Tonton Zola Moukoko
Encyclopedia
Tonton Zola Moukoko is a Congolese
-born Swedish
footballer, who plays as a midfielder
for Atlantis FC
.
aged seven or nine with his brother Fedo, after they were orphaned. He began playing with Djurgården's youth teams and came to be considered one of the most talented young players in Sweden
. Moukoko was granted Swedish
citizenship in Autumn 1998 and was immediately called into the Sweden
U16 squad.
At the time many of Europe's leading clubs were interested in signing Moukoko and in April 1999 he trained with Bologna FC
and Empoli
.
as a 15-year-old and featured in the 1999–00 FA Youth Cup
. When he signed a professional contract upon turning 17 in December 2000, it was reported that he turned down a competing offer from AC Milan. With Moukoko playing in the youths and reserves at Derby
it was thought likely by fans and Moukoko himself that he would break into the first team. However, early in the 2002–03 season he returned to Sweden
after suffering family problems and falling out with club management over his study arrangements.
Moukoko trained with Hammarby IF
and then spent summer 2003 on trial with Falkirk FC. After he scored in a 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Queen's Park FC on 7 July 2003, the Scottish club's manager John Hughes was reported to have said: "I thought Ton Ton [sic] was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, if you had caught him in training the other day, you couldn't kick his backside, and he's a flying machine. Ton Ton [sic] lightens the place up, he is a great wee smiler and takes pelters from the boys for his hairstyles, but he is a really good kid."
manager Sven-Göran Eriksson
and his assistant Tord Grip
helped Moukoko to get a contract with Carlstad United BK
in the Swedish football Division 2. After a period of inactivity, he then signed a two year contract with IK Sleipner
ahead of the 2007 season. After the two years Moukoko began the 2009 season with Syrianska KF in Norrköping
.
club Atlantis FC
during the 2009 season. He played in 10 games and failed to score as the club were relegated from the Ykkönen
.
, a computer game developed by Sports Interactive
. He is frequently telephoned by fans of the game, who have also set up dedicated Facebook
groups.
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...
-born Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer, 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 Atlantis FC
Atlantis FC
Atlantis FC is a Finnish football club, based in Helsinki. It currently plays in the third tier of Finnish football .-History:The club was founded in late 1995 when Johanneksen Dynamo and FC Norssi merged...
.
Early career
Moukoko arrived in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
aged seven or nine with his brother Fedo, after they were orphaned. He began playing with Djurgården's youth teams and came to be considered one of the most talented young players in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Moukoko was granted Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
citizenship in Autumn 1998 and was immediately called into the Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
U16 squad.
At the time many of Europe's leading clubs were interested in signing Moukoko and in April 1999 he trained with Bologna FC
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
and Empoli
Empoli F.C.
Empoli Football Club is an Italian association football club located in Empoli, Tuscany, founded in 1920 and played its first official match in 1921.In recent years, the club has all too often been bouncing between Italy's two top divisions...
.
Derby County
Moukoko joined Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
as a 15-year-old and featured in the 1999–00 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
. When he signed a professional contract upon turning 17 in December 2000, it was reported that he turned down a competing offer from AC Milan. With Moukoko playing in the youths and reserves at Derby
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
it was thought likely by fans and Moukoko himself that he would break into the first team. However, early in the 2002–03 season he returned to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
after suffering family problems and falling out with club management over his study arrangements.
Moukoko trained with Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
and then spent summer 2003 on trial with Falkirk FC. After he scored in a 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Queen's Park FC on 7 July 2003, the Scottish club's manager John Hughes was reported to have said: "I thought Ton Ton [sic] was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, if you had caught him in training the other day, you couldn't kick his backside, and he's a flying machine. Ton Ton [sic] lightens the place up, he is a great wee smiler and takes pelters from the boys for his hairstyles, but he is a really good kid."
Return to Sweden
EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
manager Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
and his assistant Tord Grip
Tord Grip
Tord Grip is a Swedish football manager. Prior to England's exit in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he was one of Sven-Göran Eriksson's assistant coaches of the English national football team....
helped Moukoko to get a contract with Carlstad United BK
Carlstad United BK
Carlstad United BK is a Swedish football club located in Karlstad. The club, formed in 1999, is currently playing in the fourth highest Swedish league, Division 2. The club is affiliated to the Värmlands Fotbollförbund...
in the Swedish football Division 2. After a period of inactivity, he then signed a two year contract with IK Sleipner
IK Sleipner
Idrottsklubben Sleipner is a sports club in Norrköping, Sweden; the main sports are football and ten-pin bowling. It was founded in 1903, and named after Odin's horse Sleipnir. Currently, the club's senior men's team plays football in the Division 1 Södra...
ahead of the 2007 season. After the two years Moukoko began the 2009 season with Syrianska KF in Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
.
Atlantis FC
Moukoko moved to the FinnishFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
club Atlantis FC
Atlantis FC
Atlantis FC is a Finnish football club, based in Helsinki. It currently plays in the third tier of Finnish football .-History:The club was founded in late 1995 when Johanneksen Dynamo and FC Norssi merged...
during the 2009 season. He played in 10 games and failed to score as the club were relegated from the Ykkönen
Ykkönen
Ykkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:...
.
Championship Manager and Becoming a Cult Hero
Moukoko achieved fame through his depiction in Championship ManagerChampionship Manager series
The Championship Manager series is a series of British football-management simulation computer games, the first of which was released in 1992.The Championship Manager brand and game was conceived by two brothers: Paul and Oliver Collyer...
, a computer game developed by Sports Interactive
Sports Interactive
Sports Interactive Limited is a computer games development company currently based in Old Street, Central London and owned by the Japanese software and video game company Sega. It is the developer of the popular games Football Manager, NHL Eastside Hockey Manager and Championship Manager Quiz, and...
. He is frequently telephoned by fans of the game, who have also set up dedicated Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
groups.