Patrick Nzuzi
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 October 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Lubumbashi, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Fullback, midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Newcastle United | ||
| 2013–2014 | Limerick F.C. | ||
| 2015–2015 | Sligo Rovers | ||
| International career | |||
| 2012–2014 | DR Congo | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Patrick Nzuzi (born 24 October 1992) is a Congolese retired professional footballer who played primarily as a defender. He began his career in England, coming through the youth system at Newcastle United, where he developed as a promising young talent and played for the club's U18 and reserve teams.
Early life
[edit]Nzuzi progressed through the academy ranks at Newcastle United, gaining experience and recognition at the youth level. He was a consistent performer in the club's development squads, which eventually led to opportunities in senior football outside of England.
Professional Career
[edit]Newcastle United
[edit]Nzuzi joined Newcastle United's academy in 2005 at the age of 13. He progressed through the youth system and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2010, at the age of 18. He made his debut for Newcastle’s reserve team at 16 against Rotherham United, impressing then-manager Chris Hughton. Nzuzi was a key feature of the Newcastle United Under-18 team that reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup during the 2009–10 season.
In February 2012, Nzuzi scored his first goal for Newcastle's reserve team in a match against Bedlington. Although he did not make a senior appearance for Newcastle, his performances for the youth and reserve teams earned him a reputation as a solid defender.
Limerick F.C.
[edit]In 2013, Nzuzi signed with Limerick FC in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He became a key player for the newly promoted club, making over 50 appearances during his two seasons with the team. His consistent performances earned him recognition as one of the top young players in the league, with Goal.com naming him among the top five young talents in Ireland.
Sligo Rovers F.C.
[edit]Following his success at Limerick, Nzuzi joined Sligo Rovers FC for the 2015 season under interim manager and former Cameroon international Joseph N'Do. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his time at Sligo, and he parted ways with the club in December 2015 after a short stint.
International Career
[edit]Nzuzi made his international debut for the DR Congo U21 team in a friendly against Austria. He later represented DR Congo in the prestigious Toulon Tournament in 2014, competing against teams like France, Colombia, the USA, and South Korea. His performances at the tournament led to his first senior call-up for DR Congo, where he made his debut in a friendly against Cameroon under manager Claude Le Roy.
References
[edit]- Living people
- 1992 births
- Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers
- Men's association football fullbacks
- Men's association football midfielders
- Democratic Republic of the Congo men's international footballers
- Democratic Republic of the Congo men's under-20 international footballers
- Limerick F.C. players
- Sligo Rovers F.C. players
- Newcastle United F.C. players
- Herne Bay F.C. players