#2 Eliaquim Mangala – Belgium
Born in the north-western Parisian suburb of Colombes to D. R. Congo parents, Eliaquim Mangala was five when his family moved to Belgium. Growing up in the French-speaking city of Namur, here was a time when the Belgium football association wanted him to switch allegiances from France.
His junior career started with Athletic Club Lustin where he was utilized as a striker. After having spent six years at the club, he then signed for CS Wépionnais in Wépion and Union Royale Namur.
It was not until when Standard Liege recruited him that the move to defence followed. Mangala’s stocks as a central defender only rose from there on as the reigning Europa League champions Porto came calling.
Strong performances became a normal sight in the three years spent with the Portuguese champions, even earning him the recognition of the most coveted defender in the world, before his move ashore in the summer of 2014 to join Manchester City in a whopping £42m deal.
Though he has since struggled to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League, Mangala retained his place in Didier Deschamps’ France squad for Euro 2016, but his only appearance thus far being as a late second-half substitute in a 5-2 win against Iceland in the quarter-finals.
