Monsef Zerka

Monsef Zerka

Personal information
Date of birth	30 August 1981 (1981-08-30) (age 30)
Place of birth	Orléans, France
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder, Winger, Forward
Club information
Current club	New England Revolution
Number	19
Youth career
1999–2001	AS Nancy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2009	AS Nancy	176	(17)
2009–2011	FC Nantes	35	(2)
2011	Iraklis	9	(0)
2011–	New England Revolution	7	(2)
National team‡
2002–	Morocco	12	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 October, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 January, 2011

Monsef Zerka (Arabic: منصف زرقا‎, born 30 August 1981 in Orléans) is a French-born Moroccan professional footballer. He plays in Major League Soccer for New England Revolution. He originally played as a striker, but throughout his career he has also played as a fullback and as a midfielder.

Club career

AS Nancy

Playing for US Orléans as a youngster, Zerka was signed by Nancy on the recommendation of his coach Jacques Quéré. He completed the final years of his apprenticeship at Nancy before making his debut in 2001. He debuted in a 4-0 home win against SM Caen, coming in as a late substitute in the 83rd minute.^[1]

Before finally signing professional forms (initially a three-year contract) with Nancy in August 2002, Zerka had made his debut for the Morocco national team.

After playing in various positions over the years, Zerka proved effective in a forward role in Nancy's first season back in the top flight, scoring 6 goals in 24 appearances^[2] and continued in this position in 2006-07. He left AS Nancy in the summer of 2009, after playing 173 league matches for the club and scoring 17 goals. In Ligue 1, he featured in 85 matches and scored 13 goals.^[3]

Zerka will be remember by AS Nancy supporters for scoring the first goal of AS Nancy in the Final of the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue.^[4] It was the first major trophy won by the club since the 1978 French Cup.

Nantes

On 31 August 2010 Zerka signed for Ligue 2 outfit FC Nantes.^[5][6] Zerka debuted for his new in a 2-1 home win against Racing Strasbourg.^[7] He also scored his first goal for Nantes in his debut. It was the 1-1 equalizer, scored in the 22nd minute of the match after an assist by Jean-Claude Darcheville.^[8] He scored his second, and last, league goal for Nantes in the next match against SC Bastia.^[7] It was scored in the 7th minute of the match and it was the opening goal, in a match that ended as an 1-1 draw.^[9] It was scored after an assist by Djamel Abdoun.^[9] In the next season Zerka remained goalless for FC Nantes in the league.^[10] He scored his only goal that season, in a French Cup 4-2 away defeat by US Boulogne.^[10] On 7 January 2011 Nantes' manager stated that he could be released by the club and that it would be better for both Nantes and Zerka to part ways.^[11] During his spell at FC Nantes Zerka featured in 35 Ligue 2 games, scoring 2 goals.^[12]

Iraklis

On 14 January 2011 Zerka signed a contract with Greek Superleague club Iraklis until the summer of 2012.^[13] He debuted for Iraklis on 23 January 2011, as he was in the starting line-up in a 3-0 away defetat by AO Kavala.^[14][15]

New England Revolution

Zerka was released by Iraklis after their relegation from the Greek top flight, and he subsequently signed with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution on August 18, 2011^[16].

International career

Zerka, so far, has gained 12 full caps for Morocco, scoring 3 goals.^[17]

2004 Summer Olympics football tournament

Zerka was a member of the Moroccan squad for the 2004 Summer Olympics football tournament.^[18] He was a starter in Morocco's^[19] first match, a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica. In the second match, an 1-2 defeat by Portugal, Zerka was once again a starter, but he was substituted in the 72nd minute by Tajeddine Sami.^[20] He watched Morocco's third, and last, match in the tournament from the bench.^[21] The match ended up a 2-1 victory for Morocco, its only victory in the tournament.^[21] Morocco got 4 points, equal to those of Costa Rica, but it was eliminated from the tournament, as it had scored less goals than Costa Rica.^[22]

2008 African Cup of Nations

Zerka also featured in the Morocco squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. In the opening match for Morocco, he came in as a substitute for Youssouf Hadji in the 70th minute.^[23] He managed to score a header for Morocco 4 minutes after his entrance in the game.^[23] It was his team's last goal in 1-5 devastation against Namibia and Zerka's first goal for the Atlas Lions.^[23] He was a starter in his team's next match, a 3-2 defeat by Guinea, but he was substituted in the 80th minute by El Moubarki.^[24] In the next match Morocco had to compete against host nation Ghana. Zerka came in as a substitute for Aboucherouane in the 55th minute of the match, but he was unable to help his team overturn Ghana's 2-0 lead.^[25] Morocco finished 3rd in its group and was eliminated.^[26]

Achievements

Nancy

• Ligue 2 (1)
  • Winner: 2004-05
• Coupe de la Ligue
  • Winner (1): 2006

References

1. ^ "Monsef Zerka Performance data for season 00/01". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en//leistungsdaten/spieler_28354_2000.html#FR2. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
2. ^ "Monsef Zerka Performance data for season 05/06". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en//leistungsdaten/spieler_28354_2005.html#FR1. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
3. ^ "Monsef Zerka Performance data per club". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/monsef-zerka/leistungsdaten-verein/spieler_28354.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
4. ^ "Coupe de la Ligue - Saison 2005-05 - Finale" (in French). LFP.fr. 2006-04-22. http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuille_match/50494. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
5. ^ "Nantes:Zerka a signé" (in French). Mercato365. 2009-08-31. http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/nantes/article_344212_Nantes-Zerka-a-signe.shtml. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
6. ^ "Nancy's Moncef Zerka Signs For FC Nantes". Goal.com. 2009-09-01. http://98.129.138.249/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2009/09/01/1473666/nancys-moncef-zerka-signs-for-fc-nantes-report. Retrieved 201-01-14. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Monsef Zerka Ligue 2-09/10". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en//leistungsdaten/spieler_28354_2009.html#FR2. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
8. ^ "La bonne affaire nantaise" (in French). Le Figaro. 2009-09-14. http://www.lefigaro.fr/football/2009/09/14/02003-20090914ARTSPO00643-nantes-enfonce-strasbourg.php. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Bastia 1-1 Nantes" (in French). FCNHisto.fr. 2009-09-19. http://www.fcnhisto.fr/bastiafcnl20910.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Monsef Zerka Performance data for season 10/11". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en//leistungsdaten/spieler_28354_2010.html#FR2. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
11. ^ "Zerka vers la Grêce" (in French). L'EQUIPE.fr. 2011-01-07. http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110107_174451_zerka-vers-la-grece.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
12. ^ "monsef Zerka performance data". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/monsef-zerka/leistungsdaten-detail/spieler_28354.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
13. ^ "IRAKLIS F.C. signed Moncef Zerka". Iraklis F.C. Official site. 2011-01-14. http://www.iraklis-fc.gr/shownews08.jsp;jsessionid=2222CE41B711FA5C8521EBE7C02AF2A9?newsCode=20110114145223897&CMCCode=9001&extLang=LG. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
14. ^ "Καβάλα - Ηρακλής 3-0" (in Greek). Contra.gr. 23 January 2011. http://www.contra.gr/matchStories/306558.html. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
15. ^ "ΚΑΒΑΛΑ - ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ" (in Greek). Superleague Official site. 23 January 2011. http://www.superleaguegreece.net/game/1011145/. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
16. ^ http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2011/08/revs-sign-monsef-zerka
17. ^ "Monsef Zerka profile". Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/monsef-zerka/profil/spieler_28354.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
18. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Teams - Morocco". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=8229/teams/team=1889759.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
19. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Match Report - Costa Rica-Morocco". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=8229/matches/match=37158/report.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
20. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Match Report - Morocco-Portugal". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=8229/matches/match=37161/report.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
21. ^ ^{a b} "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Match Report - Morocco-Iraq". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=8229/matches/match=37163/report.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
22. ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Fixtures and Results". FIFA.com. http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=8229/results/index.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
23. ^ ^{a b c} Wyatt, Ben (2008-01-21). "Namibia Morocco 1-5". BBC SPORT. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7199286.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
24. ^ Vickers, Steve (2008-01-24). "Guinea Morocco 3-2". BBC SPORT. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7205252.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
25. ^ Vickers, Steve (2008-01-28). "Ghana Morocco 2-0". BBC SPORT. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7212088.stm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
26. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations past competitions, 2008". Confederation of African Football. http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations_2012/pastcomp/2008. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 

External links

• (German) Transfermarkt
• (English) Transfermarkt
• Career stats at lfp.fr

Persondata
Name	Zerka, Monsef
Alternative names
Short description	Moroccan footballer
Date of birth	30 August 1981
Place of birth	Orléans, France
Date of death
Place of death