Wanya Marçal Explained

Wanya Marçal
Full Name:Wanya Marçal-Madivadua
Birth Date:19 October 2002
Birth Place:Leicester, England
Height:1.81 m
Position:Attacking midfielder, winger
Currentclub:Leicester City
Clubnumber:27
Youthclubs1:Feeder Soccer
Youthyears2:2013–2015
Youthclubs2:Peterborough United
Youthyears3:2015–2022
Youthclubs3:Leicester City
Years1:2022–
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:3
Goals1:1
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:Portugal U20
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:3 March 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:15:59, 19 April 2022 (UTC)

Wanya Marçal-Madivadua (born 19 October 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for club Leicester City. Born in England, he has represented Portugal at youth international level.

Early life

Marçal was born in Leicester, but grew up in Peterborough with his mother and step-father.[1] He is the eldest of four siblings, with his step-brother Cheyenne Loureiro, as well as his brother, Luegi, playing for Leicester City, while his other step-brother, Giovanni Loureiro, also played for the club before moving on to Bolton Wanderers.[1]

Club career

Early career

Initially playing football in a local park with his brothers, Marçal joined a local academy named Feeder Soccer, before being scouted and signed by professional side Peterborough United at the age of ten.[1]

Leicester City

His step-brother, Giovanni, had joined the academy of Leicester City, and was shortly followed by Marçal, who joined the club in 2015, at the age of twelve.[1] [2] Having progressed through the academy, he signed a professional contract with the club in July 2021, despite interest from a number of clubs across Europe, and was promoted to the first-team squad.[3] On 8 January 2022, Marçal made his professional debut with Leicester City in a 4–1 FA Cup win over Watford, coming on as a half-time substitute for Vontae Daley-Campbell.[4] [5]

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Marçal signed a contract extension with the club.[6] Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Marçal featured in all of Leicester City's pre-season games, including travelling with the first-team squad to Thailand and Singapore.[7]

Following the loss of a number of first-team players due to Leicester City's relegation from the Premier League, he was handed his league debut in the EFL Championship in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on 12 August 2023 by Maresca.[1] [8] The following Saturday, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 win over Cardiff City, volleying past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick following a headed clearance by a Cardiff City defender from a Leicester City corner.[1] [2] Despite his bright start to the season, he was dropped for the following game away at Rotherham United, with Leicester manager Maresca, who opted to have two goalkeepers on the bench instead, stating that Marçal needed to "earn" his place in the team.[9]

On 22 December 2023, Marçal extended his contract with Leicester until the summer of 2026.[10]

International career

Born in England, Marçal is of Portuguese and Angolan descent. He is a youth international for Portugal, having represented the Portugal U20s.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City U212021–222020
2022–231010
2023–243131
Total6161
Leicester City2021–22Premier League001000000010
2023–24Championship31302081
Total314020000091
Career total3140200061152

Honours

Leicester City

2023–24[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wanya Marcal’s first Leicester City goal was very much a family affair. Rob. Tanner. 25 August 2023. 3 September 2023. theathletic.com. subscription.
  2. Web site: Leicester City 'dream' was eight years in the making for newest star. Luke. Pawley. 19 August 2023. 3 September 2023. leicestermercury.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Leicester integra no plantel principal o português Wanya Marçal. Leicester includes Portuguese Wanya Marçal in its main squad. Jorge. de Cunha. 6 July 2021. 3 September 2023. maisfutebol.iol.pt. pt.
  4. Web site: Neil Lennon nails why Daley-Campbell deserved to avoid red card. Ste. McGovern. 8 January 2022. LeicestershireLive.
  5. Web site: Chama-se Wanya Marçal, é português e estreou-se na primeira equipa do Leicester. His name is Wanya Marçal, he is Portuguese and made his debut in Leicester's first team. 8 January 2022. 3 September 2023. ojogo.pt. pt.
  6. Web site: Leicester City notebook: Promising duo sign deals with striker dilemma to impact squad planning. Jordan. Blackwell. 19 June 2023. 3 September 2023. leicestermercury.co.uk.
  7. Web site: Enzo Maresca explains what’s ‘important’ for young Leicester City players amid pre-season impact. Amie. Wilson. 27 July 2023. 3 September 2023. leicestermercury.co.uk.
  8. News: Leicester City team news v Huddersfield: Stolarczyk & Marcal-Madivadua make first league starts. Leicestershire Live. 12 August 2023. 12 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Enzo Maresca tells Wanya Marcal what he needs to do after winger dropped for Leicester City win. Jordan. Blackwell. 27 August 2023. 3 September 2023. leicestermercury.co.uk.
  10. Web site: 22 December 2023 . New Leicester City Deal For Wanya Marçal . 24 December 2023 . Leicester City FC . en.
  11. Web site: Wanya Marçal-Madivadua assina o seu primeiro contrato profissional. 12 July 2021.
  12. Web site: Championship: 2023/24: Current table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.
    Web site: Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.