Blaise Nkufo
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Nkufo playing for Switzerland in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Isetsima Blaise Nkufo[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 May 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1994 | Lausanne | 2 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Echallens | 16 | (9) |
| 1995–1996 | Al-Arabi | 12 | (6) |
| 1996–1997 | Yverdon | 35 | (12) |
| 1997–1998 | Lausanne | 34 | (18) |
| 1998–2000 | Grasshopper | 18 | (4) |
| 1999–2000 | → Lugano (loan) | 21 | (14) |
| 2000–2001 | Lucerne | 19 | (7) |
| 2001–2002 | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | 42 | (20) |
| 2002–2003 | Hannover 96 | 9 | (0) |
| 2003–2010 | Twente | 223 | (114) |
| 2010 | Seattle Sounders FC | 11 | (5) |
| Total | 442 | (209) | |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2010 | Switzerland | 34 | (7) |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Isetsima Blaise Nkufo (born 25 May 1975) is a Swiss former international footballer who played as a striker.
He was born in Zaire and raised in Switzerland from the age of seven.
Nkufo played professionally in Switzerland, Qatar, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, scoring 209 goals in 442 career league appearances.
Nkufo was also a member of the Swiss national team, having won 34 caps and scored seven goals. He played for them at the 2010 World Cup.
Early and personal life
Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, Nkufo emigrated to Switzerland with his family when he was seven and became naturalised as a Swiss citizen.[2]
Club career
Nkufo played for Lausanne Sport, FC Echallens, Al-Arabi, Yverdon-Sport FC, Grasshopper Club Zürich, AC Lugano, FC Lucerne, Mainz 05, Hannover 96, FC Twente and Seattle Sounders FC.[1]
In February 2010, Nkufo was linked to sign with the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC.[3] On 4 March 2010, the Sounders confirmed that they had signed him. He joined the Sounders' squad on 13 July 2010.[4] His first appearance for the Sounders was on 18 July 2010 during a friendly vs. Celtic.[5]
On 15 March 2011, Seattle and Nkufo agreed mutually to the termination of his deal.[6] Nkufo announced his retirement thirteen days later.[7]
International career
Nkufo made his international debut for Switzerland in 2000.[1] He was a squad member at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.[8]
Name confusion
Nkufo has himself said in interviews that his surname is Nkufo. The incorrect version N'Kufo is often found in media. The surname is pronounced Kufo, without the N.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Blaise Nkufo". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- 1 2 "Von N'Kufo über Nkufo bis Kufo". 20min.ch (in German). 21 August 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
- ↑ Mayers, Joshua (14 February 2010). "Swiss international linked to Sounders FC and other notes". Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
- ↑ Mayers, Joshua (5 July 2010). "Blaise Nkufo to join the Sounders FC on July 13 (release)". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ Mayers, Joshua (18 July 2010). "Sounders FC falls 2-1 to Celtic FC in international friendly". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ "Sounders cut ties with Swiss forward Nkufo". mlssoccer.com. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ↑ "Forward Nkufo Retires". soundersfc.com/. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ↑ Blaise Nkufo: Switzerland star player at World Cup 2010
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