Steven N'Zonzi
Encyclopedia
Steven N'Kemboanza Mike Christopher N'Zonzi (born 15 December 1988) is a French footballer of Congolese
descent who plays as a midfielder
for Blackburn Rovers
.
, France and began his career playing for hometown club Racing Paris
after being inspired by watching an old video of David O' Regan playing with Clonakilty GAA. In 1999, he joined the youth system of Paris Saint-Germain playing at the Camp des Loges
, the club's youth academy. While at Paris Saint-Germain, N'Zonzi, due to his height, was initially installed in the club's academy as a striker
and then as an attacking midfielder. After a three-year stint at the Ligue 1
club, he moved to the Basse-Normandie
region
joining CA Lisieux. He later had one-year stints at both SM Caen
and AS Beauvais Oise
before finally settling in with Amiens SC
in 2005.
match against amateur club AS Raismes
appearing as a substitute in the 74th minute. Amiens won the match 7–0. He earned his first start on 15 April 2008 playing the entire 90 minutes in a 0–1 loss to Bastia
. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract and was officially promoted to the senior team.
N'Zonzi was given the starting defensive midfielder role for the 2008–09 season and appeared in 36 total matches. He also scored his first professional goal in a 1–2 defeat to Strasbourg
on 8 May 2009. The defeat to Strasbourg led to Amiens going winless in their final four matches, which led to the club suffering relegation to the Championnat National
, France's third division of football. Despite the relegation, N'Zonzi was applauded for his play and he was linked with a move to the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers
and Portsmouth
showing a serious interest in the young Frenchman, who many hailed as the next Patrick Vieira
.
in the 6–2 defeat. His second goal for the club was a 30-yard wonder-strike against Everton
on 17 April 2010 in a 3–2 defeat at Ewood Park
. On 3 May 2010, during the pre-match build up to the Arsenal game, he was announced and rewarded as the Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season, chosen by the fans. In August 2010, midfielder Nzonzi signed a new five-year deal with Blackburn, lasting until summer 2015. Rovers chairman John Williams said: "We are delighted to secure Steven for the long term. He was outstanding last year and the new deal is richly deserved." On 21 August, Nzonzi scored his third goal for Blackburn with a header against Birmingham City
in a 2–1 defeat at St Andrew's. On 13 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Grant Hanley
in an unfamiliar centre-back role against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ewood Park
in a disappointing 2–1 defeat on the opening day of the 2011–12 Barclays Premier League season.
by coach Erick Mombaerts
on 1 October 2009 for their European Under-21 Championship qualification
matches against Malta and Belgium
. N'Zonzi made his debut in the Malta match appearing as a 58th minute substitute in a 2–0 victory on Friday 9 October 2009. He earned his first under-21 international start in the match against Belgium, which ended 0–0.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
descent who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
Early career
N'Zonzi was born in ColombesColombes
Colombes is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 13 March 1896, 17% of the territory of Colombes was detached and became the commune of Bois-Colombes ....
, France and began his career playing for hometown club Racing Paris
RCF Paris
Racing Club de France – Levallois 92 is a French association football club formerly based in Colombes, a suburb of Paris. In 2009, the club moved to nearby Levallois-Perret after the club reached a financial agreement with the commune. Racing was founded in 1882 as a sports club and is one of the...
after being inspired by watching an old video of David O' Regan playing with Clonakilty GAA. In 1999, he joined the youth system of Paris Saint-Germain playing at the Camp des Loges
Camp des Loges
The Camp des Loges is the training centre and club headquarters of French football club Paris Saint-Germain. It is located in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is in the western suburbs of Paris. Following the foundation of Paris Saint-Germain in 1974, the Camp des Loges began operating...
, the club's youth academy. While at Paris Saint-Germain, N'Zonzi, due to his height, was initially installed in the club's academy as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and then as an attacking midfielder. After a three-year stint at the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club, he moved to the Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
joining CA Lisieux. He later had one-year stints at both SM Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
and AS Beauvais Oise
AS Beauvais Oise
Association Sportive Beauvais Oise is a French association football club based in Beauvais. The club was formed in 1945 as a result of a merger and currently play in the Championnat National, the third level of French football. Beauvais plays its home matches at the Stade Pierre Brisson located...
before finally settling in with Amiens SC
Amiens SC
Amiens Sporting Club is a French association football club based in Amiens. The club was formed in 1901 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. The club plays its home matches at the Stade de la Licorne located within the city...
in 2005.
Amiens
After featuring in the Championnat de France amateur for his first two years at the club, N'Zonzi made his professional debut on 24 November 2007 in a Coupe de FranceCoupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
match against amateur club AS Raismes
Raismes
Raismes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-References:*...
appearing as a substitute in the 74th minute. Amiens won the match 7–0. He earned his first start on 15 April 2008 playing the entire 90 minutes in a 0–1 loss to Bastia
SC Bastia
Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract and was officially promoted to the senior team.
N'Zonzi was given the starting defensive midfielder role for the 2008–09 season and appeared in 36 total matches. He also scored his first professional goal in a 1–2 defeat to Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
on 8 May 2009. The defeat to Strasbourg led to Amiens going winless in their final four matches, which led to the club suffering relegation to the Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, France's third division of football. Despite the relegation, N'Zonzi was applauded for his play and he was linked with a move to the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
showing a serious interest in the young Frenchman, who many hailed as the next Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is a retired French footballer of Senegalese descent who is the Football Development Executive at Manchester City....
.
Blackburn Rovers
On 28 June 2009, it was reported that Blackburn Rovers had agreed a deal with Amiens to sign N'Zonzi. He was expected to complete a move to Blackburn Rovers on the week beginning 29 June 2009. As anticipated, the move was completed on 30 June, signing for a fee believed to be in the region of £500,000, on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for Rovers on 4 October 2009 against ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the 6–2 defeat. His second goal for the club was a 30-yard wonder-strike against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 17 April 2010 in a 3–2 defeat at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
. On 3 May 2010, during the pre-match build up to the Arsenal game, he was announced and rewarded as the Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season, chosen by the fans. In August 2010, midfielder Nzonzi signed a new five-year deal with Blackburn, lasting until summer 2015. Rovers chairman John Williams said: "We are delighted to secure Steven for the long term. He was outstanding last year and the new deal is richly deserved." On 21 August, Nzonzi scored his third goal for Blackburn with a header against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in a 2–1 defeat at St Andrew's. On 13 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Grant Hanley
Grant Hanley
Grant Hanley is a Scottish footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers and the Scotland national team.-Early years:Hanley was born in Dumfries, Scotland...
in an unfamiliar centre-back role against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
in a disappointing 2–1 defeat on the opening day of the 2011–12 Barclays Premier League season.
International career
N'Zonzi earned his first call up to the France U-21 teamFrance national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
by coach Erick Mombaerts
Erick Mombaerts
Erick Mombaerts is a French football coach and retired player. He is currently involved with the youth sections of the French national side.-Playing career:...
on 1 October 2009 for their European Under-21 Championship qualification
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began on 27 March 2009 and finished on 13 October 2010. The final tournament is being held in Denmark between 11–25 June 2011....
matches against Malta and Belgium
Belgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
. N'Zonzi made his debut in the Malta match appearing as a 58th minute substitute in a 2–0 victory on Friday 9 October 2009. He earned his first under-21 international start in the match against Belgium, which ended 0–0.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
2009–10 2009–10 in English football The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League... |
33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 in English football The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May... |
21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2011–12 2011–12 Premier League The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012... |
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Career total | 64 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 73 | 3 | |