Eliaquim Mangala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eliaquim Mangala

Mangala lining up for Porto in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Eliaquim Hans Mangala
Date of birth	(1991-02-13) 13 February 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Estoril
Number	5
Youth career
1996–2002	AC Lustin
2002–2004	CS Wépionnais
2004–2007	UR Namur
2007–2008	Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Standard Liège	77	(2)
2011–2014	Porto	51	(6)
2014–2019	Manchester City	57	(0)
2016–2017	→ Valencia (loan)	30	(2)
2018	→ Everton (loan)	2	(0)
2019–2021	Valencia	15	(0)
2022	Saint-Étienne	14	(1)
2023–	Estoril	26	(1)
International career
2009–2012	France U21	21	(2)
2013–2016	France	8	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  France UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2025

Eliaquim Hans Mangala (born 13 February 1991) is a French professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Estoril.

Born in France, Eliaquim moved to Belgium as a child. He started his football journey there at Standard Liège. Later, he joined Porto in 2011, where he won two league titles. In 2014, he moved to Manchester City. He played 79 matches for City and won the Premier League in the 2017–18 season. He also had loan spells at Valencia and Everton. In 2019, he joined Valencia permanently.

Mangala first played for the French national team on 6 June 2013. He was part of France's teams for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. He even played as a substitute in the Euro 2016 tournament.

Eliaquim Mangala's Football Journey

Starting Out in Belgium

Mangala was born in Colombes, France. His parents were from Congo. When he was five, he moved to Namur, Belgium. He started playing football at a local club called Athletic Club Lustin. He spent six years there.

After that, he moved to CS Wépionnais for two years. Then, he joined the biggest club in Namur, UR Namur. At Namur, Mangala played as a striker. His good performances caught the eye of Standard Liège. In 2007, Mangala signed a three-year youth contract with Standard Liège.

Playing for Standard Liège

When Mangala joined Standard Liège, he changed positions. He became a left back for the under-17 team. In January 2008, he moved to the under-19 team. There, he changed positions again, becoming a central defender. Even at 17, he often sat on the bench for the under-21 team.

For the 2008–09 season, Mangala trained with the first team. On 23 October 2008, he signed his first professional contract. He agreed to a five-year deal. He was given the number 22 shirt. On 9 November, he made his first professional appearance. He came on as a substitute in a 3–1 win.

He made his first league start on 17 January 2009. Standard Liège won the match 3–2. He played in 11 league games that season. Standard Liège won the league championship. He also played in UEFA Cup matches.

For the 2009–10 season, Mangala became a regular starter. He scored his first professional goal on 12 September. It was in a 3–0 league win. Four days later, he scored against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. Standard Liège lost that match 3–2.

In his last league game for Standard, Mangala scored a goal. His team drew 1–1, and they finished second in the league. On 21 May 2011, he scored in the Belgian Cup final. Standard won 2–0, ending an 18-year wait for the cup.

Time at Porto

Mangala playing for Porto in 2013

Mangala joined Porto on 16 August 2011. Porto also signed his teammate Steven Defour. The total deal was about £11.4 million. In his first season, he was a substitute.

He made his first start in the 2012–13 season. Porto won the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira 1–0. That season, he became a regular centre back. He scored four league goals. Porto won the league title that season. They finished one point ahead of rivals Benfica.

In January 2014, Manchester City tried to sign Mangala. Porto wanted £50 million, so the deal didn't happen then. On 23 February, he was sent off in a game. Porto lost 1–0. In the Europa League, Mangala scored two goals against Eintracht Frankfurt. Porto drew 3–3 and moved to the next round. On 3 April, he scored the only goal against Sevilla. But Porto lost the second leg 4–1 and were knocked out.

Playing for Manchester City

Mangala playing for Manchester City in 2014

On 11 August 2014, Mangala signed a five-year contract with Manchester City. The transfer fee was reported to be around £31.8 million. Later, it was said the fee was closer to £42 million. This was because of how his ownership was split at Porto. At the time, this made him one of the most expensive defenders in British football. He joined his former Porto teammate, Fernando, at City.

Mangala played his first game for City on 21 September. It was a 1–1 draw against Chelsea. His performance was called "colossal" by BBC Sport. Six days later, he scored an own goal and gave away a penalty. City lost a 2–0 lead but still won 4–2. On 30 November, Mangala was sent off in a 3–0 win.

Loan to Valencia

On 31 August 2016, Mangala joined Valencia on loan for a season. He played his first game for Valencia on 11 September. On 28 February 2017, he scored his first goal for them. On 19 March, he scored again against FC Barcelona. He was sent off in that game.

Loan to Everton

Mangala joined Everton on loan on 31 January 2018. He played his first game against Arsenal. In his second game, he got a knee injury and had to leave the field. He had surgery and missed the rest of the season. He was still eligible for a Premier League winner's medal. This was because he had played nine league games for Manchester City earlier that season.

Return to Valencia

On 12 August 2019, Mangala went back to Valencia permanently. He signed a two-year contract for free. He and two teammates tested positive for the COVID-19 virus during the pandemic.

Time at Saint-Étienne

On 20 January 2022, Mangala signed with Saint-Étienne for six months. He played 14 league matches. He scored a goal in a 2–1 loss on 14 May. He was suspended three times for getting too many yellow cards. He missed a playoff game but returned for the penalty shootout, which his team lost.

Joining Estoril

On 7 August 2023, after being without a club for over a year, Mangala joined Primeira Liga club Estoril in Portugal. He signed a one-year deal after a trial.

Playing for France

Mangala lining up as the captain of France U21 in 2011

Because he grew up in Belgium, Mangala didn't play for France's youth teams at first. In 2008, Belgium asked him to join their under-18 team. But he didn't have a passport at the time.

After playing well for Standard Liège, France became interested. On 5 November 2009, Mangala was chosen for the France under-21 team. He made his under-21 debut in a friendly match. On 2 March 2010, he played in central defense for the under-21 team.

Mangala played his first game for the senior French team on 6 June 2013. It was a 1–0 loss to Uruguay. He was part of France's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He didn't play in any games, but France reached the quarter-finals.

Mangala was also in France's team for UEFA Euro 2016. France finished second in that tournament. He played one game on 3 July, coming on as a substitute in a 5–2 win against Iceland.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Awards and Achievements

Standard Liège

• Belgian First Division: 2008–09
• Belgian Cup: 2010–11
• Belgian Super Cup: 2009

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2011–12, 2012–13
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2012, 2013

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2017–18

Individual Awards

• O Jogo Team of the Year: 2013
• UEFA Europa League Squad of the season: 2013–14

See also

In Spanish: Eliaquim Mangala para niños