Michael Mancienne

Michael Ian Mancienne (born 8 January 1988) is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea as a defender.

Primarily a centre back, though also able to play at right back, he is already an established England under-21 player. He received his first call-up for the senior squad in November 2008, ahead of a friendly against Germany.

Club career

Mancienne was spotted by Chelsea as a 9-year-old playing for Kingstonian, and debuted for the Chelsea Reserves while still at school. He signed a professional contract in January 2006, and was called onto the bench for the final match of the 2005-06 season but was unused.

He was part of Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States in Summer 2006 and started the season again with a place on the bench; in the 2006 Community Shield against Liverpool and the first two Premier League games of the 2006–07 season against Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.

Unable to gain playing time at Stamford Bridge, Mancienne gained his first taste of league football in a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers. He played most of his 28 games for the Championship side at right back, but also played a few times in his preferred centre back position. His impressive displays made him popular with the QPR fans, who voted him runner-up in the Supporters' Young Player of the Year.

After signing a new contract with the Blues that will keep him at the club until 2010, he agreed to remain on loan at QPR for the 2007-08 season.

After leaving QPR Mancienne returned to his parent club at the end of this loan and was again part of the Chelsea first team's pre season preparations but was unable to break into the team once the season began. Frustrated at his lack of opportunities, he conceded he may have to leave the club for the benefit of his career.

On 27 October 2008, he found the chance to gain playing time when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan initially until 29 December 2008. Mancienne made his debut in Wolves' 2-1 win over Swansea City the next day, replacing Carlos Edwards as an 81st minute substitute. His first starting appearance for Wolves came in the 2-1 away victory at Ninian Park against Cardiff City in which he was Man of the Match. His performances caused Wolves to extend his loan until 29 January 2009, however, the paperwork on the extension was never completed, and he was recalled by his parent club on 2 January.

He made his first team debut and start for Chelsea on 14 February against Watford in the FA Cup.

He also made an appearance in the dying minutes of Chelsea's Champion's League Round of 16 home game against Juventus, which ended 1-0 to Chelsea. He came on in place of Michael Ballack in the 80th minute. He played very well to deny Pavel Nedved, Amauri and Del Piero late goals and ensuring Chelsea won the first leg 1-0 at home.

Mancienne finally made his Premiership debut on the 28th of February 2009 in a 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic. He kept a clean sheet in that match, as the goal was conceded soon after Mancienne was subsituted. He made his second start against West Ham United at Upton Park and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win, but was subbed off with seven minutes to go for Ballack to come on.

At the end of the 2008-2009 season, Mancienne was voted Chelsea's Young Player of the Year.

International career

Mancienne rejected the chance to play for the Seychelles national team in 2006 in favour of his native England. He was eligible to play for the Seychelles as his father, Michael Snr, originates from there.

On 15 November 2008, Fabio Capello surprisingly named Mancienne in the England squad to play an international friendly match against Germany in Berlin.