{{short description|Professional footballer (born 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Distel Zola | image = Distel zola world food program.jpg | image_size = | fullname = Distel Zola | height = 1.86m | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|2|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = 12th arrondissement of Paris, France | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Defensive midfielder | youthyears1 = 1994–2002 | youthclubs1 = Champigny-sur-Marne | youthyears2 = 2002–2004 | youthclubs2 = US Alfortville | youthyears3 = 2004–2009 | youthclubs3 = Monaco | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = Monaco | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = → Laval (loan) | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2011–2012 | clubs3 = Nancy | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2012 | clubs4 = → Le Havre (loan) | caps4 = 15 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2012–2014 | clubs5 = Le Havre | caps5 = 65 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2014–2015 | clubs6 = Châteauroux | caps6 = 20 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2015–2017 | clubs7 = Samsunspor | caps7 = 17 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2018–2019 | clubs8 = Tours FC | caps8 = 26 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2020– | clubs9 = El Paso Locomotive | caps9 = 10 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2021 | clubs10 = → Charlotte Independence (loan) | caps10 = 8 | goals10 = 0 | totalcaps = | totalgoals = <!-- This is for LEAGUE GOALS ONLY. Do NOT include other goals. --> | nationalyears1 = 2004–2005 | nationalteam1 = France U16 | nationalcaps1 = 12 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2005–2006 | nationalteam2 = France U17 | nationalcaps2 = 10 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2006–2007 | nationalteam3 = France U18 | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2007–2008 | nationalteam4 = France U19 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2010– | nationalteam5 = Congo DR | nationalcaps5 = 21 | nationalgoals5 = 0 | ntupdate = 4 November 2021 | pcupdate = 18 May 2016 }}
'''Distel Zola''' (born 5 February 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.
He is a former French youth international having earned caps at all levels of youth. In 2010, Zola switched international allegiance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to his ancestry.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.asm-fc.com/filactu.aspx?id=11714 | title = Distel Zola avec la RD Congo | date = 19 May 2010 | work = AS Monaco FC | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726013145/http://www.asm-fc.com/filactu.aspx?id=11714 | archivedate = 26 July 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He made his debut in May 2010 in a friendly match against Saudi Arabia.
== Early life == Zola was born in 1989 in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, of Zairean parents born in the Belgian Congo. He acquired French nationality on 24 June 2002, through the collective effect of his mother's naturalization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JORF n° 0146 du 25 juin 2002 - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2002/06/25/0146 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=legifrance.gouv.fr |page=11012 |language=fr |format=PDF}}</ref>
==Career==
===Early career=== Zola began his football career at the age of five at a local football academy in his hometown of Champigny-sur-Marne, a local southeastern Parisian suburb.<ref name ="zola_early">{{cite web | url = http://www.planete-asm.fr/article/86-distel-zola-se-confie-en-exclusivite-sur-planete-asm.html | title = Distel Zola se confie en exclusivité sur Planete-ASM | date = 16 October 2008 | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | publisher = Planete ASM | language = French | archive-date = 3 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120303132739/http://www.planete-asm.fr/article/86-distel-zola-se-confie-en-exclusivite-sur-planete-asm.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> After spending eight years at the club, he moved to US Alfortville.<ref name="zola_early" /> After a two-year stint in Alfortville, Zola drew interest from professional clubs Paris Saint-Germain, Auxerre, and Monaco. Zola ultimately signed with Monaco describing the club as the "most convincing" of the three.<ref name ="zola_early"/>
===Monaco=== Zola spent one season in Monaco's youth academy, and, in the 2005–06 season, appeared in two matches on the club's Championnat de France amateur team in the fourth division.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.stat2foot.com/mclubs/monaco20506.htm | title = AS MONACO RESERVE PRO 2005/2006 | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | publisher = Stat 2 Foot | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090903103059/http://www.stat2foot.com/mclubs/monaco20506.htm | archivedate = 3 September 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The following season, he was promoted to the amateur team full-time making 15 appearances.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.stat2foot.com/mclubs/monaco20607.htm | title = AS MONACO RESERVE PRO 2006/2007 | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | publisher = Stat 2 Foot | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090903103110/http://www.stat2foot.com/mclubs/monaco20607.htm | archivedate = 3 September 2009 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Zola spent two more seasons playing on the amateur team and, prior to the start of the 2008–09 season, turned professional and was, subsequently, promoted to the senior team and assigned the number 29 shirt by manager Ricardo Gomes.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=5997 | title = Les numéros officiels pour 2008-2009 ! | date = 5 August 2008 | work = AS Monaco FC | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175226/http://asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=5997 | archivedate = 7 July 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
Zola appeared on the bench for the club's first five league matches and continued to play on the club's amateur team in the fifth division. On 25 September 2008, while playing with the amateur team, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which required five months of rehabilitation. He returned to play in February 2009, but did not make any senior team appearances.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=7524 | title = Distel Zola: "Pas de barrière" | date = 25 February 2010 | work = AS Monaco FC | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175813/http://asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=7524 | archivedate = 7 July 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Zola later suffered an injury setback to his knee and endured significant rehabilitation for much of the 2009–10 season. On 10 August 2010, a healthy Zola was loaned out to Ligue 2 club Stade Lavallois for the entire 2010–11 season in order for the player to get some first-team playing time.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/monaco/article_442348_Monaco-D.Zola-prete-a-Laval.shtml | title = Monaco: D.Zola prêté à Laval | date = 10 August 2010 | work = Mercato 365 | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French | archive-date = 18 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110218044529/http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/monaco/article_442348_Monaco-D.Zola-prete-a-Laval.shtml | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.laval.maville.com/sport/detail_-Football-Distel-Zola-Laval-le-choix-adequat-_spo-1471902_actu.Htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120905194653/http://www.laval.maville.com/sport/detail_-Football-Distel-Zola-Laval-le-choix-adequat-_spo-1471902_actu.Htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 September 2012 | title = Distel Zola, "Laval, le choix adéquat" | date = 10 August 2010 | work = Laval Maville | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French }}</ref> On 13 August, Zola made his professional debut in a league match against Metz. He appeared as a substitute in a 1–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://new.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/54032 | title = Laval v. Metz Match Report | date = 13 August 2010 | work = Ligue de Football Professionnel | accessdate = 20 August 2010 | language = French | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313203028/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuille_match/54032 | archivedate = 13 March 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
===Nancy=== In July 2011, Nancy confirmed that it had signed Zola to a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.asnl.net/58/toute_l_actualite/actualites/fiche/2194 | title = Distel Zola va signer | date = 21 July 2011 | work = AS Nancy | accessdate = 22 July 2011 | language = French}}</ref> Zola ended his career at Monaco without making a senior team appearance for the club.
===Le Havre and Châteauroux=== After a single game for Nancy in six months, Zola was loaned to Le Havre AC, a stay that was made permanent in the summer of 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zola reste au Havre|url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/transferts/2012-2013/zola-reste-au-havre_sto3320621/story.shtml |publisher=Eurosport |date=21 June 2012 |accessdate=21 June 2012 | language = French }}</ref> In August 2014, Zola joined Châteauroux on a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berrichonne.net/joo/equipepro/transferts/15824-hountondji-et-zola-s-engagent.html|language=French|title=Hountondji et Zola s'engagent|publisher=berrichonne.net|date=28 August 2014|accessdate=24 October 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024193422/http://www.berrichonne.net/joo/equipepro/transferts/15824-hountondji-et-zola-s-engagent.html|archivedate=24 October 2014}}</ref>
===Samsunspor=== On 15 July 2015, Zola joined Süper Lig side Samsunspor.
===El Paso Locomotive=== On 12 December 2019, after spending the 2018–2019 season with French third tier side Tours FC, Zola joined USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive ahead of the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC SIGNS FORMER LIGUE 1 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER DISTEL ZOLA|url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news_article/show/1071183-el-paso-locomotive-fc-signs-former-ligue-1-defensive-midfielder-distel-zola |publisher=El Paso Locomotive FC |date=12 December 2019 |accessdate=28 April 2021}}</ref>
====Charlotte Independence (loan)==== On 27 April 2021, Zola joined Charlotte Independence on loan for the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE SIGNS MIDFIELDER DISTEL ZOLA ON LOAN|url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news_article/show/1160561 |publisher=Charlotte Independence |date=27 April 2021 |accessdate=28 April 2021}}</ref>
==International career== After playing for the French youth teams, Zola chose to play for the DR Congo in 2010.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091007070930/http://www.asm-fc.com/joueur.aspx?saison=8&joueur=153&equipe=1 Distel Zola club profile] * {{lfpfr|id=zola-distel|name=Distel Zola}} * {{leqstat|id=29628}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zola, Distel}} Category:Living people Category:1989 births Category:Footballers from Paris Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Naturalized citizens of France Category:French men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's international footballers Category:French sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:AS Monaco FC players Category:Stade Lavallois players Category:AS Nancy Lorraine players Category:Le Havre AC players Category:LB Châteauroux players Category:Samsunspor footballers Category:Tours FC players Category:El Paso Locomotive FC players Category:Charlotte Independence players Category:Ligue 2 players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Championnat National players Category:Süper Lig players Category:France men's youth international footballers Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Monaco Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:USL Championship players Category:Black French sportspeople Category:21st-century French sportsmen Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo sportsmen