Bruno Ecuele Manga

Bruno Ecuele Manga
Manga warming up for Lorient in 2013
Personal information
Full name Bruno Ecuele Manga[1]
Date of birth (1988-07-16) 16 July 1988
Place of birth Libreville, Gabon
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Cardiff City
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 FC 105 Libreville
2006–2007 Bordeaux B 40 (0)
2007–2008 Bordeaux 0 (0)
2008 → Rodez (loan) 15 (0)
2008–2010 Angers 58 (5)
2010–2014 Lorient 118 (4)
2014– Cardiff City 120 (5)
National team‡
2006– Gabon 67 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:56, 6 October 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2017

Bruno Ecuele Manga (born 16 July 1988) is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays for Welsh club Cardiff City in the Premier League. Ecuele Manga is known for being a tough tackler.[2]

Club career

Early career

Ecuele Manga began his career in his homeland at FC 105 Libreville, before being spotted by scouts from French Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux. Ecuele Manga made his competitive debut for Bordeaux, making his first start, in the Matchday Six, in a 3–2 win over Panionios.[3] However, He never played a league game for the club, and spent time on loan at Rodez.[4]

At the end of his contract, he was signed on a free contract with Angers on a three-year contract, keeping him until 2011.[5] There, Ecuele Manga will be joined by two compatriot Arsène Do Marcolino and Fabrice Do Marcolino. Ecuele Manga then made his Angers' debut in the opening game, with a 0–0 draw against Bastia.[6] Ecuele Manga then scored his first goal of the season on 24 October 2008, in a 2–0 win over Tours.[7] Then on 3 March 2009, Ecuele Manga signed a new contract with the club, keeping him until 2012.[8] This came after Ecuele Manga's impressive display at Angers caught an eye from other clubs linked to sign him.[9][10] In his first season at Angers, Ecuele Manga made thirty appearance and scoring twice.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Ecuele Manga was on the verge of joining Rennes for worth €4 million.[11] However, the move never happened. Ecuele Manga was absence at the start of the season and his first appearance came in a 0–0 draw against Strasbourg on [12] Then in his second game of the season against Strasbourg on 5 March 2010, Ecuele Manga scored his first brace of his career, in a 2–1 win.[13] In his second season at Angers, Ecuele Manga made twenty-eight appearance and scoring three times. While at Angers, Ecuele Manga became an integral part of their defence set up, establishing himself in the first team. Ecuele Manga later explained his departure from Angers.[14]

Lorient

In summer transfer window of 2010, he joined FC Lorient for worth €2.5 million, and became a first team regular in Ligue 1 as a replacement for Laurent Koscielny who left Lorient for Arsenal.[15][16] Ecuele Manga made his Lorient debut in the opening game of the season, making his first start, in a 2–2 draw against Auxerre.[17] Soon after making his first team appearance, Ecuele Manga was soon sidelined after injuring his hamstring in training that caused him to miss two matches in late-November.[18] That soon happen again in mid-February when he injured his thigh.[19] After making his return in a 3–3 draw against Arles-Avignon on 12 March 2011, Ecuele Manga then scored his first Lorient goal, in a 3–1 loss against Montpellier on 11 May 2011.[20] In his first season at Lorient, Ecuele Manga scored once in thirty-one appearance for the club.

Ecuele Manga's second season with the club started when Ecuele Manga played as center-back in the first-twelve (including scoring his first goal of the season against Brest on 29 October 2011[21]) until he was absence through injury and suspension.[22][23] While on the sidelined, Ecuele Manga signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2015.[24] Ecuele Manga then made his return in early-December, in a 4–0 loss against Montpellier.[25] On 17 March 2012, Ecuele Manga scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Brest.[26] Though scoring twice in thirty-two appearance in his second season, Ecuele Manga's agent announced that Ecuele Manga will stay at the club following a re–ignited interests from clubs around Europe.[27]

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Ecuele Manga was appointed as the new captain of Lorient after replacing Fabien Audard.[28] However, in the opening game of the season in a 2–2 draw against Paris Saint-Germain,[29] Ecuele Manga injured his ligament, and he had to come off, as second half had just started and then it was announced that Ecuele Manga would be out for six months.[30] After six months absence, Ecuele Manga made his return on 26 January 2013, in a 2–1 loss against Nancy.[31][32] Ecuele Manga then scored his first goal of the season, in the Round of 16 of Coupe de France, in a 3–0 win over Brest.[33] Ecuele Manga's captaincy came in question after Lorient lost 5–0 against Lille on 7 April 2013.[34] In response, Ecuele Manga reminded himself to take responsibilities as a captain.[35] With the sideline kept Ecuele Manga for a long time, Ecuele Manga made seventeen appearance and scored once.

In the 2013–14 season, Ecuele Manga continued to remain Lorient captain throughout the season and captained thirty-three matches out of thirty-five appearances he made. Ecuele Manga scored his first goal for the club on 1 March 2014, in a 1–1 draw against Bastia.[36] Ecuele Manga was absence for three matches, due to a knee injury occurring in late-February[37] and a red card in May, which saw him suspended for one match.[38] During the season, Ecuele Manga "won 119 aerial duels more than any other player".[2]

Having received a red card in his second final game for Lorient, Ecuele Manga was suspended for the opening game of the 2014–15 season for Lorient[38] and after making his return, Ecuele Manga captained once in his three appearance by the end of August. After Monaco announced their interest signing Ecuele Manga,[39] Ecuele Manga hinted leaving Lorient, quoting: "I want to see something else, to have other challenges."[40] With a one-year contract left at Lorient, there is slim chance for Ecuele Manga leave at the end of the transfer window.[41]

Cardiff City

Ecuele Manga playing for Cardiff City in 2014

On 1 September 2014, Bruno Ecuele Manga signed for Welsh club Cardiff City for €5 million, keeping him until 2017.[42]

Ecuele Manga then made his Cardiff City debut, making his first start, in a 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough on 16 September 2014.[43] Ecuele Manga scored his first Cardiff City goal, in a 3–1 win over Leeds United two months later on 1 November 2014.[44] However, Ecuele Manga was on the sideline after injuring his knee during a match against Bolton Wanderers and his international commitment[45][46] and made his return for his thirteenth start of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Brentford on 20 December 2014.[47]

Ecuele Manga was on the sideline again for his international commitment after being included for the Africa Cup of Nations.[48] Ecuele Manga made his return, on 7 February 2015, in a 1–1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.[49] Ecuele Manga then scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–1 win over Rotherham United on 3 March 2015[50] and then his third goal came, a week later on 17 March 2015, in a 1–1 draw against Bournemouth.[51] Ecuele Manga's impressive in his first season led calls for him to be named "Cardiff City's player of the season" by Wales Online.[52]

During the pre-season, Ecuele Manga picked up a knee injury resulting in him missing out on the start of the season.[53] Making his first appearance in the League Cup win over AFC Wimbledon and then being dropped back to the bench for the league games that followed. Whilst on international duty in September, he picked up a groin injury and was ruled out for two months.[54] Ecuele Manga made his return to the first team coming on as a substitute for the injured, Sean Morrison against Birmingham City.[55]

Manga playing for Cardiff City in 2015.

Despite another injury ridden season, Ecuele Manga was offered a new contract by manager, Neil Warnock, which was signed on 27 June 2017.[56][57] He made a total of 43 appearances as Cardiff finished 2nd in the league, to earn promotion to the Premier League. He scored his only goal of the season in a 4–1 over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.

Manga scored Cardiff's first goal of 2018–19 season in a 3–1 loss to Norwich City in the Football League Cup.[58]

International career

Born in Libreville, Gabon, Ecuele Manga was called up by Gabon in 2006. In July 2012, Ecuele Manga represented Gabon at the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. However, they were eliminated in the group stage.

Career statistics

As of match played 6 October 2018
Club Season League League Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bordeaux 2007–08 Ligue 1 0000001010
Bordeaux Total 0000001010
Angers 2008–09 Ligue 2 302000000302
2009–10 283000000283
Angers Total 585000000585
Lorient 2010–11 Ligue 1 311302000361
2011–12 322200000342
2012–13 170003100201
2013–14 351100000361
2014–15 3000000030
Lorient Total 11846051001295
Cardiff City 2014–15 Championship 293000000293
2015–16 242101000262
2016–17 210001000220
2017–18 370312000421
2018–19 Premier League 8000110091
Cardiff City Total 11954151001287
Career total 295141011021031617

International goals

Scores and results list Gabon's goal tally first, score column lists each Ecuele Manga goal.[59]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 September 2008Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa Lesotho1–03–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.6 June 2009Stade Omar Bongo, Libreville, Gabon Togo1–03–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.6 September 2011Stade du Ray, Nice, France Niger1–01–0Friendly
4.15 June 2013Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon Niger3–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.14 August 2013Estádio do Real SC, Queluz, Portugal Cape Verde1–11–1Friendly
6.25 March 2015Stade Pierre Brisson, Beauvais, France Mali4–34–3Friendly
7.2 September 2016Khartoum Stadium, Khartoum, Sudan Sudan2–12–1Friendly

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Who is Bruno Manga? Everything you need to know about Cardiff City's centre back signing from Lorient". Wales Online. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bordeaux fightback flattens Panionios". UEFA Official Website. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Foot Transferts Les infos à la mi-journée" (in French). L'Equipe. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ecuele Manga à Angers". Le Figaro. 12 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "BASTIA VS. ANGERS 0 – 0". Soccerway. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "ANGERS VS. TOURS 2 – 0". Soccerway. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ecuele Manga prolonge". L'Equipe. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "English eyes on Manga". Sky Sports. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Reds track Gabonese youngster". Sky Sports. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Foot – Transferts : Ecuélé Manga proche de Rennes". L'Equipe. 23 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "ANGERS VS. STRASBOURG 0 – 0". Soccerway. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "STRASBOURG VS. ANGERS 1 – 2". Soccerway. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Ecuélé-Manga : "Angers m'a appris que je ne restais pas !"" (in French). Web Girondins. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Koscielny replacement signed". Sky Sports. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Ecuele Manga à Lorient". L'Equipe. 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "AUXERRE VS. LORIENT 2 – 2". Soccerway. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ecuele Manga aux soins" (in French). Le Figrano. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Coquelin finalement forfait" (in French). L'Equipe. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "MONTPELLIER VS. LORIENT 3 – 1". Soccerway. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Match Report: Stade Brestois 29 3 – 1 FC Lorient". Ligue 1. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Audard et Bourillon incertains" (in French). L'Equipe. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Lorient sans E.-Manga, Bourillon" (in French). Le Figrano. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Lorient : Ecuele Manga prolonge jusqu'en 2015" (in French). Mercato 365. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Cinq retours à Lorient". Le Figrano. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "FC Lorient 2 – 1 Stade Brestois 29". Ligue 1. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Ecuele Manga va rester" (in French). Le Figrano. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  28. ↑ "Lorient change de capitaine" (in French). Le Figrano. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Zlatan Ibrahimovic helps PSG draw". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  30. ↑ "Ecuele-Manga, c'est 6 mois" (in French). Le Figrano. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  31. ↑ "AS Nancy-Lorraine 2 – 1 FC Lorient". Ligue 1. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Ecuele Manga enfin de retour" (in French). Le Figrano. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "FC Lorient 3 – 0 Stade Brestois 29". Ligue 1. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "LOSC Lille 5 – 0 Lorient". Ligue 1. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Ecuele Manga : "Pas le droit"" (in French). Le Figrano. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "FC Lorient 1 – 1 SC Bastia". Ligue 1. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Foot Ligue 1 Lorient Ecuele-Manga ne jouera pas" (in French). L'Equipe. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  38. 1 2 "3 matches pour Djilobodji" (in French). L'Equipe. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "Transfert Monaco veut deux Lorientais" (in French). L'Equipe. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "Transfert Ecuele Manga (Lorient) : "J'ai envie de voir autre chose"" (in French). L'Equipe. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Transfert Lorient pousse pour Amalfitano" (in French). L'Equipe. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "DEAL COMPLETED: BRUNO ECUELE MANGA". Cardiff City F.C. 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "Cardiff City 0–1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Cardiff City 3–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Cardiff City: Defender Bruno Ecuele Manga returns to fitness". BBC Sport. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Cardiff City manager Russell Slade reveals Bruno Manga could be putting his place at risk after Gabon qualified for Africa Cup of Nations". Wales Online. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "Cardiff City 2 – 3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "TEAM NEWS – CARDIFF VS DERBY". Cardiff City F.C. 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  50. ↑ "Rotherham United 1–3 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Cardiff City 1–1 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  52. ↑ "Bruno Manga is Cardiff City's player of the season and no-one else comes close – Scott Johnson". Wales Online. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Cardiff City centre-half Bruno Manga set to return from injury in Capital One Cup clash against AFC Wimbledon". South Wales Echo. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  54. ↑ "Cardiff City's injured Bruno Ecuele Manga out for two months". BBC Sport. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  55. ↑ "Cardiff City: Russell Slade slates referee over Birmingham penalty". BBC Sport. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  56. ↑ "Bruno Manga: Neil Warnock casts doubt over defender's Cardiff future". BBC Sport. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  57. ↑ "Cardiff City: Defender Bruno Ecuele Manga signs new deal". BBC Spor. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  58. ↑ "Cardiff City 1–3 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  59. ↑ "Ecuele Manga, Bruno". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
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