Christian Fernando Noboa Tello (; born 9 April 1985) is an Ecuadorian former footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Club career
Emelec Christian started out at Emelec.
Rubin Kazan
2007–2012 Christian was transferred in 2007 to FC Rubin Kazan of the Russian Premier League. In 2008, he helped Rubin win its first title of the RPL in history. In 2009, he played in the UEFA Champions League. On 29 September 2010, as a captain, Noboa helped Rubin Kazan obtain a draw against FC Barcelona in a Champions League match by scoring his side's only goal from a penalty kick.
Dynamo Moscow
2012 On 26 January 2012 Noboa signed with Dynamo Moscow for £8 million. His first match for Dynamo was on 5 March, in a 0–1 home loss to Anzhi Makhachkala. He played in 10 league matches for Dynamo in the 2012 season.
2012–13 His first match of the season was on 21 July, in 0–1 away loss to Volga Nizhny Novgorod. His first goal for club and season was on 25 August, in a 3–2 away win against Lokomotiv Moscow, which he later celebrated with tears after not having scored for a while. His next goal came in a 1–2 home loss to Kuban Krasnodar. His third goal of the first half of the season came in a 5–1 away win against league leaders CSKA Moscow. On 5 April Noboa scored a free-kick goal, in a 1–1 away draw against FK Amkar Perm'. On 21 April, Noboa scored the first goal in a 3–3 away draw against Anzhi.
2013–14 On 3 August he scored the winning goal against Terek Grozny (1–0).
2014–15 It was confirmed on 29 December 2014 that Noboa would not renegotiate terms with his club and is open to offers. On 31 December, the official site of FC Dynamo Moscow issued statement thanking Noboa for his services and wishing him good luck.
P.A.O.K. On 7 January 2015, it was confirmed that Noboa would be joining PAOK FC on a 2.5 year contract. In an interview given to a radio station in Ecuador, Noboa revealed that his buy-out clause at PAOK is in the region of €1.5 million. Even though there is not any formal interest yet, Noboa hinted that he could be tempted to move away from PAOK if a Mexican club makes an approach.“I like the prospect of playing in Mexico. I hope that something concrete may come up. I would be open to play in a club there,” Noboa has reportedly said. On 8 January, he made his debut with the club in a 1–0 home win against Platanias, and scored his first goal on 21 February in a 3–1 away win against Veria.
He was in contention for the first two games in the Super League play-offs as he is set to travel to Ecuador late in May in order to start preparations for the Copa America. The Ecuadorian midfielder revealed that he will fly to his homeland on 27 May in order to be in contention with his National Team ahead of the tournament in Latin America which goes underway two weeks later.
Rostov On 29 July 2015, Noboa signed a two-year contract with Russian Premier League side FC Rostov. He scored a goal on his Rostov debut in a 1–0 win over FC Amkar Perm on 28 August 2015.
Zenit On 4 June 2017, Noboa signed a three-year deal with FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Return to Rubin Kazan On 18 February 2018, Noboa returned to Rubin on loan from Zenit until the end of the 2017–18 season.
Sochi On 5 August 2019, he signed a 2-year contract with Russian Premier League newcomers PFC Sochi, joining several other former Zenit players on the squad. As of 25 August 2020, Noboa scored nine goals for FC Sochi, including a late goal against FC Tambov on the matchday 5.«Сочи» вырвал победу в матче с «Тамбовом» благодаря голу Нобоа (Sochi claimed a win against Tambov thanks to Noboa's goal) On 19 January 2023, Noboa extended his contract with Sochi for the 2023–24 season, with an option for 2024–25 season.
Return to Emelec On 24 January 2024, Sochi announced Noboa's return to Emelec.
International career
Noboa was called up to the Ecuador national team for a series of two unofficial friendly matches in late 2006 against Spanish provincial sides.
Under Sixto Vizuete's current management, he made his official debut against Brazil in a 2010 World Cup qualifiers. In the match, Noboa scored a wonderful goal to tie the game in the 89th minute for his first international goal. Noboa may have saved Ecuador's qualification dreams as he scored his second goal in as many games against Paraguay on 1 April 2009. On 7 June 2009, in a World Cup qualification match he helped Ecuador beat Peru 2–1 in Lima.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsEmelec2004Serie A283–00–2832005Serie A281–00–2812006Serie A334–00–334Total898000000898Rubin Kazan2007Russian Premier League1413030–2012008Russian Premier League21610––2262009Russian Premier League2222060–3022010Russian Premier League278001031038112011–12Russian Premier League25510122–387Total10922703151014827Dynamo Moscow2011–12Russian Premier League11020––1302012–13Russian Premier League2752020–3152013–14Russian Premier League29600––2962014–15Russian Premier League1110080–191Total781240100009212PAOK2014–15Super League Greece14200–30172Rostov2015–16Russian Premier League24400––2442016–17Russian Premier League26200145–407Total50600145006411Zenit St.Petersburg2017–18Russian Premier League201060–902018–19Russian Premier League1100011–1212019–20Russian Premier League0000001010Total130107110221Rubin Kazan (loan)2017–18Russian Premier League10200––102Sochi2019–20Russian Premier League19400––1942020–21Russian Premier League251220––27122021–22Russian Premier League2571132–29102022–23Russian Premier League261110––27112023–24Russian Premier League11231––143Total1063672320011640Career total46988192651350558103
International
EcuadorYearAppsGoals20098220104020111002012402013130201410120151202016131201730201800201910202010202140Total834
Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ecuador goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Christian Noboa No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador1–11–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador1–01–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification 3Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States1–04–0International friendly 4MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States3–04–0Copa América Centenario
Personal life Noboa was married to Russian Olga Romanova, with whom he had two sons, Christopher and Lucas.
Honours
Rubin Kazan Russian Premier League: 2008, 2009 Russian Super Cup: 2010
Zenit Saint Petersburg Russian Premier League: 2018–19
Individual Russian Premier League Central Midfielder of the Season: 2020–21 Russian Premier League Top assist provider: 2020–21 Russian Premier League best player (as chosen by the Russian Football Union): 2021–22
References
External links Christian Noboa profile at Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol Profile & Statistics at Guardian's Stats Centre