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Mario Melchiot Profile |
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Birth Date: November 4, 1976
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Birth Place: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Birth Name: Mario Melchiot
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Height: 6'2"
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Biography |
Mario Melchiot (born November 4, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a
Dutch football defender who currently plays for Wigan
Athletic in the English Premier League. He can play as
either a right-back or as central defender.
Having been part of the youth system at Ajax Amsterdam,
Melchiot played three seasons for the club, winning the
Eredivisie in 1998 and the KNVB Cup in 1998 and 1999. He
moved to Chelsea under the Bosman ruling in the summer of
1999, where he won the FA Cup in 2000.
He signed for Birmingham City on a two-year contract in July
2004, and made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.
Birmingham were relegated during his second season in April
2006 after a 0-0 draw with Newcastle. He played his last
game for Birmingham in their 1-0 defeat to Bolton on 7 May
2006.
In August 2006, Melchiot joined French outfit Stade Rennais
on a one-year contract. Super Mario made his debut in a 1-1
draw against AS Monaco and has started in all league matches
for Rennes since. He scored his first goal for the club in a
Coupe de la Ligue Round of 16 tie against Ligue 2 club FC
Libourne-Saint-Seurin. Melchiot endeared himself to the
Rennes faithful when he scored his first league goal for the
club in a 2-0 win over fierce rivals FC Nantes Atlantique.
Melchiot's contract with Rennes lasted until the summer of
2007.
Melchiot has picked up 15 caps for the Netherlands since
making his international debut on October 11, 2000 in a 2-0
World Cup qualifier defeat against Portugal. His last
international appearance was in a 3-1 friendly win against
Thailand on June 6, 2007.
Melchiot joined Wigan Athletic on a free transfer on 15 June
2007. On 24 July 2007 he was given the Wigan captaincy,
following the departure of Arjan de Zeeuw. |
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since February 12, 2008