Zoubeir Baya


Zoubeir Baya is a Tunisian former professional footballer with a distinguished career as one of his country's most accomplished football exports. Baya, an attacking midfielder, displayed considerable skill and enterprise on the international scene and provided the North African nation with vast international experience.
Twice named Tunisian Footballer of the Year, Baya suited up for his country at the 1998 World Cup in France and at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was also a key member of Tunisian sides that competed at the 1998, 2000 and 2002 African Nations Cup finals. He made his international swansong at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, retiring shortly afterwards.

Career

Born in M'saken, Baya began his football career at Étoile du Sahel, helping the Tunisian club win the African Cup Winners' Cup. He made his debut for Tunisia on 4 September 1994 against Guinea-Bissau where he scored his first international goal. Over the past eight years, he has become an integral player for his country, earning 81 caps and scoring 18 goals for his country.
His hard work at Étoile du Sahel did not go unnoticed, as 2. Bundesliga club SC Freiburg signed him to a contract in 1997. In four seasons in Germany, Baya established himself as a star player and a regular starter, scoring 21 goals.
In 2001, Baya was on the move again, this time venturing to Turkey after signing with Beşiktaş. Baya was instrumental in helping Tunisia qualify for its second consecutive World Cup finals. He started in all eight games during the qualification round and scored six goals, finishing as his country's top goal scorer and one of the bright spots on a team wracked by inconsistency in the previous year. After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he returned to Étoile du Sahel to play out the rest of his playing career.
After completing two seasons with Etoile du Sahel he returned to home club CS M'saken for a season in the Tunisian second division before retiring.

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
110 June 1994Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal1–22–2Friendly
210 June 1994Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal2–22–2Friendly
329 January 1995Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–01–01996 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
44 June 1995Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo1–01–01996 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
515 December 1995Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia3–14–1Friendly
62 January 1996Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–03–0Friendly
74 January 1996Princess Magogo Stadium, Durban, South Africa3–05–1Friendly
828 January 1996Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa1–01–11996 Africa Cup of Nations
931 January 1996Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa2–04–21996 Africa Cup of Nations
1012 January 1997Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–01–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1117 August 1997Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–04–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1217 August 1997Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia3–04–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1327 February 1999Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia4–06–02000 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
146 June 1999Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia2–02–02000 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
158 July 2000Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–01–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
1625 February 2001Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia5–06–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
179 May 2001Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia3–07–0Friendly
189 May 2001Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia7–07–0Friendly
191 July 2001Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia3–06–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
201 July 2001Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia5–06–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2115 July 2001Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Congo DR2–03–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2215 July 2001Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Congo DR3–03–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2320 March 2002Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway1 - 11–2Friendly
2430 April 2002Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia2–12–1Friendly
2525 May 2002Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait1–03–1Friendly
2625 May 2002Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait2–03–1Friendly
2725 May 2002Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait3–13–1Friendly