Francisco Zuela (born 3 August 1983) is a former Angolan footballer.

Francisco Zuela
Personal information
Full name José Luis Francisco Zuela dos Santos
Date of birth (1983-08-03) 3 August 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Luanda, Angola
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre Back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
União de Leiria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Sertanense 27 (3)
2003–2004 Académica de Coimbra 1 (0)
2004–2005 Santa Clara 29 (1)
2005–2006 Akratitos 14 (0)
2006–2009 Skoda Xanthi 87 (3)
2009–2012 Kuban Krasnodar 11 (0)
2010Alania Vladikavkaz (loan) 6 (0)
2010–2011PAOK (loan) 7 (0)
2011–2012Atromitos (loan) 21 (0)
2012–2013 APOEL 6 (0)
2013 Apollon Smyrni 1 (0)
2014–2015 Kabuscorp ? (?)
2015 Trofense 0 (0)
International career
2006–2012 Angola 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Zuela started his career in 2002 with the Portuguese club Sertanense F.C.[1] In Portugal, he also represented Académica de Coimbra and C.D. Santa Clara.

In 2005, he signed a contract with the Greek club Akratitos. The next season, he moved to Skoda Xanthi, spending three seasons to the club.

On 8 December 2009, Zuela arrived for a trial with Wigan Athletic,[2] but that trial ended without a contract offer.[3]

In 2009, he moved to Russia and signed with Kuban Krasnodar, but the next year he was given on loan to Alania Vladikavkaz. In July 2012, he was given on loan from Kuban to PAOK in Greece and in the 2011–12 season, he was given again on loan to another Greek club, Atromitos.

On 5 June 2012, Zuela terminated his contract with Kuban and signed a two-year contract with the Cypriot club APOEL.[4] Although he did not manage to win a regular place in APOEL's starting lineup (he appeared in only six league matches), he became a champion for the first time in his career after winning the 2012–13 Cypriot First Division with the club. On 17 July 2013 his contract with APOEL was mutually terminated.[5]

Later, he had a five-month spell at Apollon Smyrni in Greece, appearing only in one match for twelve minutes as a substitute, and being released before the end of year 2013.

International career

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Zuela is a member of the Angola national football team. He has made 17 appearances, without scoring any goal yet.

Honours

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APOEL

References

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  1. ^ "SERTANENSE Futebol Clube: Ex-jogador do Sertanense é titular na selecção de Angola". 2010.
  2. ^ "Football News – all the latest breaking football stories – Mirror Online". mirrorfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Roberto Martinez impressed by Michael Ball". ESPN FC. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  4. ^ "ΥΠΕΓΡΑΨΕ Ο ZUELA" (in Greek). APOEL FC. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  5. ^ Ανακοίνωση [Announcement] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
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