Ritchie Kitoko

Ritchie Kitoko (born 11 June 1988) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Greek club Apollon Smyrnis.

Ritchie Kitoko
Personal information
Full name Ritchie Kitoko
Date of birth (1988-06-11) 11 June 1988
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Apollon Smyrnis
Number 88
Youth career
2004–2006 Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Albacete B
2008–2009 Albacete 34 (2)
2009–2016 Udinese 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Granada (loan) 17 (0)
2011–2012 → Tenerife (loan) 39 (2)
2012–2013 → Girona (loan) 7 (0)
2013–2014 → Jaén (loan) 34 (0)
2014–2016 → Asteras Tripolis (loan) 9 (0)
2016–2018 UCAM Murcia 55 (0)
2018–2020 Racing Santander 33 (1)
2020– Apollon Smyrnis 6 (0)
National team
2005–2006 Belgium U18 12 (0)
2007 Belgium U19 2 (0)
2009 Belgium U20 1 (0)
2009 Belgium U21 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 February 2021

Club career

Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, Kitoko moved to Belgium in his teens, entering Standard Liège's youth system in 2004. Two years later he signed his first professional contract, with Albacete Balompié in Spain, spending almost two full seasons with the B-team in the fourth division.

On 20 August 2009, Kitoko joined Udinese Calcio in Serie A.[1][2] However, on 2 January of the following year, he returned to Spain and signed for Granada CF on loan until the end of the campaign in the third level,[3] as the Andalusians had recently signed a partnership agreement with the Italians; he contributed with 13 games (12 starts) as his team returned to the second tier after an absence of more than 20 years.[4]

On 31 January 2011, deemed surplus to requirements at Granada, Kitoko moved to another club in the same country and division, CD Tenerife, still owned by Udinese.[5] He appeared regularly as a starter during his short spell, but the Canary Islands side eventually suffered relegation, a second consecutive.[6]

An unassuming two-year spell in the Superleague Greece with Asteras Tripolis F.C. notwithstanding, Kitoko continued competing in Spain's level two in the following years.[7][8][9]

International career

After choosing to play for Belgium internationally, Kitoko represented the nation in various youth levels. In May 2009 he earned his first call-up to the senior team, for the Kirin Cup, but did not appear in the tournament.[10]

References
  1. "Traspaso de Ritchie Kitoko" [Richie Kitoko transfer] (in Spanish). Albacete Balompié. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  2. "Il centrocampista Ritchie Kitoko è dell'Udinese" [Midfielder Richie Kitoko is an Udinese player] (in Italian). Udinese Calcio. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  3. "Ritchie Kitoko llega en calidad de cedido al Granada CF hasta el próximo 30 de Junio" [Richie Kitoko arrives to Granada on loan until 30 June] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  4. "El Granada evita el 'Alcorconazo' y regresa a Segunda veintidós años después" [Granada avoid 'Alcorconazo' and return to Segunda twenty-two years later]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  5. "Kitoko, todo un especialista para el centro del campo" [Kitoko, all-out midfield specialist] (in Spanish). CD Tenerife. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  6. "Kitoko: "Mi paso por el Tenerife fue agridulce"" [Kitoko: "I had a bittersweet spell at Tenerife"] (in Spanish). Depor Press. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  7. "El Girona ficha a Kitoko" [Girona sign Kitoko]. Sport (in Spanish). 2 August 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  8. "El Real Jaén ficha a nueve futbolistas para Segunda" [Real Jaén sign nine footballers for Segunda] (in Spanish). El Deporte de Jaén. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  9. "El UCAM Murcia ficha al belga Kitoko tras su desvinculación del Granada" [UCAM Murcia sign Belgian Kitoko after he cut ties with Granada]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  10. "Kirin Cup: De Laet , Kitoko et Nainggolan aussi" [Kirin Cup: De Laet, also Kitoko and Nainggolan] (in French). DH. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
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