Steve Zakuani

Steve Zakuani

Zakuani playing for Seattle Sounders FC in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-02-09) 9 February 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Kinshasa, Zaire
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1997–2003	Arsenal
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Akron Zips	44	(26)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008	Cleveland Internationals	11	(9)
2009–2013	Seattle Sounders FC	80	(17)
2014	Portland Timbers	17	(0)
Total		108	(26)
International career
2010	DR Congo	1	(0)
Managerial career
2015–2016	Tacoma Stars (assistant)
2019–	Bellevue Wolverines
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Steve Zakuani (born 9 February 1988) is a Congolese former footballer. He was born in Zaire—now the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and grew up in London. After a successful college career, he played for the Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers.

Zakuani played for the Arsenal youth academy, but then struggled finding a team. He attended the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship, excelling as a forward. In 2009, Seattle selected Zakuani with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. He quickly became a fan favorite as a winger with the speed and ability to take on opposing defenders.

Success continued in 2010 with Zakuani scoring ten goals and debuting for the Congo DR national football team in a friendly. However, in 2011, he suffered an almost career-ending leg injury. He failed to recapture his early success upon returning in 2012, before retiring after playing the 2014 MLS season with the Portland Timbers. After his retirement from soccer, Zakuani helps young athletes through charity work, joined the Sounders' game-day broadcast team, and coaches at Bellevue High School.