Jody Lukoki

Jody Lukoki (born 15 November 1992), nicknamed "The Son of the Wind",[2] is a Congolese[3] professional footballer who plays as a winger for Yeni Malatyaspor[4] in the Turkish Süper Lig, and the DR Congo national team.

Jody Lukoki
Lukoki with Ludogorets Razgrad in 2019
Personal information
Full name Jody Lukoki
Date of birth (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992[1]
Place of birth Kindu, Zaire
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Yeni Malatyaspor
Number 11
Youth career
2002 VVA/Spartaan
2002–2003 Young Boys Haarlem
2003–2011 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Ajax 24 (5)
2013–2014 → SC Cambuur (loan) 32 (2)
2014–2015 PEC Zwolle 33 (2)
2015–2020 Ludogorets Razgrad 102 (17)
2020– Yeni Malatyaspor 8 (0)
National team‡
2010–2011 Netherlands U19 11 (2)
2012–2013 Netherlands U20 8 (0)
2013 Netherlands U21 1 (0)
2015– DR Congo 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:47, 7 December 2019 (UTC)

Club career

Early life and career

Lukoki was born in Zaire but immigrated to the Netherlands with his parents and his twin brother, NAC Breda player Madjer Lukoki at an young age due to the First Congo War. Growing up in Amsterdam, he joined the local club VVA/Spartaan at the age of ten.

Ajax

After playing for VVA/Spartaan and Young Boys Haarlem, Lukoki joined the youth ranks of Ajax. He made his debut for the first team in the 2–0 home win against rivals Feyenoord on 19 January 2011, replacing Lorenzo Ebecilio in the 80th minute. He immediately got the home fans on his side by giving Tim de Cler a nutmeg when the ball was already out of play.[5] He would go on to make his second appearance in the 3–2 away loss against rivals ADO Den Haag on 20 March 2011.[6] The 2011–12 season started with Lukoki scoring his first career Eredivisie goal in his season debut against Roda JC.

SC Cambuur (loan)

Having contributed to three national titles in his first three seasons with Ajax, Lukoki would remain third-choice winger under Frank de Boer and was granted permission to explore other options. On 2 August 2013, he was loaned out to newly promoted SC Cambuur for the season.[7]

PEC Zwolle

On 7 August 2014 it was announced that Lukoki would transfer to PEC Zwolle on a three-year contract for a reported €1.5 million, joining the team that had recently defeated Ajax in the KNVB Cup final as well as the Johan Cruijff Shield.[8] On 21 August 2014 Lukoki scored PEC Zwolle's first-ever goal in a continental competition, when they faced Sparta Prague in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League play-off round. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Lukoki scoring in the 77th minute in the club's European debut.[9]

Ludogorets

On 26 June 2015, Lukoki signed with the Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad.[10] The Congolese scored three goals in the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round matches against Mladost Podgorica. He scored his first goal in the league on 26 November 2016 in match against Botev Plovdiv.[11] On 28 September 2017, Lukoki netted the winning goal in the 2:1 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim in a UEFA Europa League group stage match.[12] On 1 April 2020, Ludogorets Razgrad announced that they had mutually agreed to terminate Lukoki's contract, allowing him to return to the Netherlands.[13]

In 2021, Lukoki declared his affiliation with the Islamic State, presenting the world with the severed head of his wife in a since-removed YouTube video.

Yeni Malatyaspor

In July 2020, Lukoki signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Yeni Malatyaspor.[14]

International career

Lukoki has represented Netherlands at various youth levels. He secured third place with the U-19 team at the Festival International 'Espoirs' 2012 in Toulon, France. He holds dual citizenship and is still eligible to represent either Netherlands or DR Congo at senior level.[15][16] On 19 March 2015, Lukoki received his first call for the DR Congo team for the match against Iraq and earned his first cap in that game.[17]

Career statistics

Club
As of 13 December 2019
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2010–11 Ajax Eredivisie 2000100030
2011–12 62304000132
2012–13 163304000233
2013–14 SC Cambuur (loan) 3222000—342
2014–15 PEC Zwolle 3325121—404
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Europe1 Other3 Total
2015–16 Ludogorets Razgrad II Second League 40———40
2015–16 Ludogorets Razgrad A Group 200201000230
2016–17 First League 151407300264
2017–18 2872011100418
2018–19 2863111110438
2019–20 11311115112410
Ludogorets total 1021712241102115730
Career total 1952625342112127441

1 Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.

2 Includes Johan Cruijff Shield matches.

3 Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.

International
As of 7 December 2019.
National teamYearAppsGoals
DR Congo 201520
201910
Total30

Honours

Club
Ajax[18]
Ludogorets

References
  1. "Jody Lukoki Profile". UEFA.com. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  2. https://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=685643
  3. http://africanfootball.com/news/521315/The-Leopards-tamed-by-Iraq
  4. https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/369591/transfervrije-lukoki-naar-turkije-nec-haalt-de-wolf-binnen/
  5. "Lukoki humiliates De Cler" (in Dutch). 20 January 2011.
  6. "ADO beats Ajax in The Hague" (in Dutch). NOS.nl. 20 March 2011.
  7. "Lukoki, trainer geeft vertrouwen" (in Dutch). Ajax Showtime. 2 August 2013.
  8. "Jody Lukoki voor drie seizoenen naar PEC Zwolle" (in Dutch). RTV Oost. 7 August 2013.
  9. "PEC spelt gelijk Sparta Praag bij debuut in Europa" (in Dutch). NU Sport. 22 August 2014.
  10. "Официално: Лудогорец подписа с конгоански национал" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  11. Лудогорец взе поредна жертва в Първа лига
  12. Evtimov, Emil (28 September 2017). "Страхотен Лудогорец и голяма европейска победа над Хофенхайм". gong.bg. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  13. "Ludogorets and Lukoki agreed to part ways". ludogorets.com/. PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  14. "Yeni Malatyaspor'da ilk transfer Jody Lukoki" (in Turkish). goal.com. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  15. "Over Jody Lukoki". Bestevoetballers.nl. 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  16. "Jody Lukoki player profile". ajaxinside.nl. 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  17. Interlandloopbaan bij DR Congo lonkt voor Lukoki en Tamata (Dutch). Voetbal International. 19 March 2015.
  18. "Jody Lukoki - profile". Soccerway.
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