Nathan_Zézé
Nathan Zézé
French footballer (born 2005)
Nathan Zézé (born 18 June 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Nantes.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (2005-06-18) 18 June 2005 (age 18) | ||
| Place of birth | Nantes, France | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nantes | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2013 | USLD | ||
| 2013–2022 | Nantes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Nantes B | 23 | (1) |
| 2023– | Nantes | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | France U17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | France U18 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2023 | |||
Having grown up in La Varenne, just North-East of the Nantes Metropolis, Nathan Zézé joined the Nantes Academy as an under-9.[2]
Growing through the youth ranks of the team from Brittany, Zézé came to captain its under-17 and under-19 sides,[2] despite being the youngest on the pitch when he first captained the latter in 2021.[3] During the 2021–22 season he helped the under-19s to a national title, qualifying them for the European Youth League.[3]
At the start of the 2022–23 season, Zézé moved to the reserve National 2 team, whilst also playing the UEFA Youth League.[2][4]
Having already appeared on the team sheet in Ligue 1 against Auxerre during the previous encounter,[5][6] Zézé made his professional debut for Nantes on the 7 January 2023, during the 2–0 away Coupe de France win to AF Virois. He replaced an injured Nicolas Pallois before half-time, as his team had just scored its first goal, Zézé helping them to keep a clean-sheet for the rest of the game.[5][7][8]
Zézé is a youth international for France, having played with France under-17s until 2021,[3][9] before being selected with the under-18 for the Tournoi de Limoges the following year.[10]
A left-footed centre-back, Zézé is described as a tall and strong defender with good placement and anticipation, able to frequently win aerial duels and score headers, while also having many ball-playing qualities, comfortable with both short and long passes.[2][3]
- Nathan Zézé at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Soyer, Julien (12 July 2022). "FC Nantes. N2 : zoom sur quatre Jaunes plein d'avenir". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Le Guirinec, Louis (18 August 2022). "Un jour, un jeune. Episode 5 : Nathan Zézé, la promesse". La Maison Jaune (in French). Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- "FC Nantes. Quatre jeunes en passe de signer leur premier contrat professionnel". Ouest-France. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Cazzola, Florian (7 January 2023). "Coupe de France : qualification tranquille du FC Nantes face aux amateurs de Vire". France Bleu (in French). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Ripoche, Antoine (31 December 2022). "FC Nantes. Pedro Chirivella absent du groupe pour la réception d'Auxerre". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Soyer, Julien (8 January 2023). "Coupe de France. FC Nantes : Doucet, Diaz, Zézé… Face à Vire, une jeunesse au niveau". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- Y.F. (7 January 2023). "Coupe de France : première apparition en pro pour Nathan Zeze". Tribune Nantaise (in French). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Nathan Zézé appelé en Equipe de France U17". Actufoot [fr]. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- Canivenc, Clovis (16 September 2022). "Equipe de France U18Ilyes Housni convoqué avec la France U18". MadeinParisiens. Ouest-France. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- Nathan Zézé at Soccerway
- Nathan Zézé at the French Football Federation (in French)
- Nathan Zézé – UEFA competition record (archive)
