Didier Zokora

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Didier Zokora
Didier Zokora 2011.jpg
Personal information
Full name Déguy Alain Didier Zokora[1]
Date of birth 14 December 1980 (1980-12-14) (age 31)
Place of birth Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club Trabzonspor
Number 15
Youth career
1992-1998 JMG Academy
1998-1999 Mimosas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1999–2004 Racing Genk 126 (1)
2004–2006 Saint-Étienne 66 (2)
2006–2009 Tottenham Hotspur 88 (0)
2009–2011 Sevilla 91 (0)
2011– Trabzonspor 17 (0)
National team‡
2000–2012 Cote d'Ivoire 101 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 February 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 June 2010

Déguy Alain Didier Zokora (born on 14 December 1980 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor and the Ivorian national team. Zokora plays in a defensive role and is a strong tactical player in the middle of the park.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Zokora started his career in Côte d'Ivoire at the famed youth academy of Mimosas. In 1999 he moved abroad to play for Belgian team Racing Genk and wins the Belgian Jupiler League season 2001–2002 where Sef Vergoossen was the coach and Wesley Sonck the top goalscorer. In the summer of 2004 he went to play for AS Saint-Étienne in France.

[edit] Tottenham Hotspur

Zokora joined Tottenham for €8.2m in the summer of 2006 as a result of his World Cup performance for the Ivory Coast, Zokora was wanted by Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal but rejected their advances as he wanted to make a move that would give him more chance of playing.[2][3]

Over the 3 years he was at the club, he became a firm favourite amongst the 'Tottenham faithful'. The chant sung for Zokora, is set to the tune of "Lets all do the Conga" Do-do-do Didier Zokora.[4] Although he was at the club for 3 years, he failed to score in over 130 appearances and will be best remembered for his misses in the 80th minute of the 2008 Football League Cup Final after missing two clear shots on goal, the second being ballooned over the bar when the goalkeeper was on the floor. Spurs went on to win the match in extra time, courtesy of a header from Jonathan Woodgate. He was also part of the Tottenham side which returned to Wembley Stadium the following year to play in the 2009 Football League Cup Final, this time against Manchester United. Tottenham lost this game on penalties after the sides drew 0–0 after extra time. Zokora managed to score a penalty in the shoot-out against PSV Eindhoven in the Uefa Cup.[5][6]

[edit] Sevilla FC

In the summer transfer period of 2009 Zokora signed for Sevilla FC for a undisclosed fee.[7][8][9][10] made his debut for Sevilla FC on 30 August 2009 in the first round of the La Liga season away to Valencia CF. On his first season Zokora managed to help take Sevilla back to the Champions league after finishing the league on 4th position and claimed Sevilla's fifth Copa del Rey after defeating Atletico de Madrid in the final.

[edit] Trabzonspor

Zokora joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on 2 June 2011 on a four-year deal.[11][12] The Turkish club announced that the transfer fee was €5 million.[13] He will earn €1.625 million a season.[14] He made his debut on 10 September 2011, against Manisaspor.

[edit] International career

Zokora has also played 98 international matches for the Côte d'Ivoire national football team, as of January 2012.[15] Zokora retired from international football on the 28th February 2012. [16]

[edit] Goals for Senior National Team

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
22 June 2008 Abidjan, Ivory Coast  Botswana 4–0 Won 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

[edit] Honours

KRC Genk

Tottenham Hotspur

Sevilla

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Déguy Alain Didier Zokora". trabzonspor.org.tr. http://www.trabzonspor.org.tr/default.asp?Sayfa=SporcuDetay&IND=311. Retrieved 17 September 2011. 
  2. ^ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=372475&cc=5739
  3. ^ http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=368606&cc=5739
  4. ^ http://www.thefirst90minutes.com/20090126184/football-culture/has-didier-zokora-finally-started-to-win-over-his-doubters-among-the-whl-faithful.html
  5. ^ Glendenning, Barry (24 February 2008). "Spurs 2–1 Chelsea (aet)". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/feb/24/minutebyminute.tottenhamhotspur. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  6. ^ "Penalty king Zokora willing to go that extra 12 yards to net his first goal for Tottenham". Daily Mail (London). 11 July 2008. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1034295/Penalty-king-Zokora-willing-extra-12-yards-net-goal-Tottenham.html. 
  7. ^ "Zokora leaves Spurs for Sevilla". BBC Sport (bbc.co.uk). 2009-07-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8110014.stm. 
  8. ^ "Zokora to Sevilla". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Official website.. 2009-07-08. http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/zokoratosevilla080709.html. Retrieved 2009-07-08. 
  9. ^ "ZOKORA YA ES JUGADOR DEL SEVILLA FC PARA LAS PRÓXIMAS CUATRO CAMPAÑAS (VER VIDEO)" (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 8 July 2009. http://www.sevillafc.es/_www/actualidad.php?op=not&id=14437. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  10. ^ "Tottenham sell Didier Zokora to Sevilla Zokora". The Guardian. 8 July 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/08/tottenham-hotspur-didier-zokora-sevilla-transfer. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
  11. ^ "Zokora sözleşme imzaladı" (in Turkish). Trabzonspor.org.tr. 2011-06-07. http://www.trabzonspor.org.tr/default.asp?Sayfa=HaberDetay&IND=7492. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  12. ^ "DIDIER ZOKORA, TRASPASADO AL TRABZONSPOR (VER VIDEO)" (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 2 June 2011. http://www.sevillafc.es/_www/actualidad.php?op=not&id=20948. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  13. ^ "ALAIN DIDIER ZOKORA DEGUY TRANSFERİ KONUSUNDA SEVILLA FC İLE ANLAŞMA SAĞLANMIŞTIR." (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure System. 2 June 2011. http://www.kap.gov.tr/yay/Bildirim/Bildirim.aspx?id=158394. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  14. ^ "ALAIN DIDIER ZOKORA DEGUY'UN KULÜBÜMÜZE TRANSFERİ KONUSUNDA FUTBOLCU İLE ANLAŞMA SAĞLANMIŞTIR." (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure System. 2 June 2011. http://www.kap.gov.tr/yay/Bildirim/Bildirim.aspx?id=158399. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  15. ^ Federation Ivoirienne de Football
  16. ^ Zokora retires from International football turkish-football.com (English) accessed 28 Feb 2012

[edit] External links

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Trabzonspor – current squad
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