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François Zoko

François Zoko in August 2012.
Personal information
Full name	Bernard François Dassise Zoko
Date of birth	(1983-09-13) 13 September 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Daloa, Ivory Coast
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Burton Albion (Head of Academy Coaching)
Youth career
0000–2000	C.O. Savigny-sur-Orge
2000–2001	Nancy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2004	Nancy	70	(8)
2004–2006	Laval	60	(9)
2006–2008	Mons	55	(12)
2008–2009	Hacettepe Spor Kulübü	27	(1)
2010	KV Oostende	13	(3)
2010–2012	Carlisle United	88	(19)
2012–2013	Notts County	39	(7)
2013–2014	Stevenage	33	(10)
2014–2015	Blackpool	14	(1)
2014–2015	→ Bradford City (loan)	16	(1)
2015–2019	Yeovil Town	122	(28)
2019–2020	Grantham Town
2020–2021	Newark
International career
2003	Ivory Coast U-20, U-23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:00, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Bernard François Dassise Zoko (born 13 September 1983), known as François Zoko, is an Ivorian former professional footballer who is currently Head of Academy Coaching at Burton Albion.

Career

Early career

Born in Daloa, Zoko began his career at youth team C.O. Savigny-sur-Orge and signed in 2000 for AS Nancy. He played four years at Nancy, making 70 appearances and scoring 8 goals, before signing in summer 2004 for Stade Lavallois. Zoko then moved to R.A.E.C. Mons in 2006, and played two 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 Süper Lig. Throughout his career, Zoko has been used as a striker or winger. Whilst at Hacettepe Spor, Zoko was also used as a central midfielder.

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.

Carlisle United

Zoko was on trial with League One 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, he signed a permanent one-year contract with the club in July 2010.

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 had a very good start to life in English football becoming a crowd and team favourite, and under 10 matches into his season, he was offered a new contract in order to keep Championship and Premiership teams away. He was linked to Wigan, Swansea and Burnley.

In June 2012, Zoko refused a new contract from Carlisle United stating his desire to play in the Championship. He scored 19 goals in 88 league appearances. In July 2012, it was reported that Sheffield United and Preston North End were interested in signing the free agent following his release from Carlisle United.

Notts County

On 3 August 2012, Zoko signed a two-year deal with Notts County. He made his competitive debut in the league against Crewe. He also scored his first goal for the club as they ran out 2–1 winners. He scored his second goal for the club just three days later against Hartlepool in a 2–0 win. Zoko came off the bench to score his fourth goal for Notts County, in a 4–0 victory over his old team Carlisle. He picked up the "Man of the Match" award in a 4–1 victory over Bury, after coming off the bench to score two goals. On 29 August 2013, Zoko left Notts County by mutual consent.

Stevenage

Following his departure from Notts County, Zoko signed a short-term deal with League One side Stevenage on 4 October, on a contract lasting until January 2014. He made a goalscoring debut for the club four days after signing, poking in Michael Doughty's shot to restore parity in an eventual 2–1 home win over Milton Keynes Dons in the Football League Trophy. In Stevenage's next match, Zoko scored twice in a 2–1 victory over Brentford at Broadhall Way, the club's first home league win of the season. He made it four goals in his first three games when he scored a late consolation strike in Stevenage's 2–1 loss at Walsall on 19 October. Three weeks later, he netted again, this time scoring twice in Stevenage's 2–1 win over Portsmouth in the FA Cup on 9 November, taking his seasonal goal tally to six. Three days later, Zoko scored in a 3–2 win over Leyton Orient in the Football League Trophy; his goal coming in just the third minute when he connected with Luke Freeman's inswinging cross. He took his goal tally for the season to ten when he scored in three consecutive matches towards the end of November and start of December, scoring in league defeats to Gillingham and Shrewsbury Town, before netting a headed goal in a 4–0 win over Stourbridge in the FA Cup second round. Zoko ended the year by scoring a late consolation strike in Stevenage's 4–1 loss away at Bristol City, curling the ball into the goal with a first-time finish after good work from Luke Freeman. He scored in the club's first game of 2014, the final game before Zoko's short-term contract was set to expire, a 3–2 win away at Championship side Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup. Just three days later, on 7 January 2014, Zoko signed a contract to remain at Stevenage for the rest of the 2013–14 season.

In 40 appearances for Stevenage, he scored 16 goals.

On 17 May 2014, Zoko was released by Stevenage.

Blackpool

On 15 August 2014, Zoko signed for Championship club Blackpool on a one-year contract. He made his debut for the club the next day as a second-half substitute. He scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 1–0 win over Cardiff City on 3 October 2014.

On 22 November 2014, Zoko joined Bradford City on loan until 17 January 2015. He scored his first goal for Bradford in a 1–0 win over Crawley Town on 3 March 2015.

Yeovil Town

On 21 November 2015, Zoko signed for League Two side Yeovil Town on a short-term contract. Having scored four goals since signing for Yeovil, on 21 January 2015, he extended his contract until the end of the season. At the end of the 2018–19 season, Zoko was released by Yeovil following the club's relegation from the Football League.

Grantham Town

In September 2019, Zoko joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Grantham Town as a player/first-team coach, as well as taking up a Football in the Community role.

International career

Zoko has been capped for Ivory Coast at U-20 level, and played at 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside Everton striker Arouna Koné and has also played for Ivory Coast at U-23 level.

Career statistics

As of match played 25 January 2020.

1. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Carlisle United

• Football League Trophy: 2011

References

1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
2. OFTAŞ Zoko ile anlaştı! – Futbol – Ajansspor.com
3. "Trialist Francois Zoko impresses Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
4. "Ivorian Francois Zoko signs Carlisle United deal". BBC Sport. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
5. "Carlisle 2–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
6. "More to come from Francois Zoko – Carlisle boss Abbott". BBC Sport. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
7. "Carlisle keen to keep Zoko". Sky Sports. 22 September 2010.
8. "Carlisle hand trial to striker Amari Morgan-Smith". BBC Sport. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
9. "Francois Zoko says Championship ambition behind Carlisle exit". BBC Sport. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
10. "Sheffield United keen on Zoko". Fans FC. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
11. "Crewe 1 Notts County 2". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
12. "Carlise 0 Notts County 4". BBC Sport. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
13. "Report: Notts County v Bury". Nottingham Post. 23 February 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
14. "Francois Zoko: Striker leaves Notts County". BBC Sport. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
15. "Stevenage: Francis Zoko and Bruno Andrade join Boro". BBC Sport. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
16. "Double signing for Boro". Stevenage F.C. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
17. "Brilliant Boro beat Dons". Stevenage F.C. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
18. "Stevenage 2–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
19. "Walsall 2–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
20. "Stevenage 2–1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
21. "Stevenage march on in JPT". Stevenage F.C. 12 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
22. "Gillingham 3–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
23. "Stevenage 1–3 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
24. "Stevenage 4–0 Stourbridge". BBC Sport. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
25. "Bristol City 4–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
26. "Doncaster 2–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
27. "Stevenage keep Francois Zoko until end of season". BBC Sport. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
28. "Nine depart as Stevenage rebuild continues". Stevenage FC. 17 May 2014.
29. "Francois Zoko: Blackpool sign ex-Stevenage striker". BBC Sport. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
30. "Blackpool – Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
31. "Blackpool 1–0 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
32. "Francois Zoko: Bradford sign Blackpool striker on loan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
33. "Bradford 1–0 Crawley". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
34. "Francois Zoko: Yeovil Town hand striker short-term deal". BBC Sport. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
35. "Francois Zoko: Ivorian striker re-signs for Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
36. "Yeovil Town: Glovers release nine players after relegation from Football League". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
37. Parsons, Jonathan (27 September 2019). "Francois flies in". granthamtownfc.com. Grantham Town F.C. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
38. ^ "La fiche de François Zoko" (in French). LFP.fr. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
39. ^ "Côte d'Ivoire – F. Zoko – Profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
40. "Games played by François Zoko in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
41. "Games played by François Zoko in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
42. "Games played by François Zoko in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
43. ^ "Games played by François Zoko in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
44. ^ "Games played by François Zoko in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
45. "Games played by François Zoko in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
46. "Games played by François Zoko in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
47. "Games played by François Zoko in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
48. "Games played by François Zoko in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
49. "Brentford 0–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2017.

External links

• François Zoko – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
• François Zoko at Soccerbase

• 1983 births
• Living people
• People from Daloa
• Ivorian men's footballers
• Ivory Coast men's under-20 international footballers
• Men's association football forwards
• Ivorian emigrants to France
• Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
• Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
• Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England
• Expatriate men's footballers in France
• Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
• Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
• Expatriate men's footballers in England
• AS Nancy Lorraine players
• Stade Lavallois players
• R.A.E.C. Mons (1910) players
• K.V. Oostende players
• Carlisle United F.C. players
• Notts County F.C. players
• Stevenage F.C. players
• Blackpool F.C. players
• Bradford City A.F.C. players
• Hacettepe S.K. footballers
• Yeovil Town F.C. players
• Grantham Town F.C. players
• Ligue 2 players
• Belgian Pro League players
• Süper Lig players
• Challenger Pro League players
• English Football League players
• Northern Premier League players
• Midland Football League players
• Burton Albion F.C. non-playing staff
• 21st-century Ivorian sportsmen