- Gabriel Zakuani
Football player infobox
playername = Gabriel Zakuani
fullname = Gabriel Zakuani
nickname = Gabby
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|5|31
cityofbirth =Kinshasa
countryofbirth =Zaire
currentclub = Peterborough United
clubnumber = 26
position = Defender
years = 2002–2006
2006–
2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Leyton Orient
Fulham
→ Stoke City (loan)
→ Stoke City (loan)
→ Peterborough United (loan)
caps(goals) = 87 (3)
00 (0)
09 (0)
19 (0)
04 (1)
youthyears =
youthclubs =
nationalyears = 2005–
nationalteam = DR Congo
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 (0)
pcupdate = 13:31, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:00, 12 July 2006 (UTC)Gabriel "Gabby" Zakuani (born
May 31 1986 inKinshasa ,Democratic Republic of Congo ) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Peterborough United on loan from Fulham.Club career
Leyton Orient
Zakuani moved to
London in 1992 where Leyton Orient spotted him playing in one of his school matches as a 14 year old. After two seasons in the Youth Team, the 16-year-old was given his first team debut in a match against Bury inMarch 2003 .In the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons he become a regular in
Martin Ling 's plans, making the central defence position his own at Orient. He scored three goals in almost 100 first team appearances for Orient.In January 2006, Zakuani was part of the Leyton Orient side that overcame Fulham, 2–1, in the
FA Cup third round. Zakuani and his team mates were eventually knocked out of the Cup by another Premiership outfit, Charlton Athletic.Fulham
In July 2006, he was signed by Fulham for a fee of £1m, rising to £1.5m depending on appearances, on a four-year contract. The fee represented a club record for Leyton Orient.
Loan moves
Zakuani signed for Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/6302681.stm|accessdate=2007-06-07|date=
2007-01-30 |title=Stoke snap up Hendrie and Zakuani|publisher=BBC Sport|] Despite being a natural centre back, Zakuani also deputised as a right back during his loan spell.On
31 August 2007 , Zakuani again signed forStoke City on loan, this time for the rest of the 2007–08 season.cite news
title = Gabbi's Back!
url = http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~1103034,00.html
publisher = Stoke City Official Website
date =2007-08-31
accessdate = 2007-08-31]Zakuani returned to Fulham at the end of his loan and was then sent to Peterborough on a three-month loan where he will partner Craig Morgan in the Posh back four.
International career
Zakuani made his international debut for the Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2005 against Guinea.
Outside football
Away from football, in 2007, Zakuani appeared in
Dizzee Rascal 's music video for his single Flex.References
External links
*soccerbase|id=34724|name=Gabriel Zakuani
* [http://www.icons.com/zakuani/ Gabriel Zakuani Official Website] atIcons.com
* [http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enPlayerProfile&playerId=266786 Premier League player profile]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/5060854.stm BBC report on Fulham transfer]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUPleuj42w0 Zakuani in Dizzee Rascal Video. Appears 02:32]
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