Ken Monkou

Ken Monkou

Personal information
Full name	Kenneth John Monkou
Date of birth	(1964-11-29) 29 November 1964
Place of birth	Nickerie, Suriname
Height
Position(s)	Centre back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1988	Feyenoord	43	(2)
1989–1992	Chelsea	94	(2)
1992–1999	Southampton	198	(10)
1999–2000	Huddersfield Town	21	(1)
Total		356	(15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:45, 7 January 2009

Kenneth John "Ken" Monkou (born 29 November 1964) is a retired Dutch footballer who played in a defensive role.

Playing career

Born in Nickerie in Suriname but raised in the Netherlands, Monkou's first major side was Feyenoord Rotterdam. He moved to England in May 1989 to sign for newly promoted to the First Division Chelsea for £100,000. He was their first player from outside the Commonwealth of Nations since Petar Borota in 1982. He made an impressive start for his new side, being voted club player of the year in his first season – the first black player to do so for Chelsea – as the team finished 5th in the First Division and won the Full Members Cup. He remained with Chelsea until 1992, when he was sold to Southampton for £750,000 just 3 months after signing a new 5-year contract with Chelsea.

Monkou's time with Southampton saw regular battles for Premier League survival, though the club were never actually relegated. In the 1993–94 season he scored a last minute winner in a 5–4 defeat of Norwich City from a Matt Le Tissier corner which helped the club to stay in the Premier League. He stayed on the South Coast until 1999, when he joined Huddersfield Town on a free transfer, scoring once against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley. However, disagreements with Huddersfield manager Steve Bruce ensured his time with the club was short-lived. Monkou made a return to Chelsea during the 2002–2003 season, before finally retiring from the game

Later career

After his playing career, Monkou ran a pannekoek house in the Dutch city of Delft (2009), and is actively involved in Dutch media as well as making appearances on Chelsea TV.

Family

Monkou's cousin is Arsenio Halfhuid who currently plays for OFC Oostzaan in the Hoofdklasse.

External links

• Ken Monkou career statistics at Soccerbase
• Photo of Ken Monkou in action for Southampton