Jump to content

Steve Zakuani: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Seabear84 (talk | contribs)
3,328 edits
No edit summary
Line 23: Line 23:
| years2 = 2009–
| years2 = 2009–
| clubs2 = [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| clubs2 = [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| caps2 = 59
| caps2 = 60
| goals2 = 14
| goals2 = 15
| nationalyears1 = 2010–
| nationalyears1 = 2010–
| nationalteam1 = {{nft|Congo DR}}
| nationalteam1 = {{nft|Congo DR}}
Line 30: Line 30:
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
| pcupdate = March 15, 2011
| pcupdate = March 25, 2011
| ntupdate = November 18, 2010
| ntupdate = November 18, 2010
}}
}}

Revision as of 03:47, 26 March 2011

Steve Zakuani
A footballer in green and blue dribbles a ball down the field
Zakuani in 2010
Personal information
Full name Steve Zakuani
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Winger/Second striker
Team information
Current team
 Seattle Sounders FC
Number 11
Youth career
1997–2002 Arsenal
2007–2008 Akron Zips
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Cleveland Internationals 11 (9)
2009– Seattle Sounders FC 60 (15)
International career‡
2010– Congo DR 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 25, 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 18, 2010

Steve Zakuani (born 9 February 1988 in Kinshasa) is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and college

Zakuani was born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and moved to London at the age of four. His father, Mao Zakuani, moved his family there for political and professional reasons after receiving a job offer as a translator.[1] The family switched homes often and lived with extended family for long periods of time. They eventually settled in north London in a neighborhood with other African families, where Zakuani attended White Hart Lane School.[2]

At the age of nine, Zakuani earned interest from West Ham United. He later tried out for the youth team of Queens Park Rangers. In 1997, he joined the Arsenal Academy. Zakuani became cocky and brash while not focusing on schoolwork. He was released by 2003. Zakuani's knee and foot were severely injured in a crash on a moped that one of his friends had stolen.[1] The accident left him unable to play for 18 months. After becoming less passionate about the game and renewing his efforts in school, Zakuani was taken by his teacher and mentor, Paul Goodison, to watch motivational speaker and evangelist Myles Munroe. This was a life changing event for Zakuani, and he recommitted himself to becoming a professional player. Along with Munroe, Zakuani considers John Wooden, Malcolm X, and Jesus Christ to be his heroes.[2] He tried out but failed to join the senior teams of Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic, AZ Alkmaar, and Real Valladolid shortly after.[1]

He was spotted by the University of Akron at development centre in north London called the Independent Football Academy.[3] After choosing to attend the university on a scholarship, Zakuani scored six goals his freshman season with the Akron Zips. This led to a professional offer that summer from Preston North End, but he had promised to return to Akron for his sophomore season.[1] In 2008, he led the nation in scoring with 20 goals and 7 assists in 23 games to become a finalist for the Hermann Trophy.[4] He was only the second sophomore to be named Soccer America's men's collegiate player of the year for the season's efforts.[3] His coach Caleb Porter said half of Zakuani's goals were individual efforts of "40-, 50-yard runs and beating three or four guys along the way," and that "Steve Zakuanis don't come around very often."[1]

He played part of the 2008 USL Premier Development League season with the Cleveland Internationals. While only playing 11 matches, Zakuani scored nine goals and made four assists.[5]

Professional

Zakuani was selected by Seattle Sounders FC as the number one pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on a Generation Adidas contract.[6] He had turned down other contract offers to sign with Major League Soccer since the Generation Adidas program would allow for him to return to school to finish his education.[7]

A footballer dribbles towards an opposing player during a match
Zakuani during a match against Philadelphia in 2010

His MLS debut was on 19 March 2009, in the season opener against the New York Red Bulls, coming on as a 68th minute substitute.[8][dead link] He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on 4 April 2009. Leading all first-year players in goals and assists with four each led to Zakuani being a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year.[9]

In his second professional season, he scored ten goals in the regular season to tie for the team lead with Fredy Montero. He was named MLS Player of the Week twice, and also won Goal of the Week twice.[10] He also recorded the fastest goal in Sounders history with his 4th minute tally against the Columbus Crew in a 1–1 draw at Qwest Field. It bettered the previous mark set by Zakuani the season before when he scored in the 5th minute at D.C. United.[11] On 7 November 2010, Zakuani scored the Sounders' first ever playoff goal in a 2–1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.[12]

The Sounders' management has encouraged its players to train with teams overseas. During a visit to England after the 2010 season, Zakuani trained with Everton F.C. to stay match fit.[13] He received his green card before the 2011 season. This granted him permanent resident status in the US and exempted him from occupying one of the MLS limited international player slot on the club’s roster.[14]

International

In 2009, Zakuani expressed interest in representing DR Congo if the opportunity presented itself.[15] On November 12, 2010, Zakuani accepted a call up for a friendly match against Mali.[16] He played his first 45 minutes of international football in the 3–1 loss.[17]

Playing Style

Being a quick and agile player who likes to take defenders one-on-one are some of his attributes. Sounders' coach Sigi Schmid has said that Zakuani is a dangerous dribbler with good speed.[9] He is right-footed and prefers playing on the left. He played on the left wing in a 4–4–2 formation with Arsenal and was moved to fill a needed forward position in college.[15] Zakuani says that he plays with an attractive style he learned at Arsenal's youth academy.[18]

Personal life

Zakuani has five siblings.[9] An older brother, Gabriel Zakuani, currently plays for Peterborough United in England's League One division and is a member of the Congolese national team. Steve considers London his hometown but also considers himself Congolese.[2][18]

As a teenager, girls and parties were a few of the many distractions from football for Zakuani.[1] Many of the people he grew up with ended up in prison, taking drugs, and never made it to university. He has strong feelings about the increase of knife crime in London.[2] Today, Zakuani enjoys reading and watching African comedies.[9] He spends time with his teammates off of the field and has beaten several of them at the Pro Evolution video game.[15]

Career statistics

Template:Football player statistics 1 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- |2008||Cleveland Internationals||USL Premier Development League||11||9||-||-||-||-||-||-||11||9 |- |2009||rowspan="3"|Seattle Sounders FC||rowspan="3"|Major League Soccer||29||4||4||0||2||0||-||-||35||4 |- |2010||29||10||3||0||2||1||3||0||37||11 |- |2011||1||0||-||-||-||-||-||-||1||0 Template:Football player statistics 370||23||7||0||4||1||3||0||84||24 Template:Football player statistics 570||23||7||0||4||1||3||0||84||24 Template:Football player statistics end

Statistics accurate as of March 15, 2011[19][20]

Honours

Seattle Sounders FC

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mayers, Joshua (2010-04-28). "Sounders FC's Steve Zakuani followed winding path to fulfill soccer dreams". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "15/30 Interview – Steve Zakuani". Prost Amerika. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  3. ^ a b "Zakuani leads English hopes at MLS draft". Evening Telegraph. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  4. ^ Jones, Grahame (2009-01-15). "Seattle makes Steve Zakuani first pick in MLS draft". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  5. ^ "38 PDL Players taken in MLS Draft". Football365. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  6. ^ "Zakuani Finishes Runner Up for M.A.C. Hermann Trophy". University of Akron. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  7. ^ Zakuani, Steve (2009-02-26). "Adjusting to the pro lifestyle". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  8. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=03192009_NYSEA
  9. ^ a b c d "Steve Zakuani". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  10. ^ "Zakuani named MLS Player of the Week for second time". The Miami Herald. The Sports Network. 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  11. ^ Mayers, Joshua (2010-05-03). "Sounders FC weekly release of team news and notes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  12. ^ "MLS: Seattle, NY Absorb Tough Playoff Defeats". All Headline News. 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  13. ^ Sharp, Aaron (2010-11-22). "Ex-Arsenal ace set to train with Everton FC". Click Liverpool. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  14. ^ "Sounders FC's Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Blaise Nkufo, Steve Zakuani granted green cards". The Seattle Times. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  15. ^ a b c Clark, Dave (2009-01-26). "Steve Zakuani – 6 days a Sounder". Sounders at Heart. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  16. ^ Midfielder Steve Zakuani Called In by Congo DR
  17. ^ Mayers, Joshua (2010-11-18). "Sounders FC Blog". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  18. ^ a b Cardillo, Michael (2009-01-16). "MLS No. 1 Pick Steve Zakuani Takes Time to Talk with FanHouse". FanHouse. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  19. ^ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/934451.html
  20. ^ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/steve-zakuani/leistungsdaten-verein/spieler_99692.html


Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Zakuani&oldid=420759877"