Ken Monkou


Kenneth John Monkou is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Early life

Monkou was born in Nickerie in Suriname and was raised in the Netherlands. He became passionate about football as a child in The Hague, where he played at RK-VVP.

Football career

Monkou's first major side was Feyenoord Rotterdam. He moved to England in May 1989 to play for newly promoted Chelsea for £100,000. He was their first player from outside the Commonwealth of Nations since Petar Borota in 1982. He was voted club player of the year in his first season – the first black player to do so for Chelsea – as the team finished fifth in the First Division and won the Full Members Cup. He remained with Chelsea until 1992, when he was transferred to Southampton for £750,000 three months after signing a new five-year contract with Chelsea.
Southampton faced regular battles for Premier League survival, though the club was never 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 that helped the club 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 2002–03 season, before finally retiring from the game.

Later career

Monkou ran a Dutch pancake house in the Dutch city of Delft and is actively involved in Dutch media and on Chelsea TV.

Personal life

Monkou's cousin is Arsenio Halfhuid is also a footballer.