Marama Vahirua
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Marama Kevin Vahirua[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 12 May 1980||
Place of birth | Papeete, Tahiti | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[3] | ||
Position(s) |
Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1996–1997 |
Pirae | ||
1997–1998 | Nantes | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–2004 | Nantes | 111 | (28) |
2004–2007 | Nice | 99 | (19) |
2007–2010 | Lorient | 86 | (19) |
2010–2013 |
Nancy | 25 | (5) |
2011–2012 | → Monaco (loan) | 12 | (2) |
2012–2013 | → Panthrakikos (loan) | 26 | (3) |
2013–2016 |
Pirae | ||
2016–2017 | Temanava | ||
2017–2018 |
A.S. Dragon | ||
Total | 359 | (76) | |
International career | |||
2001–2002 | France U21 | 6 | (2) |
2013–2018 | Tahiti | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Marama Vahirua (born 12 May 1980) is a Tahitian former professional
Club career
Vahirua started his career at the famed youth academy of Nantes, winning several honors including a Ligue 1 championship. Vahirua became known for being a "super sub" in the 2000–01 championship season as he often scored goals coming on as a substitute. His goal celebration was to mimic kayaking, a tribute to his Tahitian roots. He scored a goal in the 2001–02 Champions League when Nantes played against PSV Eindhoven.
Vahirua then went to
On 12 October 2013, he had signed with his hometown club A.S. Pirae.[7]
In 2016, he joined
In summer 2017, he transferred to A.S. Dragon where he would play in the OFC Champions League in March 2018.[8][9]
In September 2018, he retired as a player.[10]
International career
Vahirua is a former France under-21 international, being given his chance by former senior team coach Raymond Domenech.
After winning
He earned his first full cap for Tahiti on 17 June 2013 against Nigeria in a 6–1 losing effort at the Confederations Cup. He played the first 70 minutes of the game, setting up Tahiti's first goal of the tournament with a corner.[14] After the tournament, Vahirua announced his retirement from the professional game, considering that he was leaving at the pinnacle of his career.[13]
On 20 March 2018, Vahirua returned for Tahiti, playing in a 0–0 draw in a friendly against New Caledonia.[15]
Non-playing career
In July 2018, Vahirua became president of Tahitian club A.S. Dragon, whom he last played for.[10]
Personal life
His cousin, Pascal Vahirua, is a former French international.[10]
After his last professional contract, at Panthrakikos in 2013, Vahirua suffered from depression for two years.[10]
Honours
Nantes
- Division 1: 2000–01
- 1999–2000
Pirae
- Super Ligue Mana: 2013–14
Individual
References
- ^ "Squad lists for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 7 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Marama Vahirua". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "M. Vahirua". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "FIFA and OFC define development priorities". FIFA. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Vahirua agrees move to Nancy". Ligue1.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ "Vahirua prêté à Monaco". L'Équipe (in French). 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "Marama Vahirua : 'pratiquement tous les Tiki Toa arrivent à l'AS Pirae'". Tahiti Infos (in French). 15 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Vahirua aims to add bite to Dragon". Oceania Football Federation. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d Detout, Arnaud (16 November 2018). "Coupe de France : Tiens, revoilà Marama Vahirua !". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Oceania Football Confederation". Oceaniafootball.com. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ Tahiti Nui A (in French)
- ^ a b "Único profissional do Taiti anuncia aposentadoria após Copa das Confederações" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Confederations Cup: Nigeria start Group B campaign with 6-1 thrashing of Tahiti".
- ^ "Tahiti vs. New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
External links
- Marama Vahirua – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Marama Vahirua at National-Football-Teams.com