The final whistle is blowing for Alberto Zapater, a midfielder known for his grit and incredible staying power. The Spanish player, who once laced up for Sporting in the 2010/11 season, is hanging up his boots at 40 years old. His current Canadian club, Atlético Ottawa, broke the news this past Thursday.
The club didn’t hold back their affection for Zapater. On their social media, they posted a heartfelt message saying, “Zapater! We love you!” They urged fans to come out on Sunday for the home game against Vancouver. It will be the Ottawa team’s last home match of the Canadian Premier League season. They want everyone to celebrate the “illustrious career of this Spanish football icon” in what will be an emotional send-off. Zapater’s very last professional game will actually be on the 18th of the month, when Atlético Ottawa travels to face HFX Wanderers.
Zapater first stepped onto the big stage in Spanish football during the 2004/05 season with Zaragoza. His journey then took him to Italy in 2009/10, where he played for Genoa. From there, he moved to Sporting, then on to Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow, where he stayed until 2015. It was quite a tour across European leagues for the dependable midfielder.
The very next year, in 2016, Zapater made a beloved return to his roots at Zaragoza. He remained a cornerstone of the team right up until May 2023. That’s when he decided to take on a new adventure, signing with Atlético Ottawa. Throughout his long career, Zapater has played in over 600 professional matches. A huge chunk of those, 422 games, were proudly worn in the Zaragoza jersey. Only two legends, José Luis Violeta and Xavi Aguado, have played more games for the club, both hitting 473 appearances.
During his single season with Sporting, Zapater was a familiar face on the pitch. He played 34 times for the Portuguese giants, managing to score four goals during that period. He played under two different coaches at Sporting, Paulo Sérgio and José Couceiro. His career has been a testament to dedication and enduring passion for the beautiful game.