Victor Mugubi Wanyama is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club CF Montreal and the Kenya national team.
21 Facts About Victor Wanyama
2.
Victor Wanyama has earned over 60 caps for the Kenyan national team since making his international debut in May 2007 at age 15.
3.
Victor Wanyama attended Kamukunji High School, which fields a successful football team.
4.
In 2007, he joined Allsvenskan club Helsingborg but after the departure of his brother McDonald Mariga to Serie A side Parma in 2008, Victor Wanyama returned to Kenya.
5.
Victor Wanyama supported Celtic FC as a child and enjoyed going to see a local club modelled on Celtic called Kibera Celtic.
6.
Victor Wanyama scored his first goal for Beerschot on 11 December 2010, a 77th-minute equaliser against Westerlo.
7.
Victor Wanyama signed a four-year contract and in doing so became the first ever Kenyan to play in the SPL.
8.
Victor Wanyama chose 67 as his squad number to honour the Lisbon Lions, Celtic's 1967 European Cup-winning team.
9.
Victor Wanyama played in central defence rather than his favoured central midfield role.
10.
On 20 October 2012, Victor Wanyama scored twice against St Mirren at St Mirren Park, the second of which was a half volley from 25 yards out.
11.
Victor Wanyama made 24 appearances in his first season, but injuries hindered his efforts to make much of an impact in the team.
12.
Victor Wanyama had previously worked with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino who brought him to Southampton in July 2013.
13.
Victor Wanyama made his first start of the season two months later in the EFL Cup game against Watford that Spurs won on penalties.
14.
On 11 March 2020, Victor Wanyama made his competitive debut for Montreal at Stade Olympique in the first leg of a quarterfinal in the CONCACAF Champions League, where he was named in manager Thierry Henry's starting side.
15.
In October 2022, Victor Wanyama initially announced that he would not renew his contract with CF Montreal at the end of the season.
16.
Victor Wanyama made his debut for the Kenyan senior national team in May 2007, aged just 15, in a friendly against Nigeria.
17.
Victor Wanyama went on play in all six of Kenya's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
18.
In September 2021, after being repeatedly overlooked for selection during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Victor Wanyama announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of his 14-year duty.
19.
Victor Wanyama's brother McDonald Mariga was a professional footballer, while his other brothers Thomas and Sylvester are footballers in the Kenyan Premier League.
20.
Victor Wanyama is managed by ExtraTime, and has a boot sponsorship deal with Adidas.
21.
In 2015, Victor Wanyama participated in the production of a short film about football in Kenya called Mdudu Boy, written and directed by actress Ella Smith.