Monsef Zerka
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 August 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Orléans, France | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder, Winger, Forward | ||
| 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) |
| 2012 | Petrolul Ploieşti | 12 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | Tanjong Pagar | 48 | (21) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004 | Morocco U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2008 | Morocco | 10 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 December 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2016 |
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Monsef Zerka (Arabic: منصف زرقا, born 30 August 1981 in Orléans) is a French-born Moroccan former professional footballer. He originally played as a striker, but throughout his career he has also played as a fullback and as a midfielder.
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.
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 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.
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. It was the first major trophy won by the club since the 1978 French Cup.
On 31 August 2010 Zerka signed for Ligue 2 outfit FC Nantes. Zerka debuted for his new in a 2-1 home win against Racing 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 by Jean-Claude Darcheville. He scored his second, and last, league goal for Nantes in the next match against SC Bastia. 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. It was scored after an assist by Djamel Abdoun. In the next season Zerka remained goalless for FC Nantes in the league. He scored his only goal that season, in a French Cup 4-2 away defeat by US Boulogne. On 7 January 2011 Nantes and Zerka mutually agreed to part ways. During his spell at FC Nantes Zerka featured in 35 Ligue 2 games, scoring 2 goals.
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