Through hard work, and discipline, former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama rose from humble beginnings in Nairobi’s Muthurwa neighbourhood to share the football pitch with the world’s elite, building a career defined by unforgettable moments.
Former ODM party leader the late Raila Odinga receiving a jersey from Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama in Nairobi on June 19, 2018.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The 34-year-old midfielder announced his retirement from professional football on Friday, bringing to an end a glittering career spanning two decades. Apart from earning 65 caps with Harambee Stars and scoring eight goals, Wanyama, who was nicknamed “The Lion of Muthurwa” and “Big Vic” played for top clubs in Kenya, England, Sweden, Belgium, Scotland and Canada.
Here, Nation Sport looks at some of the iconic moments of Wanyama’s career, which are firmly etched in football history:
Winning back-to-back Scottish Premier League (SPL) titles and a Scottish Cup:
Celtic’s Victor Wanyama celebrates scoring against Helsingborgs during their Uefa Champions League play-off, 2nd leg at Celtic Park on Wednesday night. Celtic won 2-0. Photo/AFP
He was just 20 years old, and Celtic parted with a whopping £900,000 (Sh114 million as per the exchange rate at the time) for his signature.
With his imposing stature, strong tackling, and excellent ball movement, Wanyama became a revelation for the “Hoops” in the midfield.
The 2012/13 season was a double joy for Wanyama and his teammates as Celtic also clinched the Scottish Cup.
So impressive was “Big Vic” that season that he was named the SPL's Young Player of the Year. The three titles remain some of his most significant achievements of his career.
His debut in the English Premier League (EPL)
Kenya's Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama poses with the African EPL Player of the Month award for September in London on October 23, 2014. PHOTO | COURTESY
August 17, 2013, marked a historic day for Wanyama as he made his EPL debut with Southampton.
And there could have been no better way to mark the momentous occasion than being in the Saints side that won 1-0 over hosts West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Wanyama was 22 years old then.
Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino showed complete faith in the Kenyan by playing him for the full 90 minutes.
Southampton's Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama (centre) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the only goal of the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Southampton at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales, on September 20, 2014. Southampton won 1-0. PHOTO | GEOFF CADDICK |
“The Saints” carried the day through a last-minute penalty from striker Rickie Lambert. By featuring in the match, Wanyama made history as the first Kenyan to ever play in the prestigious EPL. He had joined Southampton from Scottish giants Celtic Football Club in a £12.5m (Sh1.7billion as per the exchange rate then) transfer. At the time, the transfer fee was the highest ever received by Celtic.
Scoring a screamer against Liverpool
With Wanyama’s talent on full display, his next stop was the north London team Tottenham Hotspur. At the time, Spurs were playing at the White Hart Lane, where he would go on to etch his name in the fans’ memories with a stunning strike.
Tottenham Hotspur's Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal with English striker Harry Kane during their English Premier League match against Manchester United at White Hart Lane in London, on May 14, 2017. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL |
The moment came on February 4, 2018, at Anfield with hosts Liverpool leading 2-0. Just one minute after coming off the bench for Spurs late in the second half, Wanyama pounced on a rebound after Liverpool’s goalkeeper Loris Karius punched the ball into his direction and unleashed a ferocious strike into the net.
England striker Harry Kane equalised for Spurs from the spot in added time of the match. Wanyama’s strike was voted the EPL Goal of the Month, beating several other nominees for the prize, including Mohamed Salah's skilful individual effort from the same match.
Reflecting on the goal, Wanyama said: “That was one of my best goals I have ever scored. I just reacted before the Liverpool players. I thought I would just let it go because the ball was bouncing and I didn’t want to think too much. I just let it fly.” Spurs currently play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Scoring in the prestigious Uefa Champions League
One of Celtic’s most memorable nights came on November 7, 2012, when they stunned Spanish giants FC Barcelona 2-1 in the group stage of the Uefa Champions League at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Wanyama was part of that history as he fired Celtic ahead after rising majestically to head past Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes from a corner on 21 minutes.
Celtic won the match 2-1 with Tony Watt doubling the host’s advantage seven minutes from time before Lionel Messi pulled one back in added time. That goal cemented Wanyama’s place in history as the first and still only Kenyan to score in the Champions League.
With Tottenham in 2019, Wanyama narrowly missed out on the Champions League title as they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.
Featuring for Italian giants Inter Milan, his elder brother McDonald Mariga made history as the first Kenyan to play in the Champions League. Mariga lifted the Champions League title with Inter in 2010.
Some of the other notable moments in Wanyama’s career are making his Harambee Stars debut at only 15 years old against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, being nominated for the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award, and leading Kenya in the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 in Egypt.
