| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Calvin Zola-Makongo | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Burton Albion | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2003 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2004 | Newcastle United | 0 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 25 | (5) |
| 2004–2008 | Tranmere Rovers | 96 | (16) |
| 2008–2011 | Crewe Alexandra | 67 | (21) |
| 2011 | → Burton Albion (loan) | 18 | (3) |
| 2011– | Burton Albion | 22 | (7) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:26, 31 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Calvin Zola-Makongo (born 31 December 1984 in Kinshasa, Zaire), often known simply as Calvin Zola, is a football player from the Democratic Republic of Congo. As confirmed by Chris Kamara on Sky Sports' Gilette Soccer Saturday, his name has been shortened to "Zola" by many of his team mates. Zola plays for Burton Albion.
Zola began his career at Newcastle United. On 29 August 2003 he went on loan to Oldham Athletic, where he stayed until 9 May 2004, scoring five goals in 25 appearances. He was released on a free transfer at the end of the 2003–04 season and signed for Tranmere Rovers on 27 May where he scored 4 goals in his first season.
Some months after arriving at Prenton Park, problems were discovered with his visa and he was unable to work (i.e. play) until a solution was reached.[1] In May 2005 he was granted a full permit and returned in time for training for the 2005–06 season. In 2006–07 Zola signed a two year extension to his contract, which would otherwise have expired at the end of the 2006–07 season, keeping him at Tranmere until May 2009.
In June 2008, he signed with League One club Crewe Alexandra for a transfer fee of £200,000.[2] On his home debut in a friendly against Hull City, he scored a first half hat trick helping his new side to a 4–0 win. He scored on his league debut on the opening day of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 18 January 2011 he signed on loan to Burton Albion until the end of the season. He made his debut for Burton Albion on 29 January 2010 away against Burnley in the FA Cup Fourth Round. He scored on his debut as Burton Albion lost 3–1.
In May 2011, Zola was released from his contract at Crewe Alexandra.[3]
In June 2011 Zola moved to Burton on a permanent basis.
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