Kurt Happy Zouma reveals reasons behind first names and how Chelsea move came after he joined them on FIFA
West Ham defender Kurt Happy Zouma has revealed how his rather interesting names came about.
The 11-cap France international is in his tenth season in English football, having initially been signed by Chelsea from Saint-Etienne.
3
A regular for David Moyes Hammers, and a Champions League winner with the Blues, Zouma is well known by Premier League fans, with many picking up on his middle name.
His first name is also not normal in France either, but he revealed the decision was made by his parents while they were watching a film and waiting for their son to be born.
Speaking to UEFA, , he explained: "My parents told me that they were watching a film by Jean-Claude Van Damme on TV.
“At the end they saw the names of the actors in the credits and they saw that Van Damme was Kurt.
"My mother had me in my stomach and my father told him that child we will call him Kurt because he will be strong, big.
“My mother said ok that's good but I want to add 'Happy' because that he will be happy, he will bring joy around him.
3
Most read in Football
“When I look at myself now, they are totally right. I am one of the happiest."
The Lyon-born 28-year-old came through the academy of nearby Saint-Etienne, later sealing a £12million move to Chelsea.
It turns out the deal was written in the stars, with Zouma already transferring himself to Stamford Bridge on FIFA before he got the phonecall.
"I was at home playing FIFA on the Playstation,” he explained. “I had taken Chelsea to do a career mode and I had transferred myself to Chelsea, without knowing anything.
3
“Two or three days after my father calls me. He tells me that I have an important call in the evening. I asked him who is going to call me, he told me Mourinho.
"So in the evening I wait and I see the number. In England it's +44 so I recognise that it's an English number.
“I tell myself that it's weird, I pick up. 'Yes hello, it's Jose Mourinho on the phone.' There I become mute.
“It was fast. He said to me: 'Listen, you're a player I really like, I want you in my club.'
“He didn't have time, he had a game to prepare, he just wanted to talk to me and he hung up. That's how it started. After that, I did everything to sign for them.”
Topics