Didier Zokora
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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
.
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.
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
.
for a undisclosed fee. made his debut for Sevilla FC
on August 30, 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.
on June 2, 2011 on a four-year deal. The Turkish club announced that the transfer fee was €5 million. He will earn €1.625 million a season.
He made his debut on 10 September 2011, against Manisaspor.
, as of January 2010.
Tottenham Hotspur
Sevilla
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
) is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
and the Ivorian national team. Zokora plays in a defensive role and is a strong tactical player in the middle of the park.
Early career
Zokora started his career in Côte d'Ivoire at the famed youth academy of MimosasASEC Mimosas
The Académie Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. The club is also known as ASEC Mimosas Abidjan and ASEC Abidjan, especially in international club competitions. Founded in 1948, they are the most successful side in Ivorian football, having won...
. In 1999 he moved abroad to play for Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
team Racing Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
and wins the Belgian Jupiler League season 2001–2002 where Sef Vergoossen
Sef Vergoossen
Sef Vergoossen is a former Dutch football manager.-Biography:Vergoossen began his managerial career in 1978 with VVV-Venlo, managing the club for 12 years till 1989, after which he managed MVV for nine years and Roda JC for three years...
was the coach and Wesley Sonck
Wesley Sonck
Wesley Sonck is a Belgian football player, who currently plays as a striker for K. Lierse S.K. who signed him in August 2010 and the Belgium national football team. He played for KRC Genk in the Belgian First Division from where he joined AFC Ajax in 2003 for about £5 million...
the top goalscorer. In the summer of 2004 he went to play for AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
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.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.
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
2008 Football League Cup Final
The 2008 Carling Cup Final was a football match played on 24 February 2008. It was the first League Cup Final to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, and the first to be played in England since the old Wembley was demolished in 2000. The defending champions were Chelsea, who beat Arsenal in the...
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
Jonathan Woodgate
Jonathan Simon Woodgate is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League.Woodgate started his football career at Leeds United where he established himself in the starting eleven. However, Woodgate was sold to Newcastle United for £9 million in January 2003. He impressed...
. He was also part of the Tottenham side which returned to Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
the following year to play in the 2009 Football League Cup Final
2009 Football League Cup Final
The 2009 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Football League Cup, the 49th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League...
, this time against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. 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
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
Sevilla FC
In the summer transfer period of 2009 Zokora signed for Sevilla FCSevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
for a undisclosed fee. made his debut for Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
on August 30, 2009 in the first round of the La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
season away to Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
. On his first season Zokora managed to help take Sevilla back to the Champions league
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
after finishing the league on 4th position and claimed Sevilla's fifth Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
after defeating Atletico de Madrid in the final.
Trabzonspor
Zokora joined Turkish side TrabzonsporTrabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
on June 2, 2011 on a four-year deal. The Turkish club announced that the transfer fee was €5 million. He will earn €1.625 million a season.
He made his debut on 10 September 2011, against Manisaspor.
International career
Zokora has also played 91 international matches for the Côte d'Ivoire national football teamCôte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
, as of January 2010.
Goals for Senior National Team
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 June 2008 | Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal... , Ivory Coast |
4–0 | Won | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa... |
Honours
KRC Genk- Jupiler LeagueJupiler LeagueThe Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
: 2002
Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 2008Football League Cup 2007-08The 2007–08 Football League Cup was the 48th staging of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs. The competition name reflects a sponsorship deal with lager brand Carling....
Sevilla
- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 20102010 Copa del Rey FinalThe 2010 Copa del Rey final was the 106th final since its establishment. The match took place on 19 May 2010 at the Camp Nou, Barcelona. The match was contested by Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, and it was refereed by Manuel Mejuto González....
External links
- Statistics at TFFTurkish Football FederationThe Turkish Football Federation , also called the Turkish Football Association, is the governing body of football in Turkey. It was formed on 23 April 1923. It organizes the Turkish national teams and the Turkish football league. By 2004, there were 4,956 football clubs organized in Turkey, and a...
.org - Zokora interview at The Guardian