Jacques Maghoma

Jacques Ilonda Maghoma (born 23 October 1987) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Birmingham City. He began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, and has also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion, where he was the player of the season for 2012–13. Internationally, Maghoma was first capped for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010.

Tottenham Hotspur

Born in Lubumbashi, Zaire, Maghoma began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, joining the youth academy in 2003. He progressed to the reserve side, making numerous appearances, although he suffered a number of injuries during his time at the club. He went on trial to Leeds United, but was not offered a permanent deal. Maghoma was also linked with a move to Hamburg in the summer, but the move never happened.

After five years at the academy, Maghoma was released by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp in June 2009.

Burton Albion

After short trials at Burton Albion and Hereford United, he decided to join Burton Albion on a two-year contract. Manager Paul Peschisolido believed that his impressive display in the pre-season friendly matches could lead him as the club's major signing.

He made his first team debut for Burton on 8 August 2009 in a 3–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town. His first Burton goal came in a 2–0 home win against Barnet on 19 October 2009. His second goal came in a 1–0 home win against Port Vale on 6 February 2010. His third goal came ten days later in a 3–2 away loss against Morecambe on 16 February 2010. However, Maghoma suffered a knee injury during a match against Cheltenham Town. After making his return as a substitute against Bury on 5 April 2010, Maghoma injured his knee during a match against AFC Bournemouth that resulted in him missing the last two matches of the season. Despite making five starts in twenty seven matches, Maghoma ended his first season, making thirty-seven appearance in all competitions and scoring three times.

After making his return in a pre-season friendly match against Ilkeston, Maghoma had a knock twice ahead of the new season. After turning down a call-up from DR Congo to concentrate on his club career in early-September, Maghoma then scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Crewe Alexandra on 18 September 2010. Maghoma scored in the second round of the FA Cup, in a 3–1 win over Chesterfield and again two weeks later in a 3–1 win over Southend United. After the match, Peschisolido praised Maghoma's performance after being named Man of the Match, though he expected him to 'be more consistent'. Maghoma added two more goals to the tally later in the season against Morecambe and Cheltenham Town. He then received the first red card of his career, for "using foul and/or abusive language" towards Southend United supporters six minutes from the end of a 1–1 draw against Southend United, which saw Burton Albion secure the club's League Two status. Having been the club's most consistent outfield players, scoring 5 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions, Maghoma finished second as Supporters' Player of the Season behind Adam Legzdins and upon receiving, he thanked Burton Albion's supporters for voting him. Maghoma's future, however, appeared uncertain after yet signing a contract with the club, as Peschisolido accepted Maghoma's exit. In an unexpected turn of events, Maghoma signed a two-year contract with the club, even turning down offers from abroad.

After serving a suspension in the opening game of the season, Maghoma made his first appearance of the season in the first round of the Football League Cup away to Burnley, equalising in the last few minutes to take the game into extra time, but Burton lost 6–3. Maghoma then made his first league appearance in a 1–1 draw against Shrewsbury Town on 13 August 2011. After missing a game against Crewe, Maghoma scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Swindon Town. Maghoma was sidelined again after injuring his ankle during a match against Gillingham that may keep him out for weeks. Scan later showed that Maghoma would be sidelined for six weeks. Maghoma made his return, coming on as a substitute for Cleveland Taylor, in a 2–1 win against Bristol Rovers on 22 October 2011. After being sidelined with a hamstring injury, which he sustained during a match against Rotherham United, Maghoma made his return against Torquay United on 17 March 2012. Maghoma scored three goals towards the end of the season against Dagenham & Redbridge, Macclesfield Town and Barnet. Maghoma finished the season with 5 goals from 38 appearances in all competitions.

The 2012–13 season turned out to be his impact at Burton Albion. Maghoma started the season well when he scored and provided assist, in a 6–2 win over Wimbledon. Weeks later on 28 August 2012, Maghoma scored in the second round of Football League Cup, in a 4–2 win over Leicester City. Maghoma then scored twice and setting up one of the goal on 15 September 2012, in a 4–0 win over Oxford United. By the first half of the season, Maghoma scored six goals in twenty-three league appearance. Maghoma then scored four goals in three consecutive games; twice against Fleetwood Town, Exeter City and Morecambe. For that, Maghoma was awarded February's Player of the Month. Not only that, Maghoma was among ten players listed for League Two Player of the Year. Towards the end of the 2012–13 season, with Burton Albion secured their place of play-off, Maghoma scored once against Accrington Stanley and twice against Wycombe Wanderers. In the League Two play-offs against Bradford City, which saw Burton Albion leading 3–2 in the first leg, Maghoma scored a penalty. However, Bradford City won 5–4 on aggregate, so Burton Albion stayed in League Two. Despite failing to secure promotion, Maghoma scored eighteen goals in fifty appearance in all competitions, was named in the Football League Two PFA team of the year, – the first Burton Albion player to do so – and received the club's Players' Player of the Season award.

With his contract expiring at the end of the 2012–13 season, Maghoma was offered a new contract with the club, as he was linked with a number of Championship clubs. The chances of Maghoma staying appeared slim, as manager Gary Rowett accepted that Maghoma would not stay at the club next season. During his time at Burton Albion, Maghoma was named by the fans in the Football League Brewers' XI. Rowett described Maghoma's departure from Burton Albion as a big loss.

Sheffield Wednesday

In June 2013 Maghoma signed a two-year contract with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Maghoma's first appearance for the Owls came against newly relegated Queens Park Rangers as a substitute for Joe Mattock in the 37th minute; Sheffield Wednesday lost 2–1. Maghoma struggled to score as he did at Burton Albion and regular playing time, as he was mostly on the substitutes' bench. It took until 21 December 2013 when he scored his first Sheffield Wednesday goal, in a 2–1 loss against Bournemouth. Maghoma then scored again a few weeks later in the third round replay of FA Cup, in a 4–1 win over Macclesfield Town to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. Then on 22 February 2014, Maghoma scored his second league goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Huddersfield Town. However, Maghoma's first team was soon limited throughout the season, as he suffered a knee injury sustained during the match against Wigan Athletic, which saw him miss eleven games and suffering from an illness that kept him out of action for two games. After missing out eleven games, Maghoma made his return to the first team at the last game of the season, coming as a substitute in the 80th minute, in a 2–1 loss against Ipswich Town. Despite making thirty appearance and scoring three times in all competitions, Maghoma determined to make an impact next season.

At the start of 2014–15 season, Maghoma made a good start when he provided an assist for Giles Coke as Sheffield Wednesday beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0. Maghoma then scored his first goal of the season, in the first round of the Football League Cup, in a 3–0 win over Notts County. Maghoma was then made captain twice against Bolton Wanderers andwhenever their captain Glenn Loovens was absent. Maghoma then played a vital role during a match against Millwall on 24 February 2015 when he provided three assist, in a 3–1 win. Having been in the starting line-up as a left wing throughout the season, Maghoma, however, was used in first team ins and out, having been on the bench as an unused substitute.

Despite being keen to sign a new contract with the club, Maghoma was released by Wednesday at the end of the 2014–15 season.

Birmingham City

Maghoma with Birmingham City in 2015

Maghoma linked up again with former manager Gary Rowett at Championship club Birmingham City in June 2015, when he signed a two-year contract with the option of a further year. An unused substitute on the opening day of the season, he started the League Cup visit to Bristol Rovers three days later, and scored the opening goal of a 2–1 win. His first league goal was the second of a 2–0 win at Milton Keynes Dons; having come on soon after half-time, he ran on to Clayton Donaldson's through pass and slid the ball past the goalkeeper. According to the Birmingham Mail's reporter, he made a significant impact on the game, "fast, direct and full of running – and took his goal with great composure". He became a regular in the team, either as a substitute or, especially after the transfer of Demarai Gray to Leicester City, in the starting eleven, and scored 6 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions. At the end of the season he agreed a contract extension to 2018, plus an option in the club's favour of another year.

Maghoma was called into the DR Congo squad for some post-season friendlies in May 2010 in Austria and Switzerland. He made his debut for his country's B team against Saudi Arabia's B team on 20 May, and scored. He made his senior debut during the same set of matches, as a second-half substitute, also against Saudi Arabia, but did not appear again until March 2015, in a friendly defeat against Iraq. He made his first competitive appearance for his country as a half-time substitute in the World Cup qualifier away to Burundi, which DR Congo won 3–2, and started the return match three days later, in which a 2–2 daw was enough for DR Congo to progress to the qualification group stage.

Club

As of match played 2 January 2017

International

As of match played 8 October 2016

Individual

• PFA League Two Team Of The Year: 2012–13