Gabriel Zakuani facts for kids
Zakuani playing for Peterborough United in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gabriel Abdala Zakuani | ||
| Date of birth | 31 May 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.86 m | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2003 | Leyton Orient | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2006 | Leyton Orient | 87 | (3) |
| 2006–2009 | Fulham | 0 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Stoke City (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Stoke City (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 32 | (1) |
| 2009–2014 | Peterborough United | 148 | (4) |
| 2014 | Kalloni | 15 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Peterborough United | 46 | (4) |
| 2016–2017 | Northampton Town | 21 | (2) |
| 2017–2019 | Gillingham | 69 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Swindon Town | 6 | (0) |
| 2020 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 483 | (15) | |
| National team | |||
| 2013–2017 | DR Congo | 29 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2020–2021 | Spalding United | ||
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Gabriel Abdala Zakuani (born on May 31, 1986) is a retired professional footballer from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He played as a defender. After retiring, he became a broadcaster. He also works as an assistant manager for the DR Congo under-20 team.
Gabriel Zakuani started his football journey with Leyton Orient. He was a key player when the team won promotion in the 2005–06 season. He also helped them beat Premier League team Fulham in the FA Cup. In August 2006, Fulham signed him. However, he didn't play much for them. He spent time on loan at Stoke City, helping them get promoted to the Premier League.
He joined Peterborough United in 2008–09, first on loan, then permanently. With Peterborough, he helped them get promoted in 2008–09. They were relegated in 2009–10 but quickly returned to a higher league. This happened after they won the 2011 League One play-off final. After two seasons, Peterborough was relegated again. In 2014, Zakuani moved to Greece to play for Kalloni. But he returned to Peterborough in June 2014.
Contents
Gabriel Zakuani's Football Journey
Starting with Leyton Orient
Gabriel Zakuani was born in Kinshasa. He moved to London when he was a young child. Leyton Orient discovered him playing football at school. He was only 14 years old at the time. After two years in their youth team, he played his first senior game. This was in March 2003, when he was just 16.
In the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, he became a regular player. He played as a central defender. He scored three goals in nearly 100 games for Orient. In January 2006, Zakuani helped Leyton Orient beat Premier League team Fulham 2–1 in the FA Cup. His great performance caught Fulham's eye. They signed him in July that year for a fee of £1 million. This was a record amount for Leyton Orient.
Time at Fulham
Gabriel Zakuani played only two games for Fulham during his three years there. These games were in the League Cup and the FA Cup.
Loan Spells at Stoke City
Zakuani joined Stoke City on loan for the rest of the 2006–07 season. Even though he was a central defender, he also played as a right-back. He made his first appearance for Stoke in February 2007. He played eight more games that season. Stoke City almost made it to the play-offs.
On August 31, 2007, Zakuani went back to Stoke on loan. This was for the whole 2007–08 season. He played 19 games and helped Stoke get promoted to the Premier League. Zakuani later said he wanted to join Stoke permanently. However, this move never happened.
Playing for Peterborough United
Gabriel Zakuani then went to Peterborough United on a three-month loan. On November 25, 2008, it was confirmed that he would join them permanently. This happened on January 1, 2009, for about £375,000.
On July 8, 2012, Zakuani became the captain of Peterborough United. In November 2012, he faced a club issue. He was put on the transfer list and fined. This was due to a problem with club rules. Zakuani said the incident changed his outlook. He promised to work harder in training. He was later taken off the transfer list, and his fine was removed.
At the end of the 2012–13 season, Peterborough United was relegated. Zakuani was again put on the transfer list. This was because he turned down a new contract. His international football duties were increasing.
Playing in Greece with Kalloni
On January 2, 2014, Zakuani signed a contract with Kalloni. This team plays in the Superleague Greece, which is the top football league in Greece.
Coming Back to Peterborough United
On June 8, 2014, Zakuani returned to Peterborough. He signed a two-year contract. He said he missed the club and felt like he had "unfinished business" there. He wanted to help the club get back to the Championship league.
Time at Northampton Town
Zakuani joined Northampton Town in June 2016. He scored his first goal for them in October 2016. It was in a 4–2 win against Shrewsbury Town.
Playing for Gillingham
On June 7, 2017, Zakuani signed a one-year deal with League One team Gillingham. He had turned down a new contract from Northampton Town. He played his first full game for Gillingham in August 2017. This was a 0–0 draw against Doncaster Rovers.
Gillingham offered him a new contract at the end of the 2017–18 season. He left the club in September 2019. His contract ended because he had been injured for seven months.
Short Spell at Swindon Town
On October 4, 2019, Zakuani signed a short-term contract with Swindon Town. This was because their captain was injured. He played his first game the next day. Zakuani left Swindon Town in January 2020 when his contract finished.
Final Club: Dagenham & Redbridge
On January 13, 2020, Zakuani joined National League club Dagenham & Redbridge. He signed a six-month deal. He played only one game for them before the season ended early due to Covid-19. He then retired from playing football in September 2020.
International Football Career
Gabriel Zakuani retired from playing for his country in September 2018. He had played 29 games for the DR Congo since his first game in 2013.
Coaching and Other Work
In October 2020, Zakuani became a joint caretaker manager for Spalding United. He later got the job permanently. In November 2021, he left this role. This was because he had more business and media work. He is now a broadcaster and assistant manager for the DR Congo under-20 team.
Family and Other Interests
Gabriel's brother, Steve, is also a former professional footballer. Steve played college soccer and then in Major League Soccer. He played for Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers. He retired due to injuries. In 2007, Gabriel Zakuani appeared in a music video. It was for the song "Flex" by the artist Dizzee Rascal.
Achievements
Leyton Orient
- Promoted from Football League Two: 2005–06 (finished third)
Stoke City
- Promoted from Football League Championship: 2007–08 (finished second)
Peterborough United
- Promoted from Football League One: 2008–09 (finished second)
- Won the Football League One play-offs: 2011
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Zakuani para niños
