Biography
Who is Eliaquim Mangala?
Early life and childhood
Eliaquim Mangala was born in the suburb of Colombes, located in the Hauts-de-Seine area of France. His parents are from Congo, and he obtained French nationality in December 1995 after his mother became a naturalized citizen.
At the age of five, he moved to the city of Namur in Belgium. He began his football training at Athletic Club Lustin and later played for CS Wépionnais. He eventually joined UR Namur, where he initially played as a striker before attracting interest from professional scouts.
Professional career at Standard Liège
In 2007, he signed a youth contract with Standard Liège. The club transitioned him from a left back to a central defender as he moved through their under-17 and under-19 teams. He signed his first professional five-year deal with the club in October 2008.
During his time with the senior squad, he made several appearances in the Belgian league. He helped the team win the league title and scored in the final of the Belgian Cup in May 2011. His performances in both domestic and UEFA Cup matches helped establish his reputation.
Success at Porto and Manchester City
Eliaquim Mangala moved to FC Porto in August 2011 as part of a deal involving Steven Defour. He became a key centre-back for the Portuguese side, contributing to an undefeated season and a third consecutive league title. He also scored well-known goals in the Europa League during his tenure there.
In 2014, Manchester City signed him for a fee reported to be around £31.8 million. He played 79 matches for the English club and was part of the squad that won the Premier League in the 2017-18 season. During his time in England, he also had loan spells at Valencia and Everton.
Later club career
After his time in England, he returned to Valencia on a permanent contract in 2019. He later signed with Saint-Étienne in January 2022, where he played 14 matches in Ligue 1. He scored one goal for the club during that period.
In August 2023, he returned to the Portuguese league to join Estoril. He signed a one-year deal with the club following a trial period. This move marked his return to the country where he had previously found significant professional success.
Birthday and age
Eliaquim Mangala was born on February 13, 1991, which makes Eliaquim 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Eliaquim shares the date with 23 other famous people.
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