Now a target for some of the biggest teams in Europe, Steven N’Zonzi’s career wasn’t always as easy as it has been at Sevilla, with many years of struggles leading to him finally signing his first professional contract with Amiens in France.
A move to Blackburn followed, bought by Sam Allardyce, where he spent three years before signing for Stoke City under Tony Pulis, who was replaced by Mark Hughes at the end of his first season at the club.
The 27-year-old defensive midfielder, who is currently playing regular European football with the Spanish side, was asked in an interview by L’Equipe what his favourite memory from English football was.
He said: “It was the last game we played at home against Liverpool. It was also Steven Gerrard’s last game, where he was a legend for that club and the Premier League. We win 6-1. I score a goal, I score a good goal, actually. I enjoy myself on the pitch. We all enjoy ourselves on the pitch.
“After a good season where Stoke finished 9th, for Stoke, that’s a really good season, we go on holiday, and maybe I didn’t know it then, but that was my last game in the Premier League before going to Sevilla.”
The defensive midfielder signed for the La Liga club on the 9th of July 2015 for a fee of just under £7m, a bargain if you consider how far the player has come since then.
With a Europa League already under his belt thanks to Unai Emery last season, and Champions League football this year with Sevilla third in La Liga, just one point behind Barcelona, N’Zonzi has a lot to thank Stoke for.
And Blackburn, for that matter.
