English retired professional footballer
Fabrice Ndala Muamba
(born 6 April 1988) is an English former professional
footballer
who played for
Arsenal
,
Birmingham City
and
Bolton Wanderers
as a
central midfielder
. Born in
Zaire
, Muamba moved to England at the age of 11 and subsequently played for England up to
under-21
level.
Muamba began his career in 2002, joining Arsenal's youth academy. After three years, he turned professional in 2005. He made his debut for Arsenal in the League Cup, but played only one other professional match for the club. Following a
loan
spell with Birmingham City, he made the move permanent in 2007. He stayed with Birmingham City for one additional year, and left after making more than 70 appearances and making his England under-21 debut while with the team. He joined Bolton Wanderers in 2008.
In March 2012, Muamba suffered a
cardiac arrest
during a televised FA Cup match between Bolton and
Tottenham Hotspur
, from which he recovered despite his heart having stopped for 78 minutes. Following medical advice, he announced his retirement from professional football in August 2012. He later completed a degree in sports journalism before making a return to football as a youth coach.
Early life
[
edit
]
Muamba was born in
Kinshasa
,
Zaire
(now the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
).
[1]
His father fled the country in 1994 because of his political views and arrived in the United Kingdom seeking
asylum
. In 1999, he was granted
indefinite leave to remain
, at which time he was joined by the rest of the family.
[3]
They settled in east London, where Muamba attended
Kelmscott School
in
Walthamstow
.
[4]
Despite having arrived in Britain aged 11, unable to speak English,
[5]
he went on to achieve 10
GCSEs
and
A-levels
in English, French and mathematics.
[6]
Club career
[
edit
]
Arsenal
[
edit
]
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 and made his first team debut on 25 October in a
League Cup
tie against
Sunderland
, in front of a 47,000 crowd at the
Stadium of Light
.
[7]
He made his second and final first team appearance for Arsenal in the next round, against
Reading
, where he contributed to a 3?0 victory.
[8]
Birmingham City
[
edit
]
In August 2006, Muamba joined
Championship
club
Birmingham City
on a season-long
loan
.
[9]
After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero
Patrick Vieira
,
[7]
established him as a regular starter in central midfield. The fans were equally impressed, voting him their Young Player of the Season.
[10]
On 11 May 2007 Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent,
[11]
signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million.
[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
.
[13]
He made 37 appearances as Birmingham were relegated from the
Premier League
after one season back in the top tier.
Bolton Wanderers
[
edit
]
On 16 June 2008, Muamba joined Premier League
Bolton Wanderers
for a fee of £5 million, with add-ons worth a further £750,000, on a four-year contract.
[14]
He scored his first goal for the club against
Wigan Athletic
on 13 March 2010.
[15]
In recognition of his impressive 2009?10 season at Bolton, he was named as
The Bolton News
Player of the Season.
[16]
On 7 August, Muamba signed a new four-year contract with Bolton.
[17]
Muamba scored on the opening day of the 2011?12 league season, in Bolton's 4?0 away win against
Queens Park Rangers
.
[18]
He then scored his first ever goal in the League Cup, against his old club Arsenal in a 2?1 defeat.
[19]
Cardiac arrest and retirement
[
edit
]
On 17 March 2012, Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed during the first half of an
FA Cup
quarter-final match between Bolton and
Tottenham Hotspur
at
White Hart Lane
. After receiving lengthy attention on the pitch from medical personnel ? including a consultant
cardiologist
who was at the game as a fan ? Muamba was taken to the specialist
coronary care unit
at the
London Chest Hospital
.
[20]
Bolton manager
Owen Coyle
and club captain
Kevin Davies
accompanied Muamba in the ambulance.
[21]
The match was abandoned by referee
Howard Webb
, and Bolton's next game, against
Aston Villa
, due to be played three days later, was postponed at the club's request.
[22]
Aston Villa raised no objection.
Bolton's club doctor later confirmed that Muamba had received numerous
defibrillator
shocks both on the pitch and in the ambulance, but his heart had stopped for 78 minutes.
[24]
The player was initially kept under anaesthesia in intensive care.
[25]
By 19 March, his heart was beating without medication and he was able to move his limbs.
[26]
Later that day his condition was described as "serious" rather than "critical" and he was able to recognise family members and respond appropriately to questions.
[27]
By 21 March, his consultant suggested that Muamba's progress had "exceeded our expectations" and that although he faced a "lengthy recovery period", "normal life is within the spectrum of possibility".
[24]
Two weeks after the incident, a photograph was released of Muamba sitting up in his hospital bed and smiling.
[28]
He was discharged from hospital on 16 April, having been fitted with an
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
(ICD).
[29]
Muamba attended Bolton's home match against Tottenham Hotspur on 2 May, where he expressed his gratitude for the support he had received.
[30]
On 15 August 2012, Bolton announced that Muamba had retired from professional football, based on the recommendation of his medical team. Muamba said:
[31]
Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again. As part of my on-going recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist. But the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football. Football has been my life since I was a teenage boy and it has given me so many opportunities. Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level. While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for. I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, and the Bolton fans who have been incredible. I am blessed to have the support of my family and friends at this time.
On 8 November 2012, Muamba returned to White Hart Lane for the first time since his cardiac arrest and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
[32]
Muamba later played 15 minutes in
Ian Goodison
's testimonial match in 2015.
Post-playing career
[
edit
]
Media work
[
edit
]
Following his retirement from the game, Muamba was part of
ITV
's coverage of the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations
.
[33]
He was also a co-commentator alongside
Derek Rae
on
BT Sport
's coverage of the
African World Cup qualification
third round play-offs.
Journalism
[
edit
]
Muamba studied for a BA in sports journalism at
Staffordshire University
; as part of his course he went on work placement at BBC North West Tonight.
[34]
In July 2015, he graduated with honours.
[35]
Coaching
[
edit
]
In March 2015, Muamba took some coaching sessions at
Liverpool's academy
.
[36]
He later did his
UEFA B Licence
at
Manchester City
and
A Licence
at
Stoke City
.
[37]
In September 2018, he coached
Rochdale
's under-16 side while studying for his coaching badges,
[38]
and in 2022, he returned to Bolton Wanderers to work in their academy where he was appointed as under-15s coach.
[39]
[37]
In March 2024, he announced that he had taken up a role coaching with the
Burnley
academy, whilst also working as a Player Services Executive for the
PFA
.
[40]
International career
[
edit
]
As a
naturalised
British citizen, Muamba was eligible to play for any of the
Home Nations
in which he had received three years of full-time education before the age of 18 or lived in for five years. In Muamba's case, that was just
England
, whom he represented at all youth levels,
[41]
and captained the U-19 team.
[5]
He received his first call-up for
England U21
for the friendly against
Romania U-21
on 21 August 2007 at
Ashton Gate
, Bristol,
[42]
and made his debut as a second-half substitute.
[43]
Muamba had also been called up to the
DR Congo
squad in May 2007, but declined so as to remain eligible for England.
[44]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Muamba met Shauna Magunda while he was a Birmingham City player and she was studying for a master's degree at
Birmingham City University
. They became engaged on 14 February 2012,
[6]
[45]
married at
Peckforton Castle
, Cheshire, on 21 October 2012,
[46]
and, as of June 2021
[update]
, have four children.
[47]
Muamba has been described as "deeply religious",
[48]
and stated he would have sought a career in accountancy had he not become a professional footballer.
[49]
In July 2012, the
University of Bolton
awarded an honorary doctorate to Muamba, which he accepted on behalf of those involved in saving his life.
[50]
He took part in
the 2012 Christmas Special edition
of the BBC programme
Strictly Come Dancing
.
[51]
Career statistics
[
edit
]
Honours
[
edit
]
England U21
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010).
The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010?11
. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 298.
ISBN
978-1-84596-601-0
.
- ^
"First-Team Profiles: Fabrice Muamba"
. Bolton Wanderers F.C. Archived from
the original
on 15 June 2012.
- ^
Shepherd, Rob (28 February 2005).
"Muamba handed Highbury haven"
.
The Times
. London
. Retrieved
11 October
2012
.
- ^
Chronnell, Paul (7 December 2005).
"Muamba: Can he really be the new Vieira?"
.
Islington Gazette
. Archived from
the original
on 25 January 2009.
- ^
a
b
Dickinson, Matt (21 November 2006).
"Muamba may be answer to England's prayers"
.
The Times
. London
. Retrieved
11 October
2012
.
- ^
a
b
Copping, Jasper & Duffin, Claire (17 March 2012).
"Fabrice Muamba collapses at Tottenham v Bolton game"
.
The Daily Telegraph
. London. Archived from
the original
on 28 September 2015
. Retrieved
17 March
2012
.
- ^
a
b
Lambrou, Lambros (2 November 2005).
"Young Guns ? Fabrice Muamba"
. Arsenal F.C. Archived from
the original
on 30 September 2007.
- ^
"Arsenal 3?0 Reading"
. BBC Sport. 29 November 2005
. Retrieved
20 March
2012
.
- ^
"Arsenal pair to join Birmingham"
. BBC Sport. 27 July 2006
. Retrieved
12 May
2007
.
- ^
Tattum, Colin (3 May 2007).
"Clemence scoops top award at Blues"
.
Birmingham Mail
. Retrieved
23 April
2013
.
- ^
"Muamba signs deal with Birmingham"
. BBC Sport. 11 May 2007
. Retrieved
12 May
2007
.
- ^
"Blues snap up Muamba"
. Birmingham City F.C. 11 May 2007. Archived from
the original
on 12 June 2007.
- ^
Hassan, Nabil (12 March 2008).
"Portsmouth 4?2 Birmingham"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
13 March
2008
.
- ^
"Muamba joins Bolton"
. Birmingham City F.C. 16 June 2008. Archived from
the original
on 25 January 2009.
- ^
Phillips, Owen (13 March 2010).
"Bolton 4?0 Wigan"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
13 March
2010
.
- ^
Iles, Marc (10 May 2010).
"Reebok's Korean ace is simp-Lee the best"
.
The Bolton News
. Retrieved
10 May
2010
.
- ^
"Midfielder Fabrice Muamba signs new Bolton contract"
. BBC Sport. 7 August 2010
. Retrieved
17 March
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2011/2012"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
Chowdhury, Saj (27 October 2011).
"Arsenal 2?1 Bolton"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
17 March
2012
.
- ^
Randhawa, Kiran (19 March 2012).
"Fans praise "hero" doctor who rushed on pitch to save Muamba"
.
The Evening Standard
. Retrieved
20 March
2012
.
- ^
"Bolton's Fabrice Muamba collapses during Spurs?Bolton match"
. BBC Sport. 17 March 2012
. Retrieved
19 March
2012
.
- ^
"Spurs offer 'support' to players after Fabrice Muamba collapse"
. BBC Sport. 19 March 2012
. Retrieved
23 April
2013
.
- ^
"Bolton fans stage Fabrice Muamba mosaic tribute"
. BBC Manchester. 24 March 2012
. Retrieved
24 March
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"Fabrice Muamba was 'dead' for 78 minutes ? Bolton doctor"
. BBC Sport. 21 March 2012
. Retrieved
24 March
2012
.
- ^
"Muamba remains critical"
.
Evening Standard
. PA Sport. 18 March 2012
. Retrieved
19 March
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba Update ? Monday 19 March, 15.30"
. Bolton Wanderers F.C. 19 March 2012. Archived from
the original
on 21 June 2012.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba can recognise family, say hospital and Bolton"
. BBC Sport. 19 March 2012
. Retrieved
24 March
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba's first picture since collapse put on his Twitter feed"
.
The Guardian
. Press Association. 30 March 2012
. Retrieved
3 April
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba: Bolton midfielder discharged from hospital"
. BBC Sport. 16 April 2012
. Retrieved
16 April
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba happy to be back at 'special' Bolton"
. BBC Sport. 2 May 2012
. Retrieved
3 May
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba Statement"
. Bolton Wanderers F.C. 15 August 2012. Archived from
the original
on 16 August 2012
. Retrieved
15 August
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba makes emotional return to White Hart Lane"
.
Sky Sports
. 8 November 2012
. Retrieved
9 November
2012
.
- ^
"Watch 2013 Africa Cup of Nations live on ITV4"
. ITV. 24 January 2013. Archived from
the original
on 10 April 2013
. Retrieved
23 April
2013
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba: BBC placement helps start journalism career"
. BBC Sport. 13 December 2013
. Retrieved
12 April
2016
.
- ^
Rucki, Alexandra (9 July 2015).
"Ex-Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba graduates from University with BA in Sports Journalism"
.
Manchester Evening News
. Retrieved
12 April
2016
.
- ^
Olver, Tom (7 March 2015).
"Fabrice Muamba taking training sessions at Liverpool academy"
.
Metro
. Retrieved
12 April
2016
.
- ^
a
b
"Loving the game again: Fabrice Muamba"
.
Coaches' Voice
. February 2023
. Retrieved
9 February
2023
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba: Former Bolton and Birmingham midfielder coaches at Rochdale"
. BBC Sport. 24 September 2018
. Retrieved
24 September
2018
.
- ^
Iles, Marc (15 March 2022).
"Bolton Wanderers to offer Fabrice Muamba coaching role 10 years after collapse"
.
The Bolton News
. Retrieved
23 March
2022
.
- ^
https://www.thepfa.com/about-us/meet-the-team
, Fabrice Muamba profile at the PFA, Professional Footballers' Association, Retrieved 2 March 2024
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba"
. The Football Association
. Retrieved
12 August
2010
.
- ^
"Agbonlahor in England U21 squad"
. BBC Sport. 16 August 2007
. Retrieved
4 October
2010
.
- ^
"England U21 1?1 Romania U21"
. BBC Sport. 21 August 2007
. Retrieved
22 August
2007
.
- ^
"Muamba turns down DR Congo call"
. BBC Sport. 23 May 2007
. Retrieved
20 March
2012
.
- ^
"About Shauna"
. Shauna Muamba. Archived from
the original
on 27 May 2012.
- ^
White, Steve (22 October 2012).
"What a fab day! Heart-stop footballer Muamba marries his fiancee"
.
Daily Mirror
. Retrieved
23 October
2012
.
- ^
Muamba, Fabrice (14 June 2021).
"Mental battle is the toughest part of Christian Eriksen's journey ahead"
.
The Times
. London. p. 10
. Retrieved
15 June
2021
– via Gale OneFile: News.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba: devoted father and footballer"
. Sky News. 18 March 2012. Archived from
the original
on 19 March 2012
. Retrieved
19 March
2012
.
- ^
"Boy's A Bit Special: Fabrice Muamba"
.
FourFourTwo
. February 2008
. Retrieved
19 March
2012
.
- ^
"Fabrice Muamba gets University of Bolton honorary doctorate"
.
BBC News
. 13 July 2012
. Retrieved
28 July
2012
.
- ^
"Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2012"
. BBC. 25 December 2012
. Retrieved
23 April
2013
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2005/2006"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2006/2007"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2007/2008"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2008/2009"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2009/2010"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
"Games played by Fabrice Muamba in 2010/2011"
.
Soccerbase
. Centurycomm
. Retrieved
7 September
2016
.
- ^
McIntyre, David (29 June 2009).
"Germany U21 4?0 England U21"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
16 March
2017
.
External links
[
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]