is also well known for diving in the penalty area, often being defined as an "actor".[9]

Personal life

On 15 September 2020, Azar tested positive for COVID-19.[10]

Honours

Club

Nejmeh Sahraa

Safa

References
  1. "roni azar". www.abdogedeon.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. "الصفحة 18 (10-5-2003)". Carlos Charles. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. "Al-jazirah". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Rony Azar". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. "Lebanon - List of Cup Winners". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. "Asian Club Competitions 2008". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. "AFC Cup Final Flashback: AL Muharraq V SAFA (2008)". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. "منتديات كووورة". forum.kooora.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  9. "عازار والمحمد على رأس البدلاء الهدافين في لبنان". كووورة. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  10. "إصابة روني عازار بكورونا". كووورة. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
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