Fabrice Muamba
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| Fabrice Muamba | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fabrice Ndala Muamba | |
| Date of birth | 6 April 1988 | |
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire (now DR Congo) | |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Bolton Wanderers | |
| Number | 6 | |
| Youth career | ||
| 2002–2005 | Arsenal | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2005–2007 2006–2007 2007–2008 2008– |
Arsenal → Birmingham City (loan) Birmingham City Bolton Wanderers |
0 (0) 34 (0) 37 (2) 38 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2007– | England U21 | 19 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Fabrice Ndala Muamba (born 6 April 1988) is an English footballer. He is a midfielder who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers.
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[edit] Early life
Muamba was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His father fled the country in 1994 because of his political views and arrived in England seeking asylum. In 1999 he was granted indefinite leave to remain, at which time he was joined by the rest of the family.[1] They settled in East London, where Muamba attended Kelmscott School in Walthamstow.[2] Despite having arrived in England aged 11 unable to speak English,[3] he went on to take A-levels,[4] and excelled in school football.
[edit] Club career
Muamba was associated with Arsenal's youth system as a schoolboy from 2002, joining their Academy as a first-year scholar in August 2004. He signed his first professional contract in October 2005. On 25 October 2005 he made his first team debut in a League Cup tie against Sunderland, in front of a 47,000 crowd at the Stadium of Light.[5]
In August 2006, Muamba joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan.[6] After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero Patrick Vieira,[5] impressed his manager enough to establish him as a regular starter in central midfield. The fans were equally impressed, voting him their Young Player of the Season.[7]
On 11 May 2007 Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent,[8] signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million.[9] He scored his first goal for the club, a close-range volley from a corner, on 12 March 2008, in a 4–2 defeat at Portsmouth.[10] He made 37 appearances as Birmingham were relegated from the Premiership after one season back in the top tier.
On 16 June 2008 Muamba joined Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £5 million, with add-ons worth approximately £750,000. He signed a four-year contract with the Premier League club.[11]
[edit] International career
As a naturalised British citizen, Muamba is eligible to play for any of the Home Nations. He has represented England at all under-age levels, and captained the U-19 team.[3] He received his first call-up for England U-21 for the friendly against Romania U-21 played on 21 August 2007 at Ashton Gate, Bristol,[12] and made his debut as a second-half substitute.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Rob Shepherd (2005-02-28). "Muamba handed Highbury haven". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article416364.ece. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ Paul Chronnell (005-12-07). "Muamba: Can he really be the new Vieira?". Islington Gazette. http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/content/islington/gazette/sport/story.aspx?brand=ISLGOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportislg&itemid=WeED07%20Dec%202005%2012%3A33%3A56%3A830. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ a b Matt Dickinson (2006-11-21). "Muamba may be answer to England's prayers". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article643858.ece. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ Andy Walker (2007-04-22). "University challenged". Sunday Mercury. http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaymercury/sport/tm_method=full%26objectid=18950600%26siteid=50002-name_page.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ a b Lambros Lambrou (2005-11-02). "Young Guns - Fabrice Muamba". Arsenal F.C.. http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=&article=354665. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ "Arsenal pair to join Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2006-07-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/5221880.stm. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ Colin Tattum (2007-05-03). "Clemence scoops top award at Blues". Birmingham Mail. http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/blues/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19037550%26siteid=50002-name_page.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ "Muamba signs deal with Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2007-05-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6647977.stm. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ "Blues snap up Muamba". Birmingham City F.C.. 2007-05-11. http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1024011,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ Nabil Hassan (2008-03-12). "Portsmouth 4-2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7284942.stm. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ "Muamba joins Bolton". Birmingham City F.C.. 2008-06-16. http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1329192,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-16.
- ^ "Pearce picks 21". The Football Association. 2007-08-16. http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/08/EngU21s_squadvRomania.htm. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ "England U21 1-1 Romania U21". BBC Sport. 2007-08-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6956354.stm. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
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