Rio Antonio Mavuba
Encyclopedia
Rio Antonio Zoba Mavuba (born March 8, 1984 at sea
) is a French
football
player who plays for and captains Lille O.S.C. in the French Ligue 1
. He is a defensive midfielder well known for his agility.
(nicknamed The Black Sorcerer), a football player, who appeared at the 1974 World Cup for Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) national football team, while Rio Antonio's mother was an Angola
n national.
He was born on board of a boat in international waters
, far away from the Angolan coast, during the period of the civil war. Mavuba has stated that his passport does not have a nationality on it; it just reads "born at sea", however, as he grew up in France
he considers himself French. He received French nationality in September 2004.
against Olympique Lyonnais
, in January 2004. From that moment on, he would become a mainstay in the team, eventually leading to his international debut with France.
On July 3, 2007, he signed a five-year deal with La Liga
side Villarreal CF
, who had lost Alessio Tacchinardi
, who returned to Juventus after his two-year loan. He found it hard to break into the first team, even though he had some good performances, in January 2008 he joined Lille OSC
on loan until the end of the season. Following the season, Lille opted to sign Mavuba permanently and reached an agreement on the transfer with both Villarreal and Mavuba. Mavuba agreed to a four-year deal and the transfer fee is estimated to be 7 million euros.
in a 1–1 draw.
While an Under-21 player, he was asked to play for Congo DR
, but he turned it down.
He also won a place in the Under-21 UEFA Championship's Team of the Tournament in centre midfield with Dutchman Ismaïl Aissati
.
OSC Lille
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
) is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who plays for and captains Lille O.S.C. in the French Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He is a defensive midfielder well known for his agility.
Biography
Mavuba's father was Mafuila "Ricky" MavubaMafuila Mavuba
Mafuila "Ricky" Mavuba Ku Mbundu was a football player from Zaïre, nicknamed The Black Sorcerer.His son is Rio Mavuba.- Biography :Ricky Mavuba was an excellent football player...
(nicknamed The Black Sorcerer), a football player, who appeared at the 1974 World Cup for Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) national football team, while Rio Antonio's mother was an Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n national.
He was born on board of a boat in international waters
International waters
The terms international waters or trans-boundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed regional seas and estuaries, rivers, lakes, groundwater systems , and wetlands.Oceans,...
, far away from the Angolan coast, during the period of the civil war. Mavuba has stated that his passport does not have a nationality on it; it just reads "born at sea", however, as he grew up in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
he considers himself French. He received French nationality in September 2004.
Club career
Mavuba's mother died when he was two, and his father when he was just 14 years old. He threw himself into football to help deal with his grief. After breaking through from the reserve team, the youngster made his debut for BordeauxFC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
against Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, in January 2004. From that moment on, he would become a mainstay in the team, eventually leading to his international debut with France.
On July 3, 2007, he signed a five-year deal with La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, who had lost Alessio Tacchinardi
Alessio Tacchinardi
Alessio Tacchinardi is a retired Italian footballer who played as defensive midfielder and spent the vast majority of his career playing for Juventus FC, winning 17 official trophies with the club...
, who returned to Juventus after his two-year loan. He found it hard to break into the first team, even though he had some good performances, in January 2008 he joined Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
on loan until the end of the season. Following the season, Lille opted to sign Mavuba permanently and reached an agreement on the transfer with both Villarreal and Mavuba. Mavuba agreed to a four-year deal and the transfer fee is estimated to be 7 million euros.
International career
He made his senior team debut for France on August 18, 2004 against Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in a 1–1 draw.
While an Under-21 player, he was asked to play for Congo DR
Congo DR national football team
The Congo DR national football team is the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association , and are nicknamed The Leopards.Congo have been ranked as high as 51 in the FIFA Rankings...
, but he turned it down.
He also won a place in the Under-21 UEFA Championship's Team of the Tournament in centre midfield with Dutchman Ismaïl Aissati
Ismaïl Aissati
Ismaïl Aissati is a Dutch-Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie.-Career:Being born to Moroccan parents in the Netherlands, he is still allowed to play for either national team...
.
Honors
FC Girondins de BordeauxFC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
- Coupe de la LigueCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
: 2007
OSC Lille
- Ligue 1Ligue 1Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
: 20112010–11 Ligue 1The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011... - Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 20112011 Coupe de France FinalThe 2011 Coupe de France Final was the 93rd final of France's most prestigious football cup competition. The final took place on 14 May 2011 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and was contested between Paris Saint-Germain and Lille...