Jean Maleb

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Jean Victor Maleb

|image =

|fullname = Jean Emmanuel Victor Maleb

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|7|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Vanuatu

|height =

|position = Striker{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/football-victors-our-milk-cup-saint-28172769.html|title=Victor's our Milk Cup saint|publisher=belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = {{0|0000}}–2004

|clubs1 = Shepherds United

|years2 = 2004

|clubs2 = Southern United

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 2007–2011

|clubs3 = Yatel

|nationalyears1 = 2004–2007

|nationalteam1 = Vanuatu

|nationalcaps1 = 11

|nationalgoals1 = 5

|club-update =

}}

Jean Emmanuel Victor Maleb (born 7 July 1986) is a Vanuatuan former footballer who is last known to have played as a striker for Yatel. He was a Vanuatu international.

Club career

Maleb has been nicknamed "Victor" and played for Otago in the Milk Cup, and was already a well known sports figure in Vanuatu at the time, even before his Southampton trial, which propelled him to greater fame in Vanuatu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/football-victors-our-milk-cup-saint/28172769.html|title=Victor's our Milk Cup saint|publisher=belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} e was regarded as a Vanautuan prospect.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/pacific-talent-awaits-the-call-20031123-gdwskv.html|title=Pacific talent awaits the call|publisher=theage.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/vanuatu-sports-in-crisis/article_bcb2871b-03e0-5dbe-91eb-b875c65a9324.html|title=Vanuatu sports in crisis|publisher=dailypost.vu}} Maleb trialed for the youth academy of Southampton in the English Premier League.{{Cite web|url=http://vfffoot.over-blog.com/article-16840457.html|title=Philemon John eyes Vanuatu Olympic dream|publisher=vfffoot.over-blog.com}} However, Maleb's young age and Vanuatuan nationality made it harder for him to be signed by the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/archives-1123/|title=Vanuaut imports star in Australia|publisher=oceaniafootball.com}} In 2004, Maleb signed for New Zealand side Southern United, even though it was planned for Maleb to play for Waitakere, where he was unable to settle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/soccer-eight-makes-for-something-great/TRXCP4ZELQRCJ4PQCXA4YEC4PY/|title=Eight makes for something great|publisher=nzherald.co.nz}} After that, he signed for Yatel in Vanuatu.{{NFT player|7559}} After that, he played in Australia, where he was known for his goalscoring prowess.{{Cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/364794445|title=Maleb makes late run for goalscoring crown|publisher=Newcastle Herald|id={{ProQuest|364794445}} }}

International career

Maleb played for Vanuatu national team.{{Cite web|url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2019/11/20/tbt-02-when-vanuatu-ended-new-zealands-dream|title=When Vanuatu ended New Zealand's dream|publisher=oceaniafootballcenter.org}}

Style of play

Maleb manly operated as a striker and was known for his ability to shoot with both his left and right foot, his dead ball ability, and goalscoring ability. He was also known for his strength and speed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/2006/oceania_p01.html|title=Preview: OCEANIA qualifiers, Stage 1|publisher=planetworldcup.com}}