Ron-Robert Zieler

Ron-Robert Zieler (born 12 February 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96.

He began his football career with his hometown club SCB Viktoria Köln before joining 1. FC Köln in 2001.

In July 2005, he moved to England as a trainee with Manchester United.

By the time he moved to Manchester United, Zieler finished his education in Germany.

In his first season with Manchester United, Zieler played 22 times for the Under-18 side, including four in the FA Youth Cup.

He was also named as an unused substitute in 11 reserve matches, including the final of the Manchester Senior Cup, earning him a winners medal.

The following season, he shared Under-18 goalkeeping duties with Ben Amos, but also made his debut for the reserves on 15 March 2007, a 3–0 home defeat to Sheffield United.

Despite that inauspicious start, he made amends four days later by keeping a clean sheet in the 2–0 Manchester Senior Cup win over Oldham Athletic.

The 2007–08 season marked Zieler's emergence as a full member of the reserve team, as he and Tom Heaton shared the majority of the goalkeeping duties, each making 11 appearances.

A former German youth international, Zieler won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

In May 2008, Zieler won another Manchester Senior Cup winners medal, as he played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against Bolton Wanderers.

He then played in the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup at the end of July 2008, restricting Liverpool to just two goals as United won 3–2.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Zieler was given a first team squad number – 38 – for the first time.

He got his first taste of first team action on 23 September 2008, when he was named on the bench for United's 3–1 League Cup win over Middlesbrough.

On 28 November 2008, Zieler was sent on loan to Northampton Town until 31 December as cover for their one senior goalkeeper, Chris Dunn, as Frank Fielding's loan from Blackburn Rovers was coming to an end.

The loan was subsequently extended until 31 January 2009, and then extended again on 2 February until 25 February.

Zieler made his debut for Northampton Town on 21 February 2009, playing for the full 90 minutes of the Cobblers' 2–0 home defeat by Walsall.

He then played again three days later, in a 1–1 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion, before returning to Manchester United on 26 February after his loan spell reached 93 days.

The loan could not be extended as 93 days is the maximum loan spell allowed outside the transfer window.

Upon returning to Manchester United, Zieler recommenced his duties as reserve team goalkeeper, conceding just one goal in his first four games back.

However, in a match against Newcastle United Reserves on 30 March 2009, he suffered a broken arm after colliding with a Newcastle striker in mid-air.

He returned to action in the 2009–10 pre-season, but struggled to regain his position in the reserve team; his appearances throughout the season were sporadic and he was most often named as an unused substitute.

In 2010, he moved to Hannover 96, where he made 221 professional appearances across six seasons; he did not miss a Bundesliga game in any of his five final seasons.

On 22 April 2010, following a trial period, Zieler signed a two-year contract with German side Hannover 96.

The contract began on 1 July 2010 and also included the option for a one-year extension.

Upon joining the club, Zieler was given a number 20 shirt.

His consistent performances for Hannover 96 II earned him a promotion to the first team, appearing on the substitute bench against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 4 December 2010 and made his Bundesliga debut on 16 January 2011 away at Eintracht Frankfurt; he kept a clean sheet as his team won 3–0.

Since his debut, he was made the first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season, dropping Florian Fromlowitz to the bench.

Between 2011 and 2015, he made six appearances for the Germany national team.

He began his professional career at Manchester United, where he did not play a competitive match, making his debut on loan at Northampton Town.

He made his senior international debut in 2011, and was part of Germany's squads which reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2012 and won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Zieler was born in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.

However, Zieler suffered a shoulder injury and was substituted as a result after playing 52 minutes, which saw Hannover 96 lose 4–0 against his former club, 1. FC Köln, on 11 March 2011.

After returning to training, Zieler returned to the first team, in a 1–1 draw against Mainz on 9 April 2011.

Zieler went on to make fifteen appearances for the club in his first season.

Ahead of the 2011–12 season, it was announced on 24 June 2011 that Zieler signed a contract extension, keeping him until June 2015.

It came after Zieler was linked with a move to Schalke 04 as a replacement for Manuel Neuer, who joined Bayern Munich.

He also switched to the number 1 shirt previously worn by Fromlowitz, who transferred to MSV Duisburg.

The 2011–12 season saw Zieler make his first Europa League appearance in the Qualification Round against Sevilla, which saw them win 3–1 in the first leg.

Zieler joined Stuttgart in 2017 after one season with Leicester City.