Born: Pécs, Hungary, 22 April 1979
Position: Attacking midfielder/winger
International caps: 97
International goals: 26
Signed: 11 June 2008 from West Bromwich Albion (free transfer)
Fulham debut: Hull City 2-1 Fulham, 16 August 2008
Fulham appearances: 120
Fulham goals: 17
Honours: UEFA Europa League runners-up (2009-10).
Sold: 16 June 2011 (released).
Classy Hungarian midfielder Zoltan Gera struggled in his first few months at Craven Cottage after making a Bosman move from West Bromwich Albion. Gera himself admitted he played well below his best in the opening season in SW6 but there were still some special highlights such as the superb bicycle kick that clinched a famous victory over Manchester United in 2009.
A switch of position to the number ten role, enforced by injury to Andy Johnson, saw Gera strike up a telepathic understanding with Bobby Zamora during Fulham’s fine run to the Europa League final. Between them the pair scored twelve of Fulham’s 21 goals in Europe, with Gera securing Fulham’s place in the final with a late, late winner over Hamburg that lifted the roof off the old Cottage.
Gera was deservedly voted Fulham’s player of the season for 2009/10 but, after Hodgson left for Liverpool, he found first team opportunities drastically curtailed under Mark Hughes. The creative midfielder started just ten league games in the following campaign and was sent off on his final appearance against Arsenal. He returned to the Hawthorns on a free transfer and was reunited with Hodgson shortly afterwards. Gera went on to represent Hungary in the 2016 European Championships, the first time his country had qualified for a major finals in forty years, and scored a sensational strike against Portugal in the final group game to become the competition’s oldest scorer from open play.
Gera finished his playing career at Ferencvaros and went into coaching. He was appointed Hungary’s under 21 head coach in June 2019 and is also an assistant manager with the senior side.
