Fabrice Muamba

Fabrice Ndala Muamba (born 6 April 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played for Arsenal, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers as a central midfielder.

Born in Zaire, Muamba moved to England at the age of 11 and subsequently played for England up to under-21 level.

His father fled the country in 1994 because of his political views and arrived in the United Kingdom seeking asylum.

In 1999, he was granted indefinite leave to remain, at which time he was joined by the rest of the family.

They settled in east London, where Muamba attended Kelmscott School in Walthamstow.

Despite having arrived in Britain aged 11, unable to speak English, he went on to achieve 10 GCSEs and A-levels in English, French and mathematics.

Muamba began his career in 2002, joining Arsenal's youth academy.

Muamba was associated with Arsenal's youth system as a schoolboy from 2002, joining their Academy as a first-year scholar in August 2004.

After three years, he turned professional in 2005.

He made his debut for Arsenal in the League Cup, but played only one other professional match for the club.

He signed his first professional contract in October 2005 and made his first team debut on 25 October in a League Cup tie against Sunderland, in front of a 47,000 crowd at the Stadium of Light.

He made his second and final first team appearance for Arsenal in the next round, against Reading, where he contributed to a 3–0 victory.

In August 2006, Muamba joined Championship club Birmingham City on a season-long loan.

After a slow start, his energetic style of play, which has been likened to that of his hero Patrick Vieira, established him as a regular starter in central midfield.

The fans were equally impressed, voting him their Young Player of the Season.

Following a loan spell with Birmingham City, he made the move permanent in 2007.

He stayed with Birmingham City for one additional year, and left after making more than 70 appearances and making his England under-21 debut while with the team.

On 11 May 2007 Muamba made his move to Birmingham City permanent, signing a three-year contract for a fee reported by the club of £4 million.

He joined Bolton Wanderers in 2008.

He scored his first goal for the club, a close-range volley from a corner, on 12 March 2008 in a 4–2 defeat at Portsmouth.

He made 37 appearances as Birmingham were relegated from the Premier League after one season back in the top tier.

On 16 June 2008, Muamba joined Premier League Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £5 million, with add-ons worth a further £750,000, on a four-year contract.

In recognition of his impressive 2009–10 season at Bolton, he was named as The Bolton News Player of the Season.

On 7 August, Muamba signed a new four-year contract with Bolton.

He scored his first goal for the club against Wigan Athletic on 13 March 2010.

Muamba scored on the opening day of the 2011–12 league season, in Bolton's 4–0 away win against Queens Park Rangers.

He then scored his first ever goal in the League Cup, against his old club Arsenal in a 2–1 defeat.

In March 2012, Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup match between Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur, from which he recovered despite his heart having stopped for 78 minutes.

Following medical advice, he announced his retirement from professional football in August 2012.

He later completed a degree in sports journalism before making a return to football as a youth coach.

Muamba was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

On 17 March 2012, Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed during the first half of an FA Cup quarter-final match between Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

After receiving lengthy attention on the pitch from medical personnel – including a consultant cardiologist who was at the game as a fan – Muamba was taken to the specialist coronary care unit at the London Chest Hospital.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies accompanied Muamba in the ambulance.

The match was abandoned by referee Howard Webb, and Bolton's next game, against Aston Villa, due to be played three days later, was postponed at the club's request.

Aston Villa raised no objection.

Bolton's club doctor later confirmed that Muamba had received numerous defibrillator shocks both on the pitch and in the ambulance, but his heart had stopped for 78 minutes.

The player was initially kept under anaesthesia in intensive care.

By 19 March, his heart was beating without medication and he was able to move his limbs.

Later that day his condition was described as "serious" rather than "critical" and he was able to recognise family members and respond appropriately to questions.