Aziz Deen-Conteh
{{short description|Sierra Leonean footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Aziz Deen-Conteh
|image =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|1|14|df=y}}{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2015/2016 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2015-2016/fltwo/portv.htm |website=www.footballsquads.co.uk |access-date=1 February 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|birth_place = Bumpe, Sierra Leone
|position = Left back
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2006–2013
|youthclubs1 = Chelsea
|years1 = 2013–2014
|clubs1 = Ergotelis
|caps1 = 7
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2014–2016
|clubs2 = Port Vale
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2015
|clubs3 = → Boston United (loan)
|caps3 = 5
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2016
|clubs4 = Zaria Bălți
|caps4 = 6
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2016
|clubs5 = Zugdidi
|caps5 = 4
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2017–2018
|clubs6 = Dover Athletic
|caps6 = 4
|goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2018
|clubs7 = Dulwich Hamlet
|caps7 = 0
|goals7 = 0
|totalcaps = 26
|totalgoals = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2008
|nationalteam1 = England U16
|nationalcaps1 = 2
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2010–2011
|nationalteam2 = England U19
|nationalcaps2 = 5
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2016
|nationalteam3 = Sierra Leone
|nationalcaps3 = 2
|nationalgoals3 = 0
}}
Abdul Aziz Deen-Conteh (born 14 January 1993) is a Sierra Leonean former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
He represented England at youth level whilst on the books at Chelsea. He spent the 2013–14 season with Greek club Ergotelis, making seven appearances in the Greek Superleague. He joined Port Vale in November 2014 and was loaned out to Boston United in August 2015, but left Vale in January 2016 without making a first-team appearance. He moved on to Moldovan side Zaria Bălți – winning the Moldovan Cup in 2016 – and Georgian side Zugdidi, before he returned to England in August 2017 to sign with Dover Athletic.
Club career
=Chelsea=
Deen-Conteh was born in Sierra Leone but grew up in Deptford, England, joining Chelsea at the age of 13.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/under21s-article/article/2147570 |title=Profile |publisher=Chelsea F.C. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517085323/http://www.chelseafc.com/under21s-article/article/2147570 |archivedate=17 May 2013 |df=dmy }} He played both legs of the club's FA Youth Cup final victory over Aston Villa in 2010.{{cite news|title=Chelsea's FA Youth Cup winners – Where are they now?|url=http://talksport.com/football/chelseas-fa-youth-cup-winners-where-are-they-now-150428144792|accessdate=25 October 2016|work=talkSPORT|date=28 April 2015|language=en}} He was given a two-year professional contract by manager Carlo Ancelotti.{{cite news|last1=Unwin|first1=Will|title=Ex-Chelsea defender Aziz Deen-Conteh: I need to start again at the bottom|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-02-02/ex-chelsea-defender-deen-conteh-i-need-to-start-again-at-the-bottom/|accessdate=2 February 2017|work=ITV News|date=2 February 2017|language=en}} He was a member of their Champions League squad for the 2012–13 season, though he did not make an appearance for them.{{UEFA player|250022619}} After being released by the club in June 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/57651 |title=Aziz Deen Conteh in Chelsea's list of released players |author=Alie Bitar |date=8 June 2013 |accessdate=28 July 2013 |publisher=Sierra Express Media |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613155108/http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/57651 |archivedate=13 June 2013 |df=dmy }} he went on trial with Millwall the following month.{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/413954/Millwall-trials-for-Arsenal-Chelsea-and-Southampton-youngsters|title=Millwall trials for Arsenal, Chelsea and Southampton youngsters|date=11 July 2013|accessdate=28 July 2013|publisher=Daily Express}} He came close to joining Notts County, but negotiations broke down at the last minute.
=Ergotelis=
He signed a two-year contract with the Greek club Ergotelis in August 2013.{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Sahr|title=Sierra Leone defender Deen Conteh signs for Ergotelis FC|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4351/africa/2013/08/28/4219527/sierra-leone-defender-deen-conteh-signs-for-ergotelis-fc|website=goal.com|accessdate=18 November 2014}} He found the left-back spot occupied by the club captain. He made only seven first-team appearances at the Pankritio Stadium in the second half of the 2013–14 season. He left the club after the Greek financial crisis left the club unable to pay player's wages.
=Port Vale=
He began training with English League One side Port Vale in November 2014,{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Ex-Chelsea defender Aziz Deen-Conteh plays for Vale|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Ex-Chelsea-defender-Aziz-Deen-Conteh/story-24513600-detail/story.html|accessdate=11 November 2014|work=The Sentinel|date=11 November 2014}} and signed for the club on a deal running until summer 2017 after impressing during his trial spell.{{cite news|title=Port Vale sign former Chelsea defender|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30085425|accessdate=18 November 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=17 November 2014}}
He joined National League North club Boston United on a one-month loan on 11 August 2015.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Aziz Deen-Conteh joins Boston|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Aziz-Deen-Conteh-joins-Boston/story-27587628-detail/story.html|accessdate=11 August 2015|work=The Sentinel|date=11 August 2015}} Again he found himself behind a club captain in the pecking order, with Carl Dickinson rarely missing a game at left-back. He was released by Port Vale in January 2016, having not made a first-team appearance at Vale Park.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Aziz Deen-Conteh leaves the Valiants|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Aziz-Deen-Conteh-leaves-Valiants/story-28631758-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 January 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=29 January 2016}} He went on to say "I didn't really get along with the gaffer", and said Rob Page "wasn't thinking about the players, he wasn't thinking about the club, he was thinking about himself".
=Later career=
Deen-Conteh joined Moldovan National Division club Zaria Bălți soon after leaving Port Vale.{{cite web|url=http://fczaria.md/player/din-konte-aziz |title=Profile |publisher=fczaria.md(in Russian) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311010103/http://fczaria.md/player/din-konte-aziz |archivedate=11 March 2016 |df=dmy }} He played eight games for the club, including a substitute appearance in the 2016 final of the Moldovan Cup at Zimbru Stadium as Zaria beat Milsami Orhei 1–0 after extra time.{{cite news|last1=Молдовы|first1=Кубок|title=Финал Кубка Молдовы. "Милсами" - "Заря" 0:1 (0:0, 0:0) - в дополнительное время. Протокол матча|url=http://moldova.sports.md/football/moldova_cup/articles/25-05-2016/126393/final_kubka_moldovy_milsami_zar_a_0_1_0_0_0_0_v_dopolnitel_noje_vrem_a_protokol_matcha/|accessdate=24 August 2017|work=moldova.sports.md|date=25 May 2016|language=Russian}} After leaving the club, he considered signing with league rivals FC Milsami, but instead moved to Georgian side Zugdidi later in 2016. He left Zugdidi in October 2016 after the club struggled to pay his wages.
On 24 August 2017, Deen-Conteh returned to England to sign with National League side Dover Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/news/fa-youth-cup-winner-joins-whites/|title=FA Youth Cup Winner Joins Whties - Dover Athletic|website=www.doverathletic.com|date=24 August 2017|accessdate=24 August 2017}} He made his debut for the "Whites" when he came off the bench in a 1–0 defeat at Macclesfield Town on 25 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40970907|title=Macclesfield Town 1-0 Dover Athhletic|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 August 2017|accessdate=30 August 2017}} He went on to make a further three substitute appearances before he was released from the Crabble Athletic Ground upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|last1=Harvey|first1=Richard|title=Retained and Released List Announced|url=http://www.doverathletic.com/news/retained-and-released-list-announced/|accessdate=12 May 2018|work=doverathletic.com|date=10 May 2018}} He spent time on the bench at Dulwich Hamlet in September 2018, without being signed to a contract.{{cite news |last1=Cawley |first1=Richard |title=Dulwich Hamlet manager Rose ready to make changes after unacceptable performance |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/dulwich-hamlet-manager-rose-ready-to-make-changes-after-unacceptable-performance/ |accessdate=5 April 2020 |work=London News Online |date=7 September 2018}}
International career
Deen-Conteh represented England at youth international level, appearing for the under-16 and under-19 teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/england/All-Teams/Players/C/aziz-deen-conteh|title=Profile|accessdate=28 July 2013|publisher=The Football Association}} In March 2013 he committed his international football to Sierra Leone, the country of his birth, after being called up by their senior national team; however, he was unable to play due to an expired passport.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21924361|title=Chelsea youngster commits to Sierra Leone|author=Mohamed Fajah Barrie|date=25 March 2013|accessdate=28 July 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}} He was called up again in May 2013, alongside fellow Chelsea player Samuel Bangura.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22555831|title=Sierra Leone coach McKinstry calls up Chelsea youngsters|author=Mohamed Fajah Barrie|date=16 May 2013|accessdate=28 July 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}} He was not given clearance to play for the senior team however and expressed doubts over whether he would accept any further call-ups as he criticised the Sierra Leone Football Association for their organisational skills.{{cite news|last1=Richards|first1=Joshua|title=Aziz Deen-Conteh reaping rewards of Ashley Cole's advice|url=http://www.theleaguepaper.com/featured/1539/aziz-deen-conteh-reaping-rewards-of-ashley-coles-advice/|accessdate=8 October 2015|work=The Football League Paper|date=3 December 2014}} However, Deen-Conteh ended up getting called up and capped officially by Sierra Leone, and made his debut against Malawi.
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Ergotelis
|2013–14{{soccerbase season|74398|2013|accessdate=11 August 2015}} |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Port Vale
|2014–15{{soccerbase season|74398|2014|accessdate=11 August 2015}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|74398|2015|accessdate=11 August 2015}}
|League One |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Boston United (loan)
|2015–16{{soccerway|aziz-deen-conteh/158577|accessdate=26 August 2016}} |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Zaria Bălți
|6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Zugdidi
|2016 |4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Dover Athletic
|4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Dulwich Hamlet
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Sierra Leone national team{{NFT player|pid=63596|accessdate=24 August 2017}} | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| Total||2||0 |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deen-Conteh, Aziz}}
Category:People from Bo District
Category:Sierra Leonean men's footballers
Category:Sierra Leone men's international footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English people of Sierra Leonean descent
Category:Ergotelis F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Boston United F.C. players
Category:Dinamo Zugdidi players
Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players
Category:Dulwich Hamlet F.C. players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Moldovan Super Liga players
Category:Erovnuli Liga players
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate men's footballers
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Moldova
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Moldova
Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Georgia (country)
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Georgia (country)
Category:Sierra Leonean emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Georgia (country)
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Moldova