Kevin Tapoko

Kevin Guy-Noel Pierre Tapoko (born 13 April 1994) is a French professional footballer who plays as a Midfielder for the Hapoel Haifa from Israeli Premier League. Tapoko as already signed a deal to be loaned out to Grenoble Foot 38 playing in the Ligue 2 for the 2020–21 season.[1]

Kevin Tapoko
Personal information
Full name Kevin Guy-Noel Pierre Tapoko
Date of birth (1994-04-13) 13 April 1994
Place of birth Laval, France
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Hapoel Haifa
Number 7
Youth career
2005–2009 Laval
2009–2011 Lyon
2011–2012 Le Mans
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Lausanne 2 (0)
2013–2015 Dessel 24 (2)
2015–2016 OH Leuven 10 (1)
2016 Royal Excel Mouscron 1 (0)
2016–2017 RWS Bruxelles 3 (0)
2017–2018 Panionios 19 (2)
2018 Aris Limassol 5 (0)
2018–2019 Hapoel Hadera 18 (1)
2019– Hapoel Be'er Sheva 7 (0)
2019–2020 → Hapoel Haifa (loan) 0 (0)
2020– → Grenoble (loan) 0 (0)
National team
2010 France U16 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 June 2019

Club career

Early career

Tapoko initially started his footballing career with hometown club Laval but moved on to Lyon where he would go on to spend two years as an academy player. In 2011, Tapoko transferred to Le Mans where he was able to feature for their reserve team however he left at the end of the season.[2] Following Le Mans, he moved abroad to Swiss Super League club Lausanne on a free transfer in August 2012.[3] He made his league debut for Lausanne on 16 March 2013 in a 3–1 away loss against St. Gallen, coming on as a substitute for the final 12 minutes. During the 2012–13 season, Tapoko also featured for the reserve team and went on trial with Watford in England Championship.

Towards the 2013–14 season, Tapoko signed for two years at Dessel from the Belgian Second Division. Later on, Tapoko played in two teams from the Belgian Pro League, OH Leuven and Royal Excel Mouscron. After that he also had a short spell with RWS Bruxelles, playing at the third level of Belgian football.

On 14 January 2017, During the 2016–17 season, Tapoko signed a contract till the end of with Greece club Panionios from the Superleague Greece.[4] in January 2018 Tapoko moved to Aris Limassol ftom the Cypriot First Division.[5] On 12 June 2018 Tapoko returned to the Superleague Greece, signing a contract with Apollon Smyrni, But was released after a very short time.[6]

The period in Israel

On 20 August 2018, Tapoko signed with Hapoel Hadera from the Israeli Premier League Towards the season of the games 2018–19.[7] On 18 August 2018, Tapoko made his debut in a 2–1 win over Ashdod in the Toto Cup at Yud-Alef Stadium. On 25 August, Tapoko made his debut in a 1–2 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League at Netanya Stadium. On 28 October, Tapoko scored his first goal in a 2–3 win over Ashdod in the Israeli Premier League at Netanya Stadium.

On 4 January 2019, Tapoko signed with Hapoel Be'er Sheva for three and a half years.[8] As part of the deal it was agreed that the player would move to Hapoel Be'er Sheva on 13 January, after game of Hapoel Hadera against Bnei Sakhnin which was played on 12 January at Netanya Stadium.[9]

International career

Tapoko was a France youth international, having previously competed at France national under-16 team. In 2010, he was part of the France national under-16 team that played at the 2010 Montaigu Tournament, finishing in third place.

References
  1. "ACCORD DE PRÊT POUR KEVIN TAPOKO !". gf38.fr (in French). gf38.fr. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. "Info FM : à la découverte de Kevin Tapoko, jeune espoir du Mans". Foot Mercato (in French). footmercato.net. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  3. "Transferts". FC Lausanne-Sport (in French). lausanne-sport.ch. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  4. "Κλείνει" Ταπόκο ο Πανιώνιος (in Greek). gazzetta.gr. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  5. ΗΡΘΕ,ΥΠΕΓΡΑΨΕ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΙΖΕΙ!!! (in Greek). Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  6. Επίσημο: Πήρε τον Ταποκό ο Απόλλων Σμύρνης. sport24.gr. 12 June 2018.
  7. "Kevin Tafoko signed with Hapoel Hadera". Sport5. Sport5.co.il. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. "Tapoko signed for Hapoel Be'er Sheva for 3.5 years". ONE. one.co.il. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. "Official: Tapoko signed with Hapoel Be'er Sheva for three and a half seasons". ONE. one.co.il. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
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