Frankie Chisenga Musonda (born 12 December 1997) is a professional footballer who sometimes plays as a defender for Scottish Championship club Ayr United. Born in England, he plays for the Zambia national team.

Frankie Musonda
Personal information
Full name Frankie Chisenga Musonda[1]
Date of birth (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Bedford, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Ayr United
Number 4
Youth career
2006–2015 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Luton Town 14 (0)
2017Braintree Town (loan) 3 (0)
2018Oxford City (loan) 12 (1)
2018Oxford City (loan) 5 (1)
2019Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) 11 (2)
2019–2020St Albans City (loan) 11 (1)
2020St Albans City (loan) 2 (0)
2020–2022 Raith Rovers 48 (3)
2022– Ayr United 47 (3)
International career
2022– Zambia 17 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:41, 22 June 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:31, 25 March 2022 (UTC)

Career

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Luton Town and loan spells

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Born in Bedford, Bedfordshire,[2] Musonda Chisenga joined Luton Town in 2006 aged eight and progressed through the club's youth system.[3] During his time in the club's academy he played in numerous positions, including as a striker, before settling on a central defensive role.[4] He was part of the under-11 team which defeated Bayern Munich 3–2 to win the Aarau Masters in 2009.[4][5] Musonda was promoted to Luton's under-18 team as a first year scholar in 2014 and was named captain.[3] He began 2015–16 playing for both the under-18 team and the development squad alongside senior professionals.[4] After leading the under-18's on a 16-match unbeaten run, during which the team conceded only seven goals, he signed a one-and-a-half-year professional contract with Luton on 4 November 2015.[4] Musonda continued to captain the under-18 team which went on to win the Youth Alliance South East title and the Youth Alliance Cup,[6][7][8] and also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, in which they lost 1–0 to Blackburn Rovers.[7][9]

Musonda first became involved with the Luton first-team when he was named on the bench on his eighteenth birthday for a League Two match against Northampton Town, though he remained an unused substitute.[2][10] On 23 January 2016, Musonda was introduced as a 94th-minute substitute for Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu in a 2–0 win away to Mansfield Town to make his professional debut.[11] He made his second appearance of the season on 9 April, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Dan Potts in a 2–0 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley.[12] Musonda was introduced as an 89th-minute substitute for Jake Howells in Luton's final match of the season, a 4–1 win at home to Exeter City.[13]

Musonda scored his first professional goal on his first appearance of 2016–17 in a 2–1 win away to Gillingham in the EFL Trophy on 30 August 2016.[14] He made four further appearances in the EFL Trophy, before joining National League club Braintree Town on 3 March 2017 on an initial one-month loan.[15] Having made his debut a day later in a 2–1 home defeat to Wrexham, Musonda finished his loan spell at Braintree with three appearances.[16]

Shortly after the start of 2017–18, Musonda signed a new contract with Luton on 9 August 2017 to keep him at the club until the summer of 2019, with the option of a further year.[17] He joined National League South club Oxford City on 9 February 2018 on a one-month youth loan and made his debut after starting in a 4–1 home win over Hemel Hempstead Town a day later.[18][19] The loan was extended on 16 March until the end of the season.[20] Musonda made 13 appearances and scored one goal as Oxford finished 16th in the National League South.[21][22] His contract with Luton was extended by a further year at the end of the season after a promotion clause was triggered as a result of the club's promotion to League One.[23] He rejoined Oxford City on 26 October 2018 on loan for a month.[24] Musonda's second loan spell with Oxford ended having scored one goal from seven appearances.[25] He was loaned to another National League South club, Hemel Hempstead Town, on 9 January 2019 until the end of 2018–19.[26]

Musonda joined St Albans City of the National League South on 18 October 2019 on loan until January 2020.[27] His debut came a day later in a 1–0 home defeat to Bath City and made 12 further appearances, completing the loan with 13 appearances and one goal before returning to Luton.[28][29] He returned to St Albans on 6 March 2020 on loan until the end of the season.[30] Musonda was released by Luton when his contract expired in June 2020.[31]

Raith Rovers

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Musonda signed for newly promoted Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers on 11 August 2020 on a one-year contract.[32]

Ayr United

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On 22 June 2022, Musonda joined Scottish Championship side Ayr United on a two-year deal.[33]

International career

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Musonda was born in England to a Zambian father and English mother. He was called up to represent the Zambia national team in March 2022.[34] He debuted for Zambia in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022, scoring his side's third goal on his debut.[35]

Career statistics

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As of match played 4 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Luton Town 2015–16[36] League Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2016–17[37] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 5[a] 1 5 1
2017–18[38] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 4 0
2018–19[39] League One 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 2 0
2019–20[40] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 14 1
Braintree Town (loan) 2016–17[16] National League 3 0 3 0
Oxford City (loan) 2017–18[21] National League South 12 1 1[b] 0 13 1
2018–19[16] National League South 5 1 2 0 7 1
Total 20 2 2 0 1 0 23 2
Hemel Hempstead Town (loan) 2018–19[41] National League South 11 2 2[c] 0 13 2
St Albans City (loan) 2019–20[28] National League South 13 1 3[d] 0 16 1
Raith Rovers 2020–21[16] Scottish Championship 22 3 2 0 2 0 26 3
2021–22 Scottish Championship 18 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 22 0
Total 87 3 7 0 2 0 1 0 48 3
Ayr United 2022−23 Scottish Championship 30 2 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 110 10 8 0 6 0 18 1 142 10
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance in Oxfordshire Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  4. ^ One appearance in Herts Charity Cup, one in FA Trophy, one in Herts Senior Cup

Honours

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Raith Rovers

References

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  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Frankie Musonda". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Next season's youth team squad finalised". Luton Town F.C. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "James Justin & Frankie Musonda turn professional". Luton Town F.C. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. ^ "European masters". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing. 24 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Hatters U18s clinch Youth Alliance title". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Luton Town: Nathan Jones will not 'just hand' youth chance". BBC Sport. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  8. ^ Simmonds, Mike (21 April 2016). "Hinds at the double as Hatters U18s clinch Youth Alliance Cup". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018.
  9. ^ "FA Youth Cup: Brave Hatters U18s knocked out by Blackburn". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Luton Town 3–4 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Mansfield Town 0–2 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Luton Town 0–2 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Luton Town 4–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Hatters youngsters take their chance as Gillingham are beaten in Checkatrade Trophy". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Frankie Musonda: Luton Town defender joins Braintree Town on loan". BBC Sport. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d "F. Musonda: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Luton Town defender Frankie Musonda signs new deal with League Two club". BBC Sport. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Musonda's loan switch to Oxford City confirmed". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Loan watch: Musonda starts as City hammer Hemel". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Luton midfielder heads to City on loan". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Player profiles: Frankie Musonda". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Conference South: 2017/18: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Luton confirm new contracts for Potts and Sheehan". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Football: Mark Jones urges Oxford City to build on Emirates FA Cup heroics on return to Vanarama National League South action". Oxford Mail. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Frankie recalled by Luton". Oxford City F.C. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Hatters defender moves out on loan". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Frankie Musonda joins St Albans City on loan". Luton Town F.C. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Frankie Musonda appearances: Season 2019–20 appearances". St Albans City F.C. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  29. ^ "Loan round-up | Quartet return, Isted back out to Stones". Luton Town F.C. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  30. ^ Simmonds, Mike (6 March 2020). "Luton defender joins Saints on loan". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  31. ^ Simmonds, Mike (29 June 2020). "Hatters release five players as Jones announces retained list". Luton Today. JPIMedia Publishing. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  32. ^ Mellon, Ralph (11 August 2020). "New defender joins Raith Rovers". The Southern Reporter. Selkirk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Frankie Musonda joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  34. ^ Collin, Iain (23 March 2022). "Raith Rovers star Frankie Musonda determined to make up for lost time after long-awaited Zambia call-up".
  35. ^ "Zambia vs. Congo - 25 March 2022". Soccerway. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Games played by Frankie Musonda in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  37. ^ "Games played by Frankie Musonda in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  38. ^ "Games played by Frankie Musonda in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  39. ^ "Games played by Frankie Musonda in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  40. ^ "Games played by Frankie Musonda in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  41. ^ "The team: Frankie Musonda: 2018/19 season". Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019.