Editing Mario Melchiot

{{short description|Dutch association football player (born 1976)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mario Melchiot
| image = Mario-Melchiot.jpg
| caption = Melchiot in 2007
| full_name = Mario Dino Patrick Melchiot<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jurisprudence.tas-cas.org/Shared%20Documents/3436.pdf |title=Arbitration CAS 2013/A/3436 UMM Salal Sport Club v. Mario Melchiot, award of 23 December 2014 |publisher=Court of Arbitration for Sport |page=2 |access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|11|4|df=y}}<ref>{{Hugman|13454|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
| height = 1.88 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1677/Mario-Melchiot/overview |title=Mario Melchiot: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>
| position = [[Right-back]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mario-melchiot/ |title=Mario Melchiot: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>
| currentclub = 
| years1 = 1996–1999
| clubs1 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps1 = 73
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1999–2004
| clubs2= [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps2 = 130
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2004–2006
| clubs3 = [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| caps3 = 57
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2006–2007
| clubs4 = [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]]
| caps4 = 30
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2007–2010
| clubs5 = [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| caps5 = 97
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2010–2011
| clubs6 = [[Umm-Salal Sports Club|Umm Salal]]
| caps6 = 20
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 407
| totalgoals = 9
| nationalyears1 = 1994–1995
| nationalteam1 = [[Netherlands national under-19 football team|Netherlands U19]]
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1996–1998
| nationalteam2 = [[Netherlands national under-21 football team|Netherlands U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2000–2008
| nationalteam3 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| nationalcaps3 = 22
| nationalgoals3 = 0
}}
'''Mario Dino Patrick Melchiot''' (born 4 November 1976) is a Dutch former professional [[association football|football]]er who played as a [[defender (association football)|defender]]. He played both as a [[right-back]] and as a [[centre-back]], and also occasionally played in [[midfielder|midfield]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/1954699.stm |title=Chelsea who's who |website=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2002 |access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> He represented the [[Netherlands national football team]] at [[UEFA Euro 2008]], and mostly played abroad for football clubs in England, France and Qatar.

==Early life==
Melchiot was born and raised in [[Amsterdam]], living with his two brothers and two sisters. He enjoyed a close relationship with his eldest brother, Winston, who acted as Mario's mentor after their parents split up. When Winston died of a heart attack at the age of 25 in 1996, Melchiot considered giving up football.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/best-of-times-worst-of-times-mario-melchiot-3nczvm0k7qt |title=Best of Times, Worst of Times: Mario Melchiot |interviewer=Danny Scott |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=6 June 2004 |access-date=27 September 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240927121710/https://www.thetimes.com/article/best-of-times-worst-of-times-mario-melchiot-3nczvm0k7qt |archive-date=27 September 2024}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Ajax===
Melchiot started his career in the youth system at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], and made his debut in the [[1996–97 Eredivisie|1996–97]] season. He scored his first goal for the club in the semi-final of the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] in a 4–1 defeat against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dortmund.com.au/dortmund-news/1997/4/24/dortmund-juventus-through-to-cup-final/ |title=Dortmund, Juventus Through To Cup Final |newspaper=The Age |location=Melbourne |date=24 April 1997 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> Melchiot spent three seasons at the club, winning the [[Eredivisie]] in [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1998]] and the [[KNVB Cup]] in [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1998]] and [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1999]]. In the summer of 1999, he signed a three-year contract with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] under the [[Bosman ruling]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60450653.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104171037/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60450653.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=CHELSEA WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BLUES; Rangers pipped in race for super Mario. |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=14 June 1999 |access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>

===Chelsea===
For most of his [[1999–2000 Chelsea F.C. season|first season]] at the club, Melchiot did not feature in the first team due to injuries. However, on 22 April 2000, following an injury to [[Albert Ferrer]], he finally made his debut in a 1–1 draw against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. A month later he played in the [[2000 FA Cup Final]] against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] where he played a major role in helping Chelsea win the match.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

At the start of the [[2000–01 Chelsea F.C. season|2000–01 season]], Melchiot scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 2–0 win against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in the [[2000 FA Charity Shield]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/879061.stm |title=Keane sees red as Chelsea triumph |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2000 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> His second goal was also against Manchester United, as he helped his team to a memorable 3–0 win at [[Old Trafford]] in the [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02]] season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3017946/United-they-fall.html |title=United they fall |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=1 December 2001 |access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref> Under the management of [[Claudio Ranieri]], He quickly established himself as the club's first-choice right-back, and was soon rewarded with a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sheringham-will-seek-twoyear-united-deal-692777.html |title=Sheringham will seek two-year United deal |newspaper=The Independent |date=21 February 2001 |access-date=1 October 2010 |location=London |first=Kieran |last=Daley}}</ref>

===Birmingham City===
Melchiot signed for [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] on a three-year contract in July 2004,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/3880795.stm |title=Melchiot joins Birmingham |website=BBC Sport |date=9 July 2004 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> and made his debut in a 1–1 draw against [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3553176.stm |title=Portsmouth 1–1 Birmingham |website=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2004 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> In his second season, Birmingham found themselves in a relegation battle. He soon became a [[scapegoat]] for the club's poor performances, and was booed by his own supporters in a match against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+Melchiot+scapegoat+as+relegation+fears+put+St+Andrew%27s...-a0143423081 |title=Melchiot scapegoat as relegation fears put St Andrew's crowd in nasty mood. |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=20 March 2006 |access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref> Birmingham were finally relegated in April 2006 after a 0–0 draw with [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. He played his last game for Birmingham in their 1–0 defeat to [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] on 7 May 2006. He scored two league goals during his spell at Birmingham, against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4150629.stm |title=Charlton 3–1 Birmingham |website=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2005 |access-date=24 October 2009}}</ref> and [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4562586.stm |title=Birmingham 2–0 Wigan |website=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2006 |access-date=24 October 2009}}</ref>

===Rennes===
In August 2006, Melchiot joined French outfit [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]] on a one-year contract. 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|Libourne-Saint-Seurin]]. He 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|Nantes]]. Melchiot's contract with Rennes lasted until the summer of 2007.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

===Wigan Athletic===
Melchiot joined [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] on a free transfer on 15 June 2007.<ref name="Wigan capture defender Melchiot">{{cite news |title=Wigan capture defender Melchiot |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/6755599.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> On 24 July 2007, he was given the Wigan captaincy,<ref name="Captain Mario">{{cite web |title=Captain Mario |url=http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1078361,00.html |publisher=Wigan Athletic F.C. |date=24 July 2007 |access-date=25 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104100433/http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10429~1078361%2C00.html |archive-date=4 November 2008}}</ref> following the departure of his compatriot [[Arjan de Zeeuw]]. He became a fan-favourite at the [[JJB Stadium]], and made ''Latics'' history when he became the first Wigan player to play in a major international tournament by coming on for the Netherlands against Romania at the [[UEFA Euro 2008]] tournament. He made 101 appearances for Wigan during his three years at the club.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

===Umm Salal===
In June 2010, Melchiot turned down a new contract from Wigan and agreed to join [[Umm-Salal Sports Club]] on a free transfer after his existing contract expired at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/umm-salal-melchiot/ |title=Melchiot signs with Qatari club Umm Salal |agency=Associated Press |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=24 August 2020}}</ref> He was signed by Umm Salal manager, [[Henk ten Cate]], as he was reportedly interested in an experienced defender after signing Spanish midfielder [[Gabri García|Gabri]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Melchiot makes Qatar switch |website=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6190560,00.html |access-date=6 June 2010}}</ref> He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against [[Al-Arabi SC (Qatar)|Al-Arabi]]. At the end of the 2010–11 Qatar Stars League Season, he left Umm-Salal as they opted not to give him a new one-year contract.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==International career==
Melchiot was [[cap (sport)|capped]] 22 times for the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] since making his international debut on 11 October 2000 in a 2–0 [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|World Cup qualifier]] defeat against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]. His last international appearance was in the final group match of [[UEFA Euro 2008]] against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] on 17 June 2008.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==Outside football==
In 1998, Melchiot and Ajax teammates [[Benni McCarthy]] and [[Dean Gorre]], calling themselves BMD, released a rap/[[Rhythm and blues|R & B]] track called "Midas Touch".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=15094 |title=BMD: ''Zingen is leuk, maar voetbal gaat voor'' |date=1 January 1999 |publisher=AFC Ajax |language=nl |access-date=25 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531044035/http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id%3D154417/contentid%3D15094 |archive-date=31 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/08/theknowledge.sport |title=Which footballers have released a record? |last1=Dart |first1=James |last2=Bandini |first2=Nicky |date=8 August 2007 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=25 May 2008 |location=London}}</ref> He has also campaigned for the [[British Heart Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhf.org.uk/report05/extras/melchiotInterview.htm |title=Mario Melchiot interview |publisher=British Heart Foundation |year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026100108/https://www.bhf.org.uk/report05/extras/melchiotInterview.htm |archive-date=26 October 2005}}</ref> and has appeared on the quiz show ''[[A Question of Sport]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1596281/ |title=Mario Melchiot |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=11 September 2010}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup{{efn|Includes [[KNVB Cup]], [[FA Cup]], [[Coupe de France]]}}
!colspan="2"|League Cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]], [[Coupe de la Ligue]]}}
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vi.nl/Teams/Ajax.htm?dbid=343&typeofpage=84139 |title=Voetbal International – Ajax |language=nl |access-date=1 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822063526/http://www.vi.nl/Teams/Ajax.htm?dbid=343&typeofpage=84139 |archive-date=22 August 2010}}</ref>
|[[1996–97 AFC Ajax season|1996–97]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|23||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||9{{efn|name=UCL|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||1||1{{efn|name=DutchSC|Appearance in [[Johan Cruyff Shield]]}}||0||34||1
|-
|[[1997–98 AFC Ajax season|1997–98]]
|Eredivisie
|26||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=UEFAC|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0|| || ||33||0
|-
|[[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99]]
|Eredivisie
|24||1||4||1||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=DutchSC}}||0||30||2
|-
!colspan=2"|Total
!73||1||8||1||colspan="2"|—||14||1||2||0||97||3
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/mario-melchiot-118/ |title=Mario Melchiot |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises (Association of Football Statisticians) |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>
|[[1999–2000 Chelsea F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|[[Premier League]]
|5||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0
|-
|[[2000–01 Chelsea F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|31||0||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=UEFAC}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[FA Charity Shield]]}}||1||35||1
|-
|[[2001–02 Chelsea F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|37||2||6||0||4||0||3{{efn|name=UEFAC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||50||2
|-
|[[2002–03 Chelsea F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|34||0||5||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||41||0
|-
|[[2003–04 Chelsea F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|23||2||3||0||2||0||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||33||2
|-
!colspan=2"|Total
!130||4||16||0||9||0||9||0||1||1||165||5
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]<ref name="11v11"/>
|[[2004–05 Birmingham City F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|34||1||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||1
|-
|[[2005–06 Birmingham City F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|23||1||5||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||1
|-
!colspan=2"|Total
!57||2||7||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||67||2
|-
|[[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stade-rennais-online.com/Mario-Melchiot.html |title=Mario Melchiot |language=fr |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref>
|[[2006–07 Stade Rennais F.C. season|2006–07]]
|[[Ligue 1]]
|30||2||1||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||3
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]<ref name="11v11"/>
|[[2007–08 Wigan Athletic F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|31||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Wigan Athletic F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|34||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||0
|-
|[[2009–10 Wigan Athletic F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|32||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!97||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||101||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!387||9||34||1||17||1||23||1||3||1||464||13
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1997–98]], [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1999–99]]{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
* Ajax talent of the year 1997

'''Chelsea'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1999–2000 FA Cup|1999–2000]];<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/756784.stm |title=Chelsea claim FA Cup glory |website=BBC News |date=20 May 2000 |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> runner-up: [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1959840.stm |title=Arsenal lift FA Cup |website=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021216122448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1959840.stm |archive-date=16 December 2002}}</ref>
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[2000 FA Charity Shield|2000]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/876431.stm |title=Charity Shield clockwatch |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2000 |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.stade-rennais-online.com/Mario-Melchiot.html Mario Melchiot's profile, stats & pics]
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150717161859/http://www.wereldvanoranje.nl/profielen/profiel.php?id=1124 Wereld van oranje.nl Profile] {{in lang|nl}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160205005022/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/teams/speler/25/50a3c208-9e541370-693784 Netherlands youth] at OnsOranje

{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
{{AFC Ajax Talent of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melchiot, Mario}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Dutch men's footballers]]
[[Category:Netherlands men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Netherlands men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Netherlands men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Stade Rennais FC players]]
[[Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Umm Salal SC players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Qatar Stars League players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Qatar]]
[[Category:Dutch sportspeople of Surinamese descent]]