Fabrice Muamba

Infobox Football biography
playername = Fabrice Muamba


fullname = Fabrice Ndala Muamba
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|4|6|df=y
cityofbirth = Kinshasa
countryofbirth = Zaire (now DR Congo)
height = height|ft=6|in=2
position = Defensive midfielder
currentclub = Bolton Wanderers
clubnumber = 6
youthyears = 2002–2005
youthclubs = Arsenal
years = 2005–2007
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Arsenal
→ Birmingham City (loan)
Birmingham City
Bolton Wanderers
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
34 (0)
37 (2)
07 (0)
nationalyears = 2007–
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 010 (0)
pcupdate = 14:18, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 14:39, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Fabrice Ndala Muamba (born 6 April 1988) is an English footballer. He is a midfielder who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers.

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.cite news
author=Rob Shepherd |title=Muamba handed Highbury haven |work=The Times |date=2005-02-28 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article416364.ece |accessdate=2007-05-12] They settled in East London, where Muamba attended Kelmscott School in Walthamstow. [cite news |url=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 |title=Muamba: Can he really be the new Vieira? |author=Paul Chronnell |work=Islington Gazette |date=005-12-07 |accessdate=2008-07-28] Despite having arrived in England aged 11 unable to speak English,cite news
author=Matt Dickinson |title=Muamba may be answer to England's prayers |work=The Times |date=2006-11-21 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article643858.ece |accessdate=2007-05-12] he went on to take A-levels, [cite news
author=Andy Walker |title=University challenged |work=Sunday Mercury |date=2007-04-22 |url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaymercury/sport/tm_method=full%26objectid=18950600%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |accessdate=2007-05-12] and excelled in school football.

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.cite web
author=Lambros Lambrou |title=Young Guns - Fabrice Muamba |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=2005-11-02 |url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=&article=354665 |accessdate=2007-05-12]

In August 2006, Muamba joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan. [cite news |title=Arsenal pair to join Birmingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-07-27 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/5221880.stm |accessdate=2007-05-12] After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero Patrick Vieira, 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. [cite news
author=Colin Tattum |title=Clemence scoops top award at Blues |work=Birmingham Mail |date=2007-05-03 |url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/blues/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19037550%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |accessdate=2007-05-12]

On 11 May 2007 Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent, [cite news
title=Muamba signs deal with Birmingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-05-11 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6647977.stm |accessdate=2007-05-12] signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million. [cite web
title=Blues snap up Muamba |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-05-11
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1024011,00.html |accessdate=2007-05-12] 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. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7284942.stm |title=Portsmouth 4-2 Birmingham |publisher=BBC Sport |author=Nabil Hassan |date=2008-03-12 |accessdate=2008-03-13] 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. [cite news
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1329192,00.html |title=Muamba joins Bolton |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2008-06-16 |accessdate=2008-06-16]

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. 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, [cite web
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/08/EngU21s_squadvRomania.htm |title=Pearce picks 21 |publisher=The Football Association |date=2007-08-16 |accessdate=2007-08-16] and made his debut as a second-half substitute. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6956354.stm |title=England U21 1-1 Romania U21 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-08-21 |accessdate=2007-08-22]

References

External links

*soccerbase|41528|Fabrice Muamba
* [http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/players/profile.php?id=42 Profile] at burndenaces.co.uk

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=