Steven Mouyokolo

Steven Stefan Fabrice Mouyokolo (born 24 January 1987) is a French footballer who last played for Celtic in 2014 as a centre back. He is currently a free agent.

Steven Mouyokolo
Mouyokolo with Celtic in 2013
Personal information
Full name Steven Stefan Fabrice Mouyokolo[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-24) 24 January 1987
Place of birth Melun, France
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
000?–2006 Châteauroux
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Châteauroux 0 (0)
2007–2008 Gueugnon 22 (0)
2008–2009 Boulogne 13 (0)
2009–2010 Hull City 21 (1)
2010–2013 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 (0)
2011–2012 → Sochaux (loan) 4 (0)
2013–2014 Celtic 2 (0)
Total 67 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:26, 4 August 2018 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Mouyokolo was born in Melun, France to Congolese parents. He began his senior football career at Ligue 2 side LB Châteauroux. He made his way up to the first team in 2006, but never made a first team appearance for the club, and in 2007 he joined fellow Ligue 2 side FC Gueugnon. He made 22 first team appearances for his new club, and his impressive displays from central defence earned him a move to US Boulogne, also of Ligue 2.

The defender made a bright start to the 2008–09 Ligue 2 season, helping his team to second in the table by December. His performances caught the attention of English Premier League teams Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic, Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers[3] and Arsenal.[4]

Hull City

However, it was Hull City who agreed a fee with Boulogne for the defender on 30 January 2009, but the transfer would not take place until the summer.[5] Mouyokolo officially signed a four-year deal for his new club on 2 June 2009, after helping his former club to promotion to French Ligue 1 for the first time in their history.[6] He scored to earn a 1–1 draw against eventual champions Chelsea on 2 February 2010,[7] but was part of the team that ended up relegated to The Championship.[8]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mouyokolo remained in the English Premier League when he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 June 2010 in a four-year deal (with the option of a fifth year)[9] for a fee which was undisclosed but reported in the local media as being £2.5 million.[10] His Wolves debut came in the League Cup tie with Notts County at Molineux on 21 September 2010.[11] He struggled to make an impression in his first season, making only seven appearances in all competitions.

With opportunities limited at Wolves, in June 2011 Mouyokolo was sent on loan to Ligue 1 side Sochaux, with the option to buy the player at the end of the loan. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said at the time: "We saw huge potential in Steven but he has had injury problems that have limited his opportunities."[12] However, Mouyokolo only managed four appearances for Sochaux in a season marred by injury, including a ruptured cruciate ligament suffered in February 2012, before he returned to Wolves at the end of the season.[13] On 30 January 2013 his contract at Wolves was terminated by mutual consent, making him a free agent after just seven appearances for the club.[14] Mouyokolo says his injury made him realized how lucky he is a footballer.[15]

Celtic

On 16 July 2013, Mouyokolo signed for Scottish Premier League champions Celtic, after impressing on trial in a series of pre-season games.[16] Mouyokolo says Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink played a role of helping him join the club.[17]

He made his Celtic debut in a 2–0 win against Aberdeen.[18] Mouyokolo went on to make his European debut for the club only three days later against Shakhtar Karagandy in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play off round.[19] Soon his career at Celtic wasn't as he planned when he sustained Achilles tendon after picking up the injury in training.[20] After a six-month out, Mouyokolo returns to first team action, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–0 victory against Dundee United on 5 April 2014.[21]

After an injury stricken season with Celtic, Mouyokolo left the club during the summer transfer window after his one-year contract expired.[22]

References
  1. "Premier League 25-man squad lists". The Daily Telegraph. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  2. "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  3. Haond, Patrick (12 December 2008). "English scouts like look of Mouyokolo". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  4. Brown, Nigel (19 December 2008). "Arsenal close in on Mouyokolo". Sport.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  5. "Defender Mouyokolo to join Hull". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  6. "French defender seals Hull deal". BBC Sport. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  7. "Hull 1–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  8. "Wigan 2–2 Hull". BBC Sport. 3 May 2010.
  9. "Wolves sign French defender Steven Mouyokolo from Hull". BBC Sport. 18 June 2010.
  10. "Wolves complete Steven Mouyokolo signing". Express and Star. 18 June 2010.
  11. "Wolverhampton 4–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 21 September 2010.
  12. "Defender returns to France". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011.
  13. "Steven Mouyokolo returns to Wolves". Express and Star. 3 May 2012.
  14. "Steven Mouyokolo is latest to leave Wolves". Express & Star. 30 January 2013.
  15. "Celtic signing Steven Mouyokolo: My injury nightmare made me realise how lucky I am to be a professional footballer". Daily Record. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  16. "Celtic secure deal for defender Steven Mouyokolo". BBC Sport. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  17. "Celtic new Bhoy Steven Mouyokolo reveals how he was sold on Hoops by ex-Parkhead hero Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink". Daily Record. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  18. "Aberdeen 0 – 2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  19. "Shakhter Karagandy 2 – 0 Celtic". BBC Sport. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  20. "Celtic's Steven Mouyokolo to miss six months through injury". BBC Sport. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  21. "Dundee United 0 – 2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  22. "No new deal for defender". Video Celts. 29 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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