Olivier Kapo, born on September 27, 1980, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is a French national football player. He is married and has a daughter named Farel-Andrea, who was born on April 5, 2004.
Olivier Kapo played in an international match on November 20, 2002 and scored the final goal in the 3-0 win against the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. He was also a part of the team that won the 2003 Confederation Cup, and as of 2008, he has won 9 international caps and scored 3 goals.
Olivier Kapo discovered his love for football in the Ivory Coast, where he used to play barefoot on the streets. Later, he joined the Auxerre Academy in France and played under the renowned coach, Guy Roux, who helped him move up the ranks. Olivier Kapo kicked a goal for the club in the 2-1 victory over Arsenal during the Champions League in October 2002, and he was also instrumental in the club’s French Cup victory in May 2003. In the same year, he helped his team win the runners-up title of the French Super Cup. During his tenure at Auxerre, Olivier Kapo scored 19 goals in 119 matches and signed with Juventus, an Italian club, on October 18, 2004. After making 14 first-team appearances in the 2004-05 season, he was loaned to Monaco for the 2005-06 season, for which he played 25 matches and scored 5 goals. During the 2006-07 season, he was loaned out to Levante, a Spanish club, which escaped relegation from La Liga, owing to the contributions of Olivier Kapo. On June 29, 2007, Steve Bruce, the manager of Birmingham City, signed him amidst competition from many other notable clubs, such as Portsmouth, Everton and Fulham. Olivier Kapo displayed his footballing skills by netting 5 goals in his first 13 league matches, including a goal at his Premier League debut match for the club against Chelsea on August 12, 2007. His goal helped Birmingham City win the match with a score of 3-2. His other four goals include the only goal made in the match against Bolton Wanderers, two goals against Wigan Athletic and one goal against Everton. A top-class athlete with a gifted left foot, Olivier Kapo signed with Wigan Athletic on July 16, 2008.
