In its column, “one player, one story”, the Association of Ivorian Footballers (AFI) highlighted this week one of the first boarders of the JMG Academy in Abidjan, namely Didier Zokora known as “Maestro”, known for his legendary enthusiasm and love for football, the former Ivorian international will have marked his entire generation.
The former Ivorian international has left his mark on his entire generation. His fine ball control and his classy interventions explain his nickname (given by his academic team-mates from the Johan class), Maestro.
A master of the ball, with a perfectly refined technique, who moved without difficulty from the position of central defender to that of defensive midfielder, his size being surely a handicap to continue his career in the position where he shone at the academy.
The Ivorians hit him on the evening of February 7, 1999 (almost 21 years ago). A glorious day for the academicians, who under the direction of Jean-marc Guillou, (JMG replaces the entire ASEC 1 team by the youngsters of his class 1 with an average age of 17. A foolish gamble for most people, but for their mentor “the silver wolf” as one of his close friends nicknamed him), they are burning the courtesy of the Esperanto giants in the African Super Cup.
On this day, Zokora held the central axis with Kolo Toure. This tandem was a tandem that stood out for its technicality. They will give in only once after 120 minutes.
We know what happens next. ASEC under the banner of the JMG academy wins, 3-1, against the hope of Tunis and the young shoots of Sol Béni enter the history books, with brilliance !!!
After an almost perfect season at ASEC (2nd in the championship), it is at KRC Genk (Belgium) that the native of Youpougon is going to continue his promising career. At the age of 20, a new challenge, a new position, and a defensive midfielder with the same quality and technical mastery at the service of the team. Indeed, the young African champion quickly adapted to the jupiler League (confronting the other academician who plays for Anderlecht, Aruna Dindane) and is the pride of the other academicians who are still on the shores of the Ebrié lagoon.
Crowned Belgian champion at the end of his second season, Maestro plays in the Champions League and rubs shoulders with the great Réal de Madrid. The European campaign is running out of steam. However, he grew in stature over the years and even came close to perfection in 2003-2004, a season in which the international scored one of his two goals at club level.
With Belgium conquered, Zokora set sail for France and St Etienne in the summer of 2004. At the same time, the national team of Côte d’Ivoire entered a new dimension. It is the generation of Drogba, Kolo, Dindane, Kalou, Yaya… Maestro is adventure. Unmovable to recovery. Untiring barker, who is missing at St Etienne during the CAN 2006 in Egypt. The history of Ivorian football will remember that he formed with Yaya Toure one of the great midfield duos in the national team. Even though he ended up in the position of central defender.
After a very successful stint in France, the Maestro settles down in Tottenham in England and has three big seasons under his belt. This was followed by contracts with Sevilla (2009-2001) in Spain, Trabzonspor (2011-2014) and Akisar Belediyespo (2014-2015) in Turkey. By the time he hangs up his boots in 2017, after a few stints in Asia (India and Indonesia), the Most Capable Elephant has had a busy 18-year professional career, with more than 600 appearances and 123 caps to his name.
His record of achievements includes an African Supercup, two African Cup of Nations finals, three World Cup finals, a Belgian championship, a League Cup (England) and a Spanish Cup. An impressive calling card worthy of his rank of Maestro.
