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Early career[edit]
Zieler was born in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. He began his football career with his hometown club Viktoria Köln before joining 1. FC Köln in 2001. In July 2005, he moved to England as a trainee with Manchester United.

Manchester United

In his first season with Manchester United, Zieler played 22 times for the Under-18 side, including four in the FA Youth Cup. He was also named as an unused substitute in 11 reserve matches, including the final of the Manchester Senior Cup, earning him a winners medal.[3] The following season, he shared Under-18 goalkeeping duties with Ben Amos, but also made his debut for the reserves on 15 March 2007, a 3–0 home defeat to Sheffield United.[4] Despite that inauspicious start, he made amends four days later by keeping a clean sheet in the 2–0 Manchester Senior Cup win over Oldham Athletic.

The 2007–08 season marked Zieler's emergence as a full member of the reserve team, as he and Tom Heaton shared the majority of the goalkeeping duties, each making 11 appearances. In May 2008, Zieler won another Manchester Senior Cup winners medal, as he played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against Bolton Wanderers.[6] He then played in the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup at the end of July 2008, restricting Liverpool to just two goals as United won 3–2.[7]
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Zieler was given a first team squad number – 38 – for the first time.[8] He got his first taste of first team action on 23 September 2008, when he was named on the bench for United's 3–1 League Cup win over Middlesbrough.

Northampton Town loaN

On 26 November 2008, Zieler was sent on loan to Northampton Town until 31 December as cover for their one senior goalkeeper, Chris Dunn, as Frank Fielding's loan from Blackburn Rovers was coming to an end.[10] The loan was subsequently extended until 31 January 2009,[11] and then extended again on 2 February until 25 February.[12]
Zieler made his debut for Northampton Town on 21 February 2009, playing for the full 90 minutes of the Cobblers' 2–0 home defeat by Walsall.[13] He then played again three days later, in a 1–1 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion,[14] before returning to Manchester United on 26 February 2009 after his loan spell reached 93 days. The loan could not be extended as 93 days is the maximum loan spell allowed outside the transfer window.

Back to Manchester United

Upon returning to Manchester United, Zieler recommenced his duties as reserve team goalkeeper, conceding just one goal in his first four games back. However, in a match against Newcastle United Reserves on 30 March 2009, he suffered a broken arm after colliding with a Newcastle striker in mid-air.[16] He returned to action in the 2009–10 pre-season, but struggled to regain his position in the reserve team; his appearances throughout the season were sporadic and he was most often named as an unused substitute.

Hannover

On 22 April 2010, following a trial period, Zieler signed a two-year contract with German side Hannover 96. The contract began on 1 July 2010 and also includes the option for a one-year extension.[17] Zieler was given a number 20 shirt. His consistent performances for Hannover 96 II earned him his Bundesliga debut on 16 January 2011 away at Eintracht Frankfurt; he kept a clean sheet as his team won 3–0. Since his debut, he was made the first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season, dropping Florian Fromlowitz to the bench.
On 24 June 2011, Zieler signed a contract extension until June 2015.[18] He also switched to the number 1 shirt previously worn by Fromlowitz, who was transferred to MSV Duisburg.