MCDONALD MARIGA
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 4, 1987 |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Footballer |
Biography
McDonald Mariga is a retired professional footballer from Kenya who played as a midfielder. The 36-year-old was part of Inter Milan’s squad that won the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League title.
McDonald Mariga Family
Mariga comes from an athletic family with his father, Noah Wanyama, being a former footballer who played as a winger for Premier League club AFC Leopards.
At the same time, his brother Victor Wanyama plays for CF Montreal and his two other brothers Sylvester and Thomas are renown footballers.
However, his only sister Mercy chose a different sport and followed a career path as a professional is a basket baller. She currently plays professionally in Spain.
Career
McDonald Mariga started his football career with Kenyan Premier League club Ulinzi Stars before moving to Tusker FC and then Kenya Pipeline, all while he was still a student at Kamukunji High School.
After showcasing his talent, Mariga made the move to Sweden in 2005, joining third-division club Enköpings SK. He spent a season there before continuing his career with Helsingborgs IF.
Mariga was on the verge of joining Premier League club Portsmouth, but the deal fell through at the last moment due to work permit issues.
Instead, he signed with Serie A club Parma in the summer of 2007. Initially joining on loan, Mariga’s move was later made permanent.
His standout performances at Parma earned him a transfer to Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan in February 2010. The following month, he became the first Kenyan to compete in the UEFA Champions League, playing against Chelsea.
During his tenure with Inter Milan, Mariga won the Serie A, UEFA Champions League, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and FIFA Club World Cup.
After being released by Inter in May 2014, he had a second stint at Parma and went on to play for Latina, Real Oviedo, and Cuneo Calcio.
Upon retiring from professional football, McDonald Mariga pursued a career in politics. He ran for the Kibera parliamentary seat in 2019 after the death of Ken Okoth but was unsuccessful.
Wanyama Academy
Football stars Victor Wanyama and his brother McDonald Mariga recently unveiled their football academy in Busia County.
The academy which sits on a 21-acre piece of land is set to have a game room where footballers can engage in co-curricular activities such as Play Stations.
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