Emmanuel Mbende
{{Short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{use British English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Emmanuel Mbende
|image =
|caption =
|fullname = Moïse Emmanuel Mbende
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|3|df=y}}
|birth_place = Douala, Cameroon
|position = Centre back
|currentclub = Gostivar
|clubnumber = 21
|youthyears1 = 2006–2008 |youthclubs1 = SC Weitmar 45
|youthyears2 = 2008–2015 |youthclubs2 = Borussia Dortmund
|years1 = 2015–2016 |clubs1 = Birmingham City |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2016–2018 |clubs2 = Chemnitzer FC |caps2 = 23 |goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2018–2019 |clubs3 = SC Cambuur |caps3 = 26 |goals3 = 1
|years4 = 2019–2020 |clubs4 = Catania |caps4 = 19 |goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2020–2021 |clubs5 = Viterbese |caps5 = 28 |goals5 = 4
|years6 = 2021–2024 |clubs6 = Monterosi Tuscia |caps6 = 87 |goals6 = 6
|years7 = 2024– |clubs7 = Gostivar |caps7 = 22 |goals7 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2014–201? |nationalteam1 = Cameroon U20 |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 =
|club-update = 18:09, 16 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Moïse Emmanuel Mbende (born 3 March 1996) is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a centre back for Macedonian First League club Gostivar.
He began his football career in the youth system of Borussia Dortmund before spending the 2015–16 season with English Championship (second-tier) club Birmingham City, but played no first-team football for either. He then returned to Germany, where he spent two years with 3. Liga club Chemnitzer FC before signing for SC Cambuur of the Dutch Eerste Divisie. A year later, he moved on to Catania, joined Viterbese in 2020, and spent three years with Monterosi Tuscia before joining Gostivar in 2024. In international football, Mbende has represented his native Cameroon at under-20 level.
Club career
Mbende was born in Douala, Cameroon, and came to Germany in 2006. The family settled in Bochum,{{cite web |url=http://www.big-bcfc.com/big-talks/emmanuel-mbende-english/ |title="Luckily enough I am a part of this exciting club and city!" |publisher=Bluenoses in Germany Birmingham City F.C. Supporters Club |date=October 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2016}} where he began his football career with SC Weitmar 45. He was spotted by Borussia Dortmund and recruited into their youth system at the under-13 level.{{cite web |url=http://africapress.over-blog.com/article-allemagne-sport-allemagne-emmanuel-mbende-penda-17-ans-nicolas-nkoulou-est-celui-qui-m-impressionne-118222216.html |title=Allemagne::Sport Allemagne/Emmanuel Mbende Penda, 17 ans:"Nicolas Nkoulou est celui qui m'impressionne" |language=French |trans-title=Germany::Sport Germany/Emmanuel Mbende Penda, aged 17:"Nicolas Nkoulou is the one who impresses me" |last=Evina |website=africapress.over-blog.com |date=2 June 2013 |accessdate=30 July 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/501464-interview-emmanuel-mbende-on-life-at-dortmundwhat-his-goals-are-and-his-dream-team.html |title=Interview: Emmanuel Mbende on life at Dortmund, what his goals are and his dream team |first=Salmaan |last=Abbas |website=Vavel UK |date=13 June 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2016}} He went on to play for two seasons in the UEFA Youth League,{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/clubs/players/250063961--moise-mbende/ |title=UEFA Youth League: Moise Mbende |publisher=UEFA |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=30 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118094359/http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2015/clubs/player=250063961/index.html |archive-date=18 January 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/news/0252-0ce44685869c-a20e1edeaa7c-1000--arsenal-atletico-chelsea-off-to-impressive-starts/ |title=Arsenal, Atlético, Chelsea off to impressive starts |publisher=UEFA |date=18 September 2013 |access-date=30 July 2016}} but left the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.
After trials in the Netherlands with Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle{{cite news |url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/pec-ziet-af-van-transfervrije-duitse-reus-mbende.htm |title=PEC ziet af van transfervrije Duitse reus Mbende |language=Dutch |trans-title=PEC waive free-transfer German giant Mbende |website=Voetbal International |date=11 July 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715031233/http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/pec-ziet-af-van-transfervrije-duitse-reus-mbende.htm |archive-date=15 July 2015}} and MVV Maastricht of the Eerste Divisie,{{cite web |url=http://www.mvv.nl/mvv-maastricht/club/nieuws/eerste-europese-wedstrijd |title=Eerste Europese wedstrijd op kunstgras in De Geusselt: MVV – Lommel United |language=Dutch |trans-title=First European match on artificial grass in De Geusselt: MVV – Lommel United |publisher=MVV Maastricht |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914004632/http://www.mvv.nl/mvv-maastricht/club/nieuws/eerste-europese-wedstrijd |archive-date=14 September 2016}} and in England with Football League Championship clubs Derby County,{{cite web |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2015/07/report-leicester-city-u21s-6-2-derby-county-u21s |title=Report: Leicester City U21s 6–2 Derby County U21s |publisher=Derby County F.C. |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=1 September 2020}} and Birmingham City, Mbende signed for the latter club in September 2015 until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34391017 |title=Emmanuel Mbende: Birmingham City sign ex-Dortmund defender |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 September 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2016}} He was a regular member of Birmingham's under-21 team playing in the Professional Development League, and was a member of the Birmingham reserve team that lost the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final to National League North champions Solihull Moors, but did not break through to the first team.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2016/blues-trio-offered-new-deals/ |title=Blues trio offered new deals |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=27 April 2016 |accessdate=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704081755/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2016/blues-trio-offered-new-deals/ |archive-date=4 July 2019}}
He was offered a one-year contract, with an option for another year, in April 2016, and manager Gary Rowett expected him either to challenge the existing first-team centre-backs or to go out on loan to a lower-division club.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gary-rowett-future-birmingham-city-11084394 |title=Gary Rowett on the future of Birmingham City youngster Emmanuel Mbende |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=30 July 2016}} However, he turned down the contract offer, preferring to return to Germany to study and to play for 3. Liga club Chemnitzer FC, with whom he signed a two-year deal; Birmingham included a "significant" sell-on clause in the deal.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-due-significant-fee-11383598 |title=Birmingham City due 'significant' fee if Emmanuel Mbende makes it big in Germany |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=25 May 2016 |accessdate=30 July 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/mbende-unterschreibt-beim-chemnitzer-fc-652660/artikel |title=Mbende unterschreibt beim Chemnitzer FC |language=German |trans-title=Mbende signs for Chemnitzer FC |website=Kicker |date=25 May 2016 |access-date=30 July 2016}}
Mbende began his Chemnitz career on the bench, but made his senior debut in their fourth match of the 2016–17 3. Liga season, away to VfR Aalen on 14 August 2016. He replaced Marc Endres after 80 minutes with his team 2–0 ahead, but the hosts scored two minutes later, and deep into stoppage time, Mbende's headed clearance fell to Gerrit Wegkamp who volleyed it home from distance to secure a draw.{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/aalen-gegen-chemnitz-2016-liga-3319559/ticker |title=VfR Aalen – Chemnitzer FC 2:2, 3. Liga, Saison 2016/17, 4.Spieltag – LIVE! |language=German |trans-title=VfR Aalen – Chemnitzer FC 2:2, 3. Liga, Season 2016/17, Matchday 4 – LIVE! |website=Kicker |date=14 August 2016 |access-date=14 August 2016}} Injuries among the regular defenders brought Mbende his first start, away to 1. FC Magdeburg on 22 October, in which he faced one of the league's leading scorers, the equally physical Christian Beck.{{cite news |url=https://www.freiepresse.de/ausf-lle-in-der-cfc-abwehr-mbende-vor-startelf-deb-t-artikel9663307 |title=Ausfälle in der CFC-Abwehr – Mbende vor Startelf-Debüt |language=German |trans-title=Problems in the CFC defence – Mbende to get his starting debut |first=Benjamin |last=Lummer |newspaper=Freie Presse |location=Chemnitz |date=22 October 2016 |accessdate=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122004520/https://www.freiepresse.de/ausf-lle-in-der-cfc-abwehr-mbende-vor-startelf-deb-t-artikel9663307 |archive-date=22 November 2020}} Mbende had the better of the encounter: Beck scored once, but Chemnitz achieved their first away win of the season, by four goals to two.{{cite news |url=https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/fussball-cfc-chemnitzer-fc-ungluecksrabe-mbende-175390 |title=CFC-Unglücksrabe Mbende jetzt wieder glücklich! |language=German |trans-title=CFC's hapless Mbende is happy again! |first=Olaf |last=Morgenstern |newspaper=Morgenpost |location=Dresden |date=23 October 2016 |accessdate=23 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023203022/https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/fussball-cfc-chemnitzer-fc-ungluecksrabe-mbende-175390 |archive-date=23 October 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/chemnitzer-fc/erster-auswaerts-dreier-der-saison-48408304.bild.html |title=Erster Auswärts-Dreier für Chemnitz |language=German |trans-title=First away three points for Chemnitz |first=Lars |last=Preusser |newspaper=Bild |location=Chemnitz |date=23 October 2016 |accessdate=23 October 2016}}
Mbende joined SC Cambuur of the Dutch Eerste Divisie (second tier) in May 2018.{{cite press release |url=http://cambuur.nl/nieuws/transfer-sc-cambuur-versterkt-zich-emannuel-mbende/ |title=Transfer: SC Cambuur versterkt zich met Emmanuel Mbende |language=nl |trans-title=Transfer: SC Cambuur strengthen with Emmanuel Mbende |publisher=SC Cambuur |date=18 May 2018 |accessdate=2 October 2018}} He left the club at the end of the 2018–19 season.
On 8 August 2019, Mbende signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie C club Catania.{{cite press release |url=https://www.calciocatania.it/article.php?id=36180&l= |title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende al Catania: il difensore camerunense ha sottoscritto un contratto biennale |language=it |trans-title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende to Catania: the Cameroonian defender has signed a two-year contract |publisher=Calcio Catania |date=8 August 2019 |accessdate=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809013027/https://www.calciocatania.it/article.php?id=36180&l= |archive-date=9 August 2019}} He made 23 appearances in all competitions in 2019–20, helping Catania reach the play-offs in which they were eliminated in the second round, but was allowed to leave at the end of the season.
Mbende joined another Serie C club, Viterbese, on 31 August 2020 on a two-year deal.{{cite press release |url=http://www.calciocatania.it/article.php?id=37007&l= |title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende dal Catania alla Viterbese, cessione a titolo definitivo |language=it |trans-title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende from Catania to Viterbese, a permanent deal |publisher=Calcio Catania |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901031758/http://www.calciocatania.it/article.php?id=37007&l= |archive-date=1 September 2020}}{{cite press release |url=https://usviterbese.it/moise-emmanuel-mbende-e-un-nuovo-calciatore-della-viterbese/ |title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende è un nuovo calciatore della Viterbese |language=it |trans-title=Moïse Emmanuel Mbende is a new Viterbese player |publisher=A.S. Viterbese Castrense |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=1 September 2020}} He scored four goals from 28 league matches in his first season, but despite the club president's insistence that Mbende would not leave unless they received an offer they could not refuse,{{cite news |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/viterbo/viterbese_mbende_non_si_tocca_parola_di_romano-6002810.html |title=Viterbese, Mbende non si tocca: parola di Romano |language=it |trans-title=Viterbese, hands off Mbende: the word of Romano |first=Paolo |last=Graziotti |newspaper=Il Messagero |location=Rome |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}} he was released by mutual consent on 25 August, after the 2021–22 season had already begun.{{cite press release |url=https://usviterbese.it/risoluzione-per-camilleri-mbende-e-salandria/ |title=Risoluzione per Camilleri, Mbende and Salandria |language=it |trans-title=Camilleri, Mbende and Salandria released by mutual consent |publisher=A.S. Viterbese |date=25 August 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}}
The next day, he signed a multi-year contract with Monterosi Tuscia, newly promoted to Serie C,{{cite press release |url=https://www.monterosifc.com/ufficiale-moise-emmanuel-mbende-e-biancorosso/ |title=Ufficiale: Moïse Emmanuel Mbende è biancorosso |language=it |trans-title=Official: Moïse Emmanuel Mbende is white and red |publisher=Monterosi Tuscia Fc |date=26 August 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}} where he spent three years before the team were relegated in 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.monterosifc.com/news/prima-squadra/item/187-monterosi-la-corsa-si-ferma-a-potenza.html |title=Monterosi, la corsa si ferma a Potenza |lang=it |trans-title=Monterosi, the race is run at Potenza |publisher=Monterosi Tuscia FC |date=22 May 2024 |accessdate=16 March 2025}}
Mbende joined Gostivar of the Macedonian First League on 29 June 2024.{{cite web |url=https://gostivar.football/gostivari-news/emmanuel-mbende-welcome-to-gostivar/ |title=Emmanuel Mbende Welcome to Gostivar |publisher=K.F. Gostivari |date=29 June 2024 |access-date=16 March 2025}}
International career
Mbende represented Cameroon at youth level. He played for their under-20 team in the 2015 African U-20 Championship qualification process.{{cite web |url=http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/19theditionoftheafricanu-20championship,senegal2015/MatchDetails?MatchId=r9k422r9TpYGB1D8iwddxs8tGh4b0i232rcq2OmpI%2f9vsrymVqYxNous%2fSWhS%2fiW |title=Orange Africa U-20 Cup of Nations – Qualifiers: Match details: Burundi 0–1 Cameroon |publisher=Confédération Africaine de Football |date=11 May 2014 |accessdate=30 July 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112003602/http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/19theditionoftheafricanu-20championship,senegal2015/MatchDetails?MatchId=r9k422r9TpYGB1D8iwddxs8tGh4b0i232rcq2OmpI%2f9vsrymVqYxNous%2fSWhS%2fiW |archivedate=12 November 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://fecafoot-officiel.com/?p=2335 |title=Fiche du match Cameroun–Burundi (U20) |language=French |trans-title=Match details Cameroon–Burundi (U20) |publisher=Fédération Camerounaise de Football |date=25 May 2014 |accessdate=30 July 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716080811/http://fecafoot-officiel.com/?p=2335 |archivedate=16 July 2014}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 March 2025}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WorldFootball.net|emmanuel-mbende}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbende, Emmanuel}}
Category:Footballers from Douala
Category:Cameroonian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Cameroonian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Cameroon men's youth international footballers
Category:Borussia Dortmund players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Chemnitzer FC players
Category:US Viterbese 1908 players
Category:Monterosi Tuscia FC players
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Macedonian First Football League players
Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in North Macedonia