Zakaria Labyad

Zakaria Labyad (Arabic: زكريا لبيض‎, Berber languages: ⵣⴰⴽⴰⵔⵉⵢⵢⴰ ⵍⴰⴱⵢⴰⴹ; born 9 March 1993) is a Dutch-born Moroccan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ajax in the Eredivisie.

Zakaria Labyad
Labyad with Utrecht in 2017
Personal information
Full name Zakaria Labyad
Date of birth (1993-03-09) 9 March 1993
Place of birth Utrecht, Netherlands
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 19
Youth career
USV Elinkwijk
2004–2009[2] PSV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 PSV 45 (8)
2012–2016 Sporting CP 19 (2)
2014–2015 → Vitesse (loan) 45 (11)
2016 → Fulham (loan) 2 (0)
2017–2018 FC Utrecht 43 (14)
2018– Ajax 29 (7)
National team‡
2009 Netherlands U17 3 (0)
2011–2016 Morocco U23 17 (7)
2012– Morocco 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:30, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

The player has previously represented the Netherlands U17 team at international level before switching his allegiance to Morocco and playing for them at the Under-23 level.

Club career

PSV

Born in Utrecht, Labyad came through the youth program of PSV. In January 2009, he extended his contract with PSV until the summer of 2012.[3] Before joining PSV, Labyad played for USV Elinkwijk. Labyad made his debut in the senior team on 25 February 2010 in a UEFA Europa League home match against Hamburger SV, coming on as a substitute for Otman Bakkal in the 71st minute.[4] Three days later, Labyad also made his debut in the Eredivisie, coming on as a substitute for Balázs Dzsudzsák in a match against RKC Waalwijk.[5] On 18 April 2010, Labyad made his first appearance in the starting line-up in a home match against FC Groningen.[6] Labyad's selection in the starting line-up paid immediate dividends, with him scoring two goals in the 3–1 victory.[6] In the last match of the 2009–10 season, Labyad was again in the starting lineup in a 1–1 draw against Alkmaar.[7] Labyad more or less became a regular in the starting 11 in the 2011–12 season and experienced a great deal of success. He played in 32 matches and scored 6 goals. He scored a goal in the KNVB Beker semi final against Heerenveen and followingly won the cup with PSV.

Sporting CP

On 3 April 2012, Sporting CP's president revealed that Labyad will join the Portuguese team for the 2012–13 season, on a free transfer, signing a 5-year deal contract. However, on 23 May, PSV's technical director Marcel Brands told Dutch media that Labyad's contract was extended for another year since Labyad failed to formally terminate his contract before the legal deadline of 15 May.[8]

On 2 July 2012, he officially joined Sporting.[9] In his first season, he made 27 appearances for the club in which he scored three times.

Vitesse (loan)

In January 2014, after not playing a single match for Sporting during the first half of the season, Labyad was sent on loan to Dutch side Vitesse until the summer of 2015.[10]

Return to Sporting CP

Labyad returned to Sporting CP for the 2015–16 Primeira Liga season to work with new Sporting CP manager Jorge Jesus who insisted upon Labyad's return as part of him agreeing to accept the Sporting CP job offer. Indeed, Labyad was viewed as a "pilar" for the new Sporting CP by Jorge Jesus.[11]

Fulham (loan)

On 1 February 2016, Labyad moved on loan to Fulham until the end of the 2015–16 season.[12] On 31 August 2016, Sporting CP announced that both parties had agreed to terminate the contract.[13]

Utrecht

On 5 January 2017, Labyad signed for Eredivisie side FC Utrecht until 2019.[14]

AFC Ajax

On 14 May 2018, Labyad signed for Eredivisie side AFC Ajax. He signed a four-season contract until June 2022.[15]

Personal life

Labyad has said that he looks up to former PSV team-mate Ibrahim Afellay, stating “Ibrahim is my friend. I have a lot of respect for him, not only because he plays in the same position as me, but also because as a person, he’s someone I look up to.”[16] During his time at PSV, Labyad lived in Utrecht with his family, so he had to commute by train every day to Eindhoven.[17] He followed an education in "Sport & Activity" at the ROC Eindhoven.[17]

Career statistics
As of 17 January 2021[18][19][20][21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
PSV 2009–10 Eredivisie 62001072
2010–11 703021121
2011–12 326641024812
Total 458941336715
Sporting CP 2012–13 Primeira Liga 1922061273
Vitesse (loan) 2013–14 Eredivisie 1630000163
2014–15 29821–319
Total 451121004712
Fulham 2015–16 Championship 2000–20
Total 20000020
Utrecht 2016–17 Eredivisie 14310–153
2017–18 291111623614
Total 441821625117
Ajax 2018–19 Eredivisie 1215330204
2019–20 21001031
2020–21 1451250207
Total 28765904312
Career total 18242211134623759


Appearances and goals by club, season and competition for B-teams
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting CP B2015–16Segunda Liga14300–143
Total 1430000143
Jong FC Utrecht2016–17Eerste Divisie20——20
Total 20000020

Honours

Club

PSV

Ajax

References
  1. https://www.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/selectie/speler/zakaria-labyad.htm?dbpage=426352
  2. "Zakaria Labyad". footballzz.co.uk. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  3. "Zakaria Labyad signs new deal with PSV". PSV.nl. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  4. "Report: PSV Eindhoven vs Hamburg SV – UEFA Europa League". ESPN Soccernet. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  5. "Report: PSV Eindhoven vs RKC Waalwijk – Dutch Eredivisie". ESPN Soccernet. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  6. "Report: PSV Eindhoven vs FC Groningen – Dutch Eredivisie". ESPN Soccernet. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  7. "Report: AZ Alkmaar 1–1 PSV Eindhoven". ESPN Soccernet. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  8. "Labyad: 'Voor mij is Brands niet meer dan een conciërge'" (in Dutch). VI.nl. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  9. "Labyad signs in at Alvalade". Sporting CP. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  10. "Vitesse haalt Labyad per direct naar Arnhem". Voetbalprimeur. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  11. "Komst Labyad voorwaarde voor opvallende overstap Jesus". Voetbal International. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  12. "Fulham sign Rohan Ince and Zakaria Labyad on loan". BBC Sport. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  13. "Sporting SAD statement: Zakaria Labyad". 31 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  14. "FC Utrecht legt Zakaria Labyad vast – FC Utrecht". www.fcutrecht.nl. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  15. "Transfer Labyad naar Ajax is afgerond". www.ad.nl. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  16. "Rising Dutch star after Funsu Ojo – Zakaria Labyad". The Offside. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  17. "Zakaria Labyad: "Beide benen op de grond"" (in Dutch). PSV.nl. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  18. "Zakaria Labyad » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  19. "Z. Labyad". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  20. "Zakaria Labyad Statistics". PSV.nl. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  21. "Zakaria Labyad Statistics". Voetbal International. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  22. "PSV VS. HERACLES 3 - 0". Soccerway. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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