Fabrice Muamba

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Fabrice Muamba
Personal information
Date of birth 6 April 1988 (1988-04-06) (age 20)
Place of birth    Kinshasa, Zaire (now DR Congo)
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club Birmingham City
Number 26
Youth clubs
2002–2005 Arsenal
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2005–2007
2006–2007
2007–		 Arsenal
→ Birmingham City (loan)
Birmingham City		 00 (0)
34 (0)
37 (2)   
National team2
2007– England U21 07 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 20:08, 11 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 21:48, 5 February 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Fabrice Muamba (born 6 April 1988) is an English association footballer who currently plays in midfield for Birmingham City.

Contents

[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 Walthamstow, London, where Muamba went to school. Despite having arrived in England aged 11 unable to speak English,[2] he went on to take A-levels,[3] 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, shortly before making his first team debut on 25 October 2005 in a Carling Cup tie in front of a 47,000 crowd at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.[4]

In August 2006, Muamba joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan from Arsenal.[5] After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero Patrick Vieira,[4] 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.[6]

On 11 May 2007, Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent,[7] signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million.[8] He scored his first goal for the club, a close-range volley from a corner, on 12 March 2008; this was Birmingham's first goal in the 4–2 defeat at Portsmouth.[9]

[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.[2] 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,[10] and made his debut as a second-half substitute.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rob Shepherd. "Muamba handed Highbury haven", The Times, 2005-02-28. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  2. ^ a b Matt Dickinson. "Muamba may be answer to England's prayers", The Times, 2006-11-21. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  3. ^ Andy Walker. "University challenged", Sunday Mercury, 2007-04-22. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  4. ^ a b Lambros Lambrou (2005-11-02). Young Guns - Fabrice Muamba. Arsenal F.C.. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
  5. ^ "Arsenal pair to join Birmingham", BBC Sport, 2006-07-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  6. ^ Colin Tattum. "Clemence scoops top award at Blues", Birmingham Mail, 2007-05-03. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  7. ^ "Muamba signs deal with Birmingham", BBC Sport, 2007-05-11. Retrieved on 2007-05-12. 
  8. ^ Blues snap up Muamba. Birmingham City F.C. (2007-05-11). Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
  9. ^ Nabil Hassan. "Portsmouth 4-2 Birmingham", BBC Sport, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 
  10. ^ Pearce picks 21. The Football Association (2007-08-16). Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
  11. ^ "England U21 1-1 Romania U21", BBC Sport, 2007-08-21. Retrieved on 2007-08-22. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Birmingham City F.C. – current squad

1 Maik Taylor • 2 Kelly • 4 Martin Taylor • 6 Ridgewell • 7 Larsson • 8 O'Connor • 10 Jerome • 11 McSheffrey • 12 Nafti • 13 Doyle • 14 Murphy • 15 Queudrue • 16 McFadden • 20 De Ridder • 21 Parnaby • 22 Johnson • 23 Kapo • 24 Jaïdi • 25 Aluko • 26 Muamba • 30 Pearce • 31 Mutch • — Carsley • Manager: McLeish
Persondata
NAME Muamba, Fabrice
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 1988-04-06
PLACE OF BIRTH Kinshasa, Zaire
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages