Rio Mavuba

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rio Mavuba

| image = Mavuba CSKA-LOSC.png

| caption = Mavuba lining up for Lille in 2011

| fullname = Rio Antonio Zoba Mavuba{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20006.html|title=Rio Mavuba|newspaper=L'Équipe|location=Paris|language=fr|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-date=14 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314023700/https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20006.html|url-status=live}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|3|8|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWC/2014/pdf/FWC_2014_SQUADLISTS.PDF|title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players: France|publisher=FIFA|page=15|date=14 July 2014|access-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203092301/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWC/2014/pdf/FWC_2014_SQUADLISTS.PDF|archive-date=3 February 2020}}

| birth_place = Born at sea

| height = 1.72 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2002–2003

| youthclubs1 = Bordeaux

| years1 = 2003–2007

| clubs1 = Bordeaux

| caps1 = 127

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2007–2008

| clubs2 = Villarreal

| caps2 = 5

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2008

| clubs3 = → Lille (loan)

| caps3 = 17

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2008–2017

| clubs4 = Lille

| caps4 = 282

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2017–2018

| clubs5 = Sparta Prague

| caps5 = 11

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024

| clubs6 = Bordeaux B

| caps6 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2003

| nationalteam1 = DR Congo U21

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2004–2006

| nationalteam2 = France U21

| nationalcaps2 = 21

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2004–2014

| nationalteam3 = France

| nationalcaps3 = 13

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update =

}}

Rio Antonio Zoba Mavuba (born 8 March 1984) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career with Bordeaux and Lille, winning the 2011 national championship with the latter.

A France international between 2004 and 2014, Mavuba represented the country at the 2014 World Cup.

Early and personal life

Mavuba's father was Mavuba Mafuila, a footballer who appeared at the 1974 FIFA World Cup with Zaire, while his mother was an Angolan national. He was born on board a boat in international waters during the period of the Angolan Civil War, and later stated that his birth certificate did not have a nationality on it, reading only "born at sea".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3742472.stm|title=Mavuba: born without a nation|publisher=BBC Sport|first=James|last=Copnall|date=14 October 2004|access-date=6 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228022241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3742472.stm|archive-date=28 December 2013}} His nephew Kenny also became a footballer, in the French lower leagues.{{cite news|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/12/03/colomiers-fait-preuve-de-caractere-jusquau-bout-11617957.php|title=Colomiers fait preuve de caractère jusqu'au bout|trans-title=Colomiers prove their character until the end|newspaper=La Dépêche du Midi|first=Jean-Jacques|last=Evrard|language=fr|date=3 December 2023|access-date=27 January 2024|archive-date=27 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127134510/https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/12/03/colomiers-fait-preuve-de-caractere-jusquau-bout-11617957.php|url-status=live}}

Mavuba's mother died when he was two, and his father when he was 12 years old. He launched himself into football to help deal with his grief.

Club career

=Bordeaux=

Mavuba played youth football with Bordeaux. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 10 January 2004 in a 2–1 away win against Montpellier and, under recently appointed manager Michel Pavon, became an immediate first-choice.{{cite web|url=https://m.maxifoot.fr/football/article-826.htm|title=Mavuba, nationalité: bordelaise|trans-title=Mavuba, nationality: bordelaise|publisher=Maxi Foot|first=Olivier|last=Cothenet|language=fr|date=7 April 2004|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110102534/https://m.maxifoot.fr/football/article-826.htm|url-status=live}}

From the 2004–05 season until the end of his spell, Mavuba never appeared in less than 32 league matches.

=Villarreal and Lille=

File:Mavuba Lille Liverpool.JPG in 2010]]

On 3 July 2007, Mavuba signed a five-year contract with Villarreal worth €7 million, as the Spanish side had lost Alessio Tacchinardi who returned to Juventus following a loan.{{cite news|url=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/255106/0/mavuba/villarreal/fichaje/|title=El Villarreal ficha a Rio Mavuba por siete millones de euros|trans-title=Villarreal sign Rio Mavuba for seven million euros|newspaper=20 minutos|language=es|date=3 July 2007|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227073007/http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/255106/0/mavuba/villarreal/fichaje/|archive-date=27 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://es.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01c3-0e6e55d491f7-d0c904a80d4a-1000--mavuba-al-villarreal/|title=Mavuba, al Villarreal|trans-title=Mavuba, to Villarreal|publisher=UEFA|language=es|date=4 July 2007|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228023951/http://es.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=558020.html|archive-date=28 December 2013}} He found it hard to break into the first team,{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/villarreal/es/desarrollo/1050639.html|title=Mavuba tampoco juega en la UEFA|trans-title=Mavuba also does not play in UEFA|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=26 October 2007|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229022235/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/villarreal/es/desarrollo/1050639.html|archive-date=29 December 2013}} only totalling 219 minutes in La Liga, and in late January 2008 joined Lille on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/transferts/actualites/mavuba-rebondit-a-lille-110771|title=Mavuba rebondit à Lille|trans-title=Mavuba rebounds to Lille|newspaper=Le Figaro|first=Nicolas|last=Cerbelle|language=fr|date=21 January 2008|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227044210/http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/transferts/actualites/mavuba-rebondit-a-lille-110771|archive-date=27 December 2013}}

The transfer was made subsequently permanent in summer 2008, with the player penning a four-year contract for a reported fee of €7 million. He appeared in 46 matches between the league and the Coupe de France in his third year, helping Les Dogues win both competitions, the former after a 57-year wait.{{cite news|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/le-psg-perd-sa-coupe-contre-lille-14-05-2011-1450041.php|title=Le PSG perd sa Coupe contre Lille|trans-title=PSG lose their Cup against Lille|newspaper=Le Parisien|language=fr|date=14 May 2011|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111091639/https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/psg/le-psg-perd-sa-coupe-contre-lille-14-05-2011-1450041.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/194909/article/2017-07-21/mavuba-quitte-le-losc-retour-sur-10-ans-en-10-chiffres|title=Football: Mavuba quitte le LOSC, retour sur 10 ans en 10 chiffres|trans-title=Football: Mavuba leaves LOSC, 10 years in 10 data revisited|newspaper=La Voix du Nord|first=Olivier|last=Fosseux|language=fr|date=21 July 2017|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110104018/https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/194909/article/2017-07-21/mavuba-quitte-le-losc-retour-sur-10-ans-en-10-chiffres|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/actualites/a-quoi-ressemble-les-quatre-titres-de-lille-1045033|title=1946, 1954, 2011, 2021, les quatre glorieuses de Lille|trans-title=1946, 1954, 2011, 2021, the four times Lille touched the sky|newspaper=Le Figaro|first=Léo|last=Tourbe|language=fr|date=24 May 2021|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111091823/https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/actualites/a-quoi-ressemble-les-quatre-titres-de-lille-1045033|url-status=live}}

Mavuba suffered a knee injury midway through the 2012–13 season, being sidelined for more than three months.{{cite news|url=http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/ligue-1/Homes-Clubs/lille/actualites/mavuba-et-maintenant-630232|title=Mavuba, et maintenant?|trans-title=Mavuba, and now?|newspaper=Le Figaro|first=Florent|last=Gazeau|language=fr|date=3 May 2013|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227044220/http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/ligue-1/Homes-Clubs/lille/actualites/mavuba-et-maintenant-630232|archive-date=27 December 2013}} On 22 December 2013, the team captain scored his first goal of the new campaign, helping to a 2–2 draw at Paris Saint-Germain and being involved in a scuffle with Zlatan Ibrahimović, with both players being booked late into the first half.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/369396/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Lille hold PSG|publisher=ESPN FC|date=22 December 2013|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228141804/http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/369396/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|archive-date=28 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2013-2014/psg-mavuba-sur-ibrahimovic-il-fait-2-metres-on-lui-touche-la-tete-et-il-tombe._sto4060211/story.shtml|title=PSG-LOSC (2–2): Mavuba sur Ibrahimovic: "Il fait 2 mètres, on lui touche la tête et il tombe..."|trans-title=PSG-LOSC (2–2): Mavuba on Ibrahimovic: "He's 2 metres tall, you touch him on the head and he falls..."|publisher=Eurosport|first=Damien|last=Dorso|language=fr|date=22 December 2013|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227082631/http://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2013-2014/psg-mavuba-sur-ibrahimovic-il-fait-2-metres-on-lui-touche-la-tete-et-il-tombe._sto4060211/story.shtml|archive-date=27 December 2013}}

On 26 May 2015, Mavuba signed a new four-year deal with Lille.{{cite web|url=http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2015/rio-mavuba-signs-lille-contract-extension/|title=Rio Mavuba signs Lille contract extension|publisher=Get French Football News|date=26 May 2015|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=11 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511192416/https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2015/rio-mavuba-signs-lille-contract-extension/|url-status=live}}

=Later career=

On 21 July 2017, 33-year-old Mavuba agreed to a three-year contract with Czech club Sparta Prague.{{cite web|url=http://www.sparta.cz/en/news/rio-mavuba-signs-601.shtml|title=Rio Mavuba signs|publisher=Sparta Prague|date=21 July 2017|access-date=22 July 2017|archive-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724074658/http://www.sparta.cz/en/news/rio-mavuba-signs-601.shtml|url-status=live}} He returned to his adopted homeland on 14 September 2018, signing with Championnat National 3 amateurs {{ill|FCE Mérignac-Arlac|fr|Mérignac-Arlac}}.{{cite web|url=https://actu.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/merignac_33281/nationale-3-rio-mavuba-ancien-joueur-girondins-bordeaux-signe-merignac-arlac_18614058.html|title=Nationale 3: Rio Mavuba, ancien joueur des Girondins de Bordeaux, signe à Mérignac-Arlac|trans-title=Nationale 3: Rio Mavuba, former player of Girondins de Bordeaux, signs at Mérignac-Arlac|publisher=Actu|language=fr|date=15 September 2018|access-date=28 October 2018|archive-date=16 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916125349/https://actu.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/merignac_33281/nationale-3-rio-mavuba-ancien-joueur-girondins-bordeaux-signe-merignac-arlac_18614058.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/2018/10/22/video-football-rio-mavuba-decisif-lors-de-la-victoire-de-merignac-arlac-5502248-766.php|title=Vidéo. Football: Rio Mavuba décisif lors de la victoire de Mérignac-Arlac|trans-title=Video. Football: Rio Mavuba decisive in Mérignac-Arlac win|newspaper=Sud Ouest|language=fr|date=22 October 2018|access-date=28 October 2018|archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035419/https://www.sudouest.fr/2018/10/22/video-football-rio-mavuba-decisif-lors-de-la-victoire-de-merignac-arlac-5502248-766.php|url-status=live}}

Mavuba was appointed manager of his last team in April 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/2019/04/01/football-rio-mavuba-nouvel-entraineur-de-merignac-arlac-5949551-766.php?nic|title=Football: Rio Mavuba, nouvel entraîneur de Mérignac-Arlac|trans-title=Football: Rio Mavuba, new manager of Mérignac-Arlac|newspaper=Sud Ouest|language=fr|date=1 April 2019|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=11 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511192427/https://www.sudouest.fr/|url-status=live}} In October 2020, he became assistant coach at Bordeaux's reserves.{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Rio-mavuba-rejoint-le-staff-de-la-reserve-de-bordeaux/1182483|title=Rio Mavuba rejoint le staff de la réserve de Bordeaux|trans-title=Rio Mavuba joins Bordeaux reserves' coaching staff|newspaper=L'Équipe|language=fr|date=11 October 2020|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116102531/https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Rio-mavuba-rejoint-le-staff-de-la-reserve-de-bordeaux/1182483|url-status=live}} On 28 August 2024, it was announced that Mavuba had come out of retirement to help out his former club Bordeaux, recently relegated to the Championnat National 2.{{Cite web |title=National 2 : Bordeaux présente ses 24 joueurs pour la saison à venir, avec Paul Baysse et Rio Mavuba |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Bordeaux-presente-ses-24-joueurs-licencies-avec-paul-baysse-et-rio-mavuba/1503958 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}

International career

In December 2003, Mavuba played a friendly match with the DR Congo national under-21 team.{{Cite book |last1=Mavuba |first1=Rio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n990DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT80 |title=Rio Mavuba, capitaine de ma vie: L'exil, le foot, les Bleus |last2=Labrunie |first2=Étienne |date=2018-11-22 |publisher=edi8 |isbn=978-2-263-15943-5 |language=fr |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106221646/https://books.google.com/books?id=n990DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT80 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=EdF : Mavuba obtient la nationalité |url=https://news.maxifoot.fr/info-30035_40916/football.php |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=news.maxifoot.fr |language=fr |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106221649/https://news.maxifoot.fr/info-30035_40916/football.php |url-status=live }} He was also eligible to play for Angola.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-01 |title=Football : et s'ils avaient choisi de jouer pour une sélection africaine ? – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/314456/societe/football-et-sils-avaient-choisi-de-jouer-pour-une-selection-africaine/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914193016/https://www.jeuneafrique.com/314456/societe/football-et-sils-avaient-choisi-de-jouer-pour-une-selection-africaine/ |url-status=live }}

From the 2004 Toulon Tournament to the 2006 UEFA European Championship, he served as captain of the French under-21s.{{cite web|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under21/history/season=2006/round=1912/match=83594/index.html|title=France flurry flattens Germany|publisher=UEFA|first=Greg|last=Demetriou|date=25 May 2006|access-date=26 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105031509/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under21/history/season=2006/round=1912/match=83594/index.html|archive-date=5 January 2013}}

Mavuba won his first cap for the senior France side on 18 August 2004, in a 1–1 friendly draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rennes.{{cite news|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2004/08/19/258237-la-reconstruction-est-entamee.html|title=La reconstruction est entamée|trans-title=Rebuilding on its way|newspaper=La Dépêche du Midi|language=fr|date=19 August 2004|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106173436/http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2004/08/19/258237-la-reconstruction-est-entamee.html|url-status=live}} He then turn down Claude Le Roy's invitations to play for DR Congo national team.

Mavuba was selected by coach Didier Deschamps for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27462585|title=World Cup 2014: Stephane Ruffier confirmed in France squad|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519083146/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27462585|archive-date=19 May 2014}} He made his debut in the competition on 15 June, coming on as a second-half substitute for Yohan Cabaye in a 3–0 group stage win against Honduras.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186496/match-report.html|title=Benzema bags brace as Bleus beat Honduras|publisher=FIFA|date=15 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711142139/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186496/match-report.html|archive-date=11 July 2014}}

Honours

Bordeaux

Coupe de la Ligue: 2006–07{{cite news|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Semaine-en-images/Bordeaux-fait-plier-Lyon-en-Coupe-de-la-Ligue-_NG_-2007-04-01-521125|title=Bordeaux fait plier Lyon en Coupe de la Ligue|trans-title=Bordeaux bring Lyon to their knee in League Cup|newspaper=La Croix|language=fr|date=1 April 2007|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110102531/https://www.la-croix.com/Semaine-en-images/Bordeaux-fait-plier-Lyon-en-Coupe-de-la-Ligue-_NG_-2007-04-01-521125|url-status=live}}

Lille

Ligue 1: 2010–11{{cite web|url=https://www.sofoot.com/rio-mavuba-etre-entraineur-c-est-vraiment-un-objectif-460884.html|title=Rio Mavuba: "Être entraîneur, c'est vraiment un objectif"|trans-title=Rio Mavuba: "To be a coach, it's really a goal"|publisher=Sofoot|first1=Adrien|last1=Hémard|first2=Alexis|last2=Souhard|language=fr|date=5 October 2018|access-date=30 January 2019|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006132435/https://www.sofoot.com/rio-mavuba-etre-entraineur-c-est-vraiment-un-objectif-460884.html|url-status=live}}
Coupe de France: 2010–11