François Zoko
Encyclopedia
Bernard François Dassise Zoko (born 13 September 1983 in Daloa
) is a Côte d'Ivoire
football
player, who plays for Carlisle United
.
. He played four years at AS Nancy
playing 70 games and scoring 8 goals before signing in summer 2004 for Stade Laval. Zoko then moved to R.A.E.C. Mons in 2006, and played 2 seasons in the Jupiler League. After 55 games and scoring 11 goals, Zoko was contacted by several teams in the Jupiler League but decided to join the Ankara
club for a new challenge in the Turkcell Süper Lig.
There were many off field problems at Hacettepe which meant that Zoko finally left and joined his former R.A.E.C Mons manager at KV Oostende in January in order to play football again. At Oostende Zoko played 11 games, scoring 4 goals and making 5 assists.
Throughout his career, Zoko has been used as a striker or winger. Whilst at Hacettepe Spor, Zoko was also used as a central midfielder.
side Carlisle United
ahead of the 2010–11 season, scoring in a 4–1 pre-season friendly victory against Kendal Town
. After impressing during a two-week trial, Zoko signed a permanent one-year contract with the club in July 2010. On joining Carlisle, Zoko said "I am really looking forward to playing for Carlisle United and I hope that I score goals and do well". Zoko made his debut for Carlisle in the club's first game of the 2010–11 season, playing 75 minutes in Carlisle's 2–0 win against Brentford
. He received a standing ovation from the Carlisle United supporters when he was substituted, and manager Greg Abbott
said there's "more to come" from Zoko.
Zoko has had an amazing start to life in English football and is already a crowd and team favourite, and under 10 matches into his season he is already being offered a new contract in order to keep Championship and Premiership teams away.
Zoko has been strongly linked to Wigan, Swansea and Burnley.
Among management and the players Francois is highly respected and loved due to his hard work, funny personality and humble ways.
Carlisle manager Gregg Abott has mainly used Zoko at the top of his diamond formation due to his explosive pace, skill, immagination/ vision, relentless hard work and experience.
Updated to 9 March 2011.
alongside Sevilla FC
striker Arouna Koné
and has also played for the Ivory Coast at U-23 level.
Zoko's form at Carlisle United has attracted the attention of the Ivory Coast national team who have been to a couple of Zoko's matches.
Daloa
Daloa is a town in Daloa Department of Côte d'Ivoire, lying west of Yamoussoukro in Haut-Sassandra Region. It has a population of over 100,000. The town is a regional capital and an important trading centre, particularly for cocoa...
) is a 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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, who plays for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
.
Career
Zoko began his career at youth team C.O. Savigny-sur-Orge and signed in 2000 for AS NancyAS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
. He played four years at AS Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
playing 70 games and scoring 8 goals before signing in summer 2004 for Stade Laval. Zoko then moved to R.A.E.C. Mons in 2006, and played 2 seasons in the Jupiler League. After 55 games and scoring 11 goals, Zoko was contacted by several teams in the Jupiler League but decided to join the Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
club for a new challenge in the Turkcell Süper Lig.
There were many off field problems at Hacettepe which meant that Zoko finally left and joined his former R.A.E.C Mons manager at KV Oostende in January in order to play football again. At Oostende Zoko played 11 games, scoring 4 goals and making 5 assists.
Throughout his career, Zoko has been used as a striker or winger. Whilst at Hacettepe Spor, Zoko was also used as a central midfielder.
Carlisle United
Zoko was on trial with League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
ahead of the 2010–11 season, scoring in a 4–1 pre-season friendly victory against Kendal Town
Kendal Town F.C.
Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...
. After impressing during a two-week trial, Zoko signed a permanent one-year contract with the club in July 2010. On joining Carlisle, Zoko said "I am really looking forward to playing for Carlisle United and I hope that I score goals and do well". Zoko made his debut for Carlisle in the club's first game of the 2010–11 season, playing 75 minutes in Carlisle's 2–0 win against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. He received a standing ovation from the Carlisle United supporters when he was substituted, and manager Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott is the Texas Attorney General, and is the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve in that role. Abbott was sworn in on December 2, 2002, following John Cornyn's election to the U.S. Senate...
said there's "more to come" from Zoko.
Zoko has had an amazing start to life in English football and is already a crowd and team favourite, and under 10 matches into his season he is already being offered a new contract in order to keep Championship and Premiership teams away.
Zoko has been strongly linked to Wigan, Swansea and Burnley.
Among management and the players Francois is highly respected and loved due to his hard work, funny personality and humble ways.
Carlisle manager Gregg Abott has mainly used Zoko at the top of his diamond formation due to his explosive pace, skill, immagination/ vision, relentless hard work and experience.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Play-Offs | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Carlisle Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
2010–11 | League One Football League One Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
32 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 10 |
| Total | N/A | 32 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 10 | |
| Career total | N/A | 32 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 10 | |
Updated to 9 March 2011.
International career
Zoko has been capped for the Ivory Coast at U-20 level, and played at 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
alongside 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...
striker Arouna Koné
Arouna Koné
Arouna Koné is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Levante UD on loan from Sevilla FC in Spain, as a striker.-Early years:Born in Anyama, Koné started his football career with Rio Sport d'Anyama, a club based in his hometown...
and has also played for the Ivory Coast at U-23 level.
Zoko's form at Carlisle United has attracted the attention of the Ivory Coast national team who have been to a couple of Zoko's matches.