 Monsef Zerka | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1981-08-30)30 August 1981 (age 43) | ||
| Place of birth | Orléans, France | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder,winger,forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2001 | Nancy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2009 | Nancy | 176 | (17) |
| 2009–2011 | Nantes | 35 | (2) |
| 2011 | Iraklis | 9 | (0) |
| 2011 | New England Revolution | 7 | (2) |
| 2012 | Petrolul Ploieşti | 12 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | Tanjong Pagar | 48 | (21) |
| Total | 287 | (44) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004 | Morocco U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2008 | Morocco | 10 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Monsef Zerka (Arabic:منصف زرقا, born 30 August 1981) is a former professionalfootballer. He originally played as astriker, but throughout his career he has also played as afullback and as amidfielder. Born in France, he representedMorocco at international level.
Zerka was born inOrléans. After playing forUS 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 againstCaen, coming in as a late substitute in the 83rd minute.
Before finally signing professional forms (initially a three-year contract) with Nancy in August 2002, Zerka had made his debut for theMorocco national team.
After playing in various positions over the years, Zerka proved effective in a forward role in Nancy'sfirst season back in the top flight, scoring 6 goals in 24 appearances and continued in this position in 2006–07. He leftAS Nancy in the summer of 2009, after playing 173 league matches for the club and scoring 17 goals. InLigue 1, he featured in 85 matches and scored 13 goals.
Zerka will be remember byAS Nancy supporters for scoring the first goal of Nancy in theFinal of the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue.[1] It was the first major trophy won by the club since the1978 French Cup.
On 31 August 2010, Zerka signed forLigue 2 outfitFC Nantes.[2][3] Zerka debuted for his new in a 2–1 home win againstRacing Strasbourg. 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 byJean-Claude Darcheville.[4] He scored his second, and last, league goal for Nantes in the next match againstSC Bastia. It was scored in the 7th minute of the match and it was the opening goal, in a match that ended as a 1–1 draw.[5] It was scored after an assist byDjamel Abdoun.[5] In the next season Zerka remained goalless for Nantes in theleague. He scored his only goal that season, in aFrench Cup 4–2 away defeat byUS Boulogne. On 7 January 2011, Nantes and Zerka mutually agreed to part ways.[6] During his spell at Nantes Zerka featured in 35Ligue 2 games, scoring 2 goals.
On 14 January 2011, Zerka signed a contract withGreek Superleague clubIraklis until the summer of 2012.[7] He debuted forIraklis on 23 January 2011, as he was in the starting line-up in a 3–0 away defeat byAO Kavala.[8][9]
Zerka left Iraklis on a mutual agreement after their relegation from the Greek top flight, and he subsequently signed withMajor League Soccer clubNew England Revolution on 18 August 2011.[10] Zerka became one of the few bright spots in the Revolution's dismal[11][12]2011 campaign.[13][14] He made his Revolution debut, and scored his first Revolution goal, on 7 September 2011 in a 4-4 draw with thePhiladelphia Union.[15][16][17] He made his home debut 3 days later in a home win overFC Dallas.[17] He scored his second and final goal for the Revolution in the final match of the Revolution season, a 2-2 draw atToronto FC.[18]
The Revolution declined Zerka's contract on 30 November 2011.[19] In seven matches (all starts) Zerka concluded his Revolution career with two goals and an assist.[19]
In March 2012, he signed with the Romanian clubPetrolul Ploieşti, scoring 2 goals in 12 matches.
Zerka joined Singapore League (S.League) club Tanjong Pagar United in January 2013. He made his league debut on 22 February 2013 against Balestier Khalsa, scoring a goal in the match that ended 3–1 to Tanjong Pagar United. On 27 February 2013, in only his second league match, Zerka scored his first career hat-trick against Warriors FC, which Tanjong Pagar United won 6–1. On 4 October 2013, Zerka scored a hat-trick 2 goals and 1 own goal to helpedTanjong Pagar United become the first team to qualify for the2013 Singapore Cup.
Zerka has gained 10 full caps forMorocco, scoring 2 goals.
Zerka was a member of the Moroccan squad for the2004 Summer Olympics football tournament.[20] He was a starter in Morocco's[21] first match, a 0–0 draw againstCosta Rica. In the second match, a 1–2 defeat byPortugal, Zerka was once again a starter, but he was substituted in the 72nd minute byTajeddine Sami.[22] He watched Morocco's third and last match in the tournament from the bench.[23] The match ended up a 2–1 victory for Morocco, its only victory in the tournament.[23] Morocco got 4 points, equal to those of Costa Rica, but it was eliminated from the tournament, as it had scored fewer goals than Costa Rica.[24]
Zerka also featured in the Morocco squad for the2008 Africa Cup of Nations inGhana. In the opening match for Morocco, he came in as a substitute forYoussouf Hadji in the 70th minute.[25] He managed to score a header for Morocco 4 minutes after his entrance in the game.[25] It was his team's last goal in 1-5 devastation againstNamibia and Zerka's first goal for his country.[25] He was a starter in his team's next match, a 3–2 defeat byGuinea, but he was substituted in the 80th minute byEl Moubarki.[26] In the next match Morocco had to compete against host nationGhana. Zerka came in as a substitute forAboucherouane in the 55th minute of the match, but he was unable to help his team overturn Ghana's 2–0 lead.[27] Morocco finished 3rd inits group and was eliminated.[28]
Nancy
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