{{Short description|Lebanese footballer (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date = April 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rony Azar | image = | caption = | fullname = Rony Charbel Azar<ref name=GSA>{{GSA player|rony-azar/253658|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|02|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Jernaya, Lebanon<ref name=GSA/> | height = 1.83 m | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Forward | youthyears1 = 1996–2002 | youthclubs1 = Nejmet Sahra | years1 = 2002–2005 | clubs1 = Nejmet Sahra | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2005–2018 | clubs2 = Safa | caps2 = | goals2 = 25 | years3 = 2016–2018 | clubs3 = → Tripoli (loan) | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2018–2021 | clubs4 = Racing Beirut | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2021–2022 | clubs5 = Safa | caps5 = 18 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2022–2023 | clubs6 = Shabab Majdal Anjar | caps6 = | goals6 = | nationalyears1 = 2003–2004 | nationalteam1 = Lebanon U23 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2004 | nationalteam2 = Lebanon | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 14:32, 8 October 2022 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Rony Charbel Azar''' ({{langx|ar|روني شربل عازار}}; born 20 February 1983) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a forward.

Coming through the youth system, Azar began his career at Nejmet Sahra, helping them win the Lebanese Third Division in 2002–03 and gain promotion to the Lebanese Second Division. In 2005 Azar moved to Safa in the Lebanese Premier League, staying there 10 seasons. During his stay, he helped Safa win multiple cups, most notably the club's first two league titles. He was also runner-up at the 2008 AFC Cup. Azar moved on a two-year loan to Tripoli, before joining Racing Beirut in 2018. He returned to Safa in summer 2021.

Azar played for the Lebanon national under-23 team between 2003 and 2004, during the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifiers. He also represented the senior side in 2004 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, playing three games.

== Club career == Growing up in the Sin el Fil district of Beirut, Azar began his career at Nejmet Sahra in 1996, aged 13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=roni azar|url=https://www.abdogedeon.com/volleyball/NOUJOUM/roni%20azar%20football.html|website=abdogedeon.com|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> He helped his side win the Lebanese Third Division in 2002–03,<ref>{{Cite web|title=الصفحة 18 (10-5-2003)|url=https://www.addiyarcomcarloscharlesnet.com/article/702205-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-18-1052003|date=2014-04-09|website=Carlos Charles|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> gaining promotion to the Lebanese Second Division.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Al-jazirah|url=http://www.al-jazirah.com/2004/20041112/sp3.htm|website=al-jazirah.com|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>

In 2005, Azar moved to Lebanese Premier League club Safa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Rony Azar|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/8034/Rony_Azar.html|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|website=national-football-teams.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> He helped the club lift their first two league titles, in 2011–12 and 2012–13, their first two Lebanese Elite Cups (2009 and 2012),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Lebanon – List of Cup Winners|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/lebcuphist.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> and their first Lebanese Super Cup (2013).<ref name=":1" /> Azar also won a Lebanese FA Cup with Safa, in 2012–13.<ref name=":1" /> Azar was also runner-up at the 2008 AFC Cup with Safa, losing the final 10–5 on aggregate to Al-Muharraq.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Asian Club Competitions 2008|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup08.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AFC Cup Final Flashback: AL Muharraq V SAFA (2008)|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/afc-cup-final-flashback-al-muharraq-v-safa-2008|website=GhanaSoccernet|date=26 October 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> Azar scored 25 league goals In his 10 seasons at Safa.<ref name=":0" />

In 2016 Azar moved on a two-year loan to Tripoli, from Safa.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=منتديات كووورة|url=https://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=37392810|website=forum.kooora.com| date=8 August 2018 |access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> He stayed there two seasons, scoring two league goals in 18 games in total.<ref name=":0" /> In 2018 Racing Beirut bought Azar from Safa on a permanent deal.<ref name=":2" /> He returned to Safa on 7 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-07|title=روني عازار يعود إلى الصفاء|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1066019|access-date=2021-09-08|website=كووورة}}</ref>

== International career == Azar played for the Lebanon national under-23 team at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifiers, helping his side qualify to the second round of qualifications.<ref name=":3" /> His international senior debut for Lebanon came on 9 June 2004, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification game against the Maldives; Lebanon won 3–0.<ref name=":0" /> Azar played three games for Lebanon, all in 2004 at the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.<ref name=":0" />

== Style of play == Azar is known for being a prolific goalscorer from the bench; he is also well known for diving in the penalty area, often being defined as an "actor".<ref>{{Cite web|title=عازار والمحمد على رأس البدلاء الهدافين في لبنان|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=926960|date=2020-05-31|website=كووورة|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>

== Honours == '''Nejmeh Sahraa''' * Lebanese Third Division: 2002–03

'''Safa''' * Lebanese Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13 * Lebanese FA Cup: 2012–13 * Lebanese Elite Cup: 2009, 2012 * Lebanese Super Cup: 2013 * AFC Cup runner-up: 2008

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{FA Lebanon|23590}} * {{NFT player|8034}} * {{Soccerway|216862}} * {{Goalzz|23009}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azar, Rony}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:People from Jezzine Category:Sportspeople from South Governorate Category:Lebanese men's footballers Category:21st-century Lebanese sportsmen Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Safa SC players Category:AC Tripoli players Category:Racing Club Beirut players Category:Lebanese Premier League players Category:Lebanese Second Division players Category:Lebanon men's youth international footballers Category:Lebanon men's international footballers