Nathan Zézé

Nathan Zézé
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-06-18) 18 June 2005 (age 19)
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 US Loire et Divatt
2013–2022 Nantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Nantes B 26 (1)
2023– Nantes 14 (0)
International career‡
2021 France U17 6 (0)
2022–2023 France U18 2 (0)
2024– France U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:32, 9 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 November 2024

Nathan Zézé (born 18 June 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Nantes.[1]

Early life

Having grown up in La Varenne, just North-East of the Nantes Metropolis, Nathan Zézé joined the Nantes Academy as an under-9.[2]

Club career

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]

International career

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]

Style of play

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]

References

  1. ^ Nathan Zézé at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Soyer, Julien (12 July 2022). "FC Nantes. N2 : zoom sur quatre Jaunes plein d'avenir". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d 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.
  4. ^ "FC Nantes. Quatre jeunes en passe de signer leur premier contrat professionnel". Ouest-France. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ Ripoche, Antoine (31 December 2022). "FC Nantes. Pedro Chirivella absent du groupe pour la réception d'Auxerre". Ouest-France. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Y.F. (7 January 2023). "Coupe de France : première apparition en pro pour Nathan Zeze". Tribune Nantaise (in French). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Nathan Zézé appelé en Equipe de France U17". Actufoot [fr]. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  10. ^ Canivenc, Clovis (16 September 2022). "Equipe de France U18Ilyes Housni convoqué avec la France U18". MadeinParisiens. Ouest-France. Retrieved 9 January 2023.