Ron-Robert Zieler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ron-Robert Zieler

Zieler with VfB Stuttgart in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Ron-Robert Zieler
Date of birth	(1989-02-12) 12 February 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth	Cologne, West Germany
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	1. FC Köln
Youth career
1994–1999	SCB Viktoria Köln
1999–2005	1. FC Köln
2005–2008	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2010	Manchester United	0	(0)
2008–2009	→ Northampton Town (loan)	2	(0)
2010–2011	Hannover 96 II	15	(0)
2010–2016	Hannover 96	185	(0)
2016–2017	Leicester City	9	(0)
2017–2019	VfB Stuttgart	68	(0)
2019–2025	Hannover 96	158	(0)
2020–2021	→ 1. FC Köln (loan)	1	(0)
2025–	1. FC Köln	0	(0)
International career
2004–2005	Germany U16	5	(0)
2005–2006	Germany U17	11	(0)
2007	Germany U18	1	(0)
2008	Germany U19	10	(0)
2009	Germany U20	5	(0)
2011–2015	Germany	6	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Germany FIFA World Cup Winner 2014 Brazil UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner 2008 Czech Republic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 July 2025

Ron-Robert Zieler (born 12 February 1989) is a German professional football player. He is a goalkeeper for the Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln. He also played for the German national team from 2011 to 2015.

Ron-Robert started his career at Manchester United, but he played his first professional game while on loan at Northampton Town. In 2010, he moved to Hannover 96, where he played many games for six years. He even played every single Bundesliga game in his last five seasons there! After a short time with Leicester City, he joined VfB Stuttgart in 2017, then went back to Hannover in 2019.

As a young player, Ron-Robert played for Germany's youth teams. He helped them win the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He played his first game for the senior national team in 2011. He was also part of the German squads that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2012 and won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Ron-Robert Zieler's Football Journey

Starting Out in Germany and England

Ron-Robert Zieler was born in Cologne, Germany. He began playing football with his local club, SCB Viktoria Köln. In 2001, he joined 1. FC Köln.

In July 2005, when he was 16, he moved to England. He joined Manchester United as a young player in training. He had already finished his school education in Germany before moving.

Time at Manchester United

In his first year at Manchester United, Ron-Robert played 22 games for the Under-18 team. He was also a substitute in 11 reserve team matches. He even won a medal when the reserve team won the Manchester Senior Cup.

The next season, he shared goalkeeping duties with another young player, Ben Amos. Ron-Robert played his first game for the reserve team on 15 March 2007. He later helped the team win the Manchester Senior Cup again in May 2008.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Ron-Robert was given a first-team squad number. This meant he was closer to playing for the main team. He was a substitute for a League Cup game on 23 September 2008.

Loan to Northampton Town

On 28 November 2008, Ron-Robert went on loan to Northampton Town. This was to help them out as they needed another goalkeeper. His loan was extended a few times.

He played his first game for Northampton Town on 21 February 2009. He played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 loss. He played one more game before returning to Manchester United on 26 February. He had been on loan for 93 days, which was the longest allowed at that time.

Back at Manchester United

After returning to Manchester United, Ron-Robert went back to playing for the reserve team. However, in March 2009, he broke his arm during a game. He returned to play in the 2009–10 pre-season, but it was hard for him to get his spot back in the reserve team.

Playing for Hannover 96

Zieler training at Hannover 96

On 22 April 2010, Ron-Robert signed a two-year contract with the German team Hannover 96. He officially joined the club on 1 July 2010.

His good performances for Hannover 96's second team helped him get promoted to the main team. He made his Bundesliga debut on 16 January 2011. He kept a clean sheet, meaning the other team didn't score, and his team won 3–0. He became the main goalkeeper for the rest of that season.

Before the 2011–12 season, Ron-Robert signed a new contract to stay with Hannover until June 2015. He also changed his shirt number to 1. He played his first Europa League game that season, helping his team reach the group stage. He played a lot of minutes in all competitions that year.

In the 2012–13 season, Ron-Robert started well. He saved two penalties in a shootout during a cup game, helping Hannover win. He continued to be the main goalkeeper for the team.

Before the 2013–14 season, there were rumors that Liverpool wanted to sign him. However, Hannover wanted him to stay and keep growing as a player. He stayed and kept a clean sheet in the first game of the season. In December 2013, he played his 100th league game for the club.

In August 2014, Ron-Robert signed another contract with Hannover, keeping him until 2017. In November 2014, he broke a club record by playing his 120th game in a row. He continued to be the main goalkeeper for the 2014–15 season.

Zieler being interviewed in 2015.

Before the 2015–16 season, the new manager thought Ron-Robert might become the team captain. However, another player was chosen instead. Ron-Robert did get to be captain for his first time on 12 September 2015. In November 2015, he broke another club record by playing his 153rd game, which was more than any other goalkeeper for Hannover. He captained the team ten more times that season. Sadly, Hannover was relegated from the Bundesliga that year.

On 16 April 2016, it was announced that Ron-Robert would leave Hannover. He wanted to keep playing in top-level football. He had played in every single one of Hannover's 34 league games for five seasons in a row. He also faced more shots than almost any other goalkeeper in the 2015–16 Bundesliga season.

Moving to Leicester City

On 3 June 2016, Ron-Robert returned to England. He signed a four-year deal with Leicester City, who had just won the Premier League. He said he couldn't miss the chance to join the English champions and play in the Champions League.

He played his first game for Leicester on 27 August 2016. However, he didn't play much because the main goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, was usually fit. Ron-Robert only played 13 games for Leicester. After just one season, the club decided to sell him.

Time at VfB Stuttgart

On 11 July 2017, Ron-Robert signed a three-year contract with VfB Stuttgart, a team that had just been promoted to the Bundesliga. In his first season, the team did well, finishing in 7th place. Ron-Robert played in every single match.

In his second season, Stuttgart struggled a lot. They finished 16th and were eventually relegated after losing in the play-offs. Ron-Robert played in every match again, but it was a tough season for the team. In one game, he accidentally caused an own goal after touching the ball from a throw-in. Stuttgart still won that game.

Back to Hannover 96

After Stuttgart was relegated, they decided to change their goalkeeping plans. So, in June 2019, Ron-Robert returned to his old club, Hannover 96. They had also been relegated that season.

Hannover played in the second division in the 2019–20 season and didn't manage to get back to the Bundesliga. Ron-Robert was the main goalkeeper for most of the year. However, he later fell out of favor with the manager. In August 2020, the club chairman said publicly that Ron-Robert was no longer in their first-team plans.

Joining 1. FC Köln

Since Hannover 96 made it clear Ron-Robert wouldn't be playing for them, his old youth club, 1. FC Köln, became interested. On 13 August 2020, the club announced they had signed Ron-Robert on a one-year loan deal.

Ron-Robert Zieler returned to 1. FC Köln permanently for the 2025–26 season. He signed a two-year contract with the club.

Playing for Germany

Zieler playing for the national team against Ukraine on 11 November 2011.

In 2008, Ron-Robert was the goalkeeper for the German under-19 team that won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He also played with the U-20 team in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He was called up to the senior national team in August 2011. On 11 November 2011, Ron-Robert, who was 22, played his first game for the senior team. It was a 3–3 draw against Ukraine. He was the 50th player to make his debut under coach Joachim Löw.

On 28 May 2012, Ron-Robert was chosen as the third goalkeeper for the German squad for the 2012 European Championship. Germany reached the semi-finals. On 15 August 2012, he started in a friendly game against Argentina. He was sent off, becoming the first German goalkeeper to get a red card for the national team.

On 2 June 2014, Ron-Robert was again named the third goalkeeper for the German squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Germany reached the final and won the World Cup for the fourth time! However, he was not included in the squad for the 2016 European Championship.

Personal Life

On New Year's Eve 2015, Ron-Robert was staying at a hotel in Dubai when a fire broke out. He was on the 12th floor but escaped safely. He then returned to Germany.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Honours and Awards

Germany U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2008

Germany

• FIFA World Cup: 2014

See also

In Spanish: Ron-Robert Zieler para niños