Ken Monkou

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ken Monkou


fullname = Kenneth John Monkou
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|11|29|df=y
cityofbirth = Nickerie
countryofbirth = Suriname
dateofdeath =
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height = height|m=1.90
currentclub =
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position = Centre back
youthyears =
youthclubs
years = 1985-1988
1989-1992
1992-1999
1999-2000
clubs = Feyenoord
Chelsea
Southampton
Huddersfield Town
caps(goals) = 43 (2)
94 (2)
198 (10)
21(1)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
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Kenneth "Ken" Monkou (born 29 November 1964 in Suriname) is a retired footballer who played in a defensive role.

Born in Suriname but raised in the Netherlands, Monkou's first major side was Feyenoord Rotterdam. He moved to England in May 1989 to sign for newly-promoted Chelsea for £100,000. He made an impressive start for his new side, being voted club player of the year in his first season - the first black player to do so for Chelsea - as the team finished 5th in the First Division and won the Full Members Cup. He remained with Chelsea until 1992, when he was sold to Southampton for £750,000 just 3 months after signing a new 5 year contract with Chelsea.

Monkou's time with Southampton saw regular battles for Premier League survival, though the club were never actually relegated. In the 1993/94 Premier League season he scored a last minute winner in a 5-4 defeat of Norwich City of a Matt LeTissier corner which helped the club to stay in the premier league. he stayed on the South Coast until 1999, when he joined Huddersfield Town on a free transfer. Disagreements with Huddersfield manager Steve Bruce ensured his time with the club was short-lived, and after leaving he retired from the game.

Ken was recently featured on the Sky Sports series "Where are they now", his pancake shop is just outside Rotterdam, he bought it as he used to go there as a 16 year old and loved it.

External links

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* [http://www.vi.nl/vi/show/id=40053/season=26/dbid=3673/typeofpage=40054/sc=e21912 Profile at vi.nl]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/image_galleries/saints_archive_gallery.shtml?18 Photo of Ken Monkou in action for Southampton]