At just six years old, Gaby Mudingayi fled Congo; by 14, he began his professional football career in Belgium, despite initially wanting to pursue boxing. Now, the former midfielder manages B&Bs and uncovers new talent.
Gaby Mudingayi`s life has been, from the very beginning, a relentless pursuit. At the tender age of six, he escaped Congo with his mother and younger brother. “My father worked in the mine; often, we had nothing to eat. I yearned for a different future,” he recalls. However, his new life in Belgium did not initially suggest a path in football. “I was a poor student and preferred to hang out with friends. I thought about boxing, but my father rejected the idea. Becoming a footballer wasn`t in my plans.”
Destiny took an unexpected turn at 14 when Etterbeek, a small amateur Belgian team, offered him a chance. “My friends brought me there, but they were immediately kicked out for being too rowdy. I stayed on the condition that the president would pay for my meals after each game and reinstate them.” This marked the start of an unforeseen journey that would lead him to the highest levels of the sport.
Today, Mudingayi, now 44, lives in Bologna with his three children and divides his time between being an entrepreneur and an agent. “I`ve invested in B&Bs and a restaurant in Formia. I`m also a partner in a real estate construction company in Bologna called CScostruzioni. Football remains at the heart of my life: I collaborate with a Belgian entity, traveling to France to scout talents to bring to Italy.”
Injured Because of… A Dog
On the field, he always described himself as “gritty, generous, and passionate.” During his time at Union Saint-Gilloise, he would use his expense reimbursements for food rather than taking the bus. “A friend would drive me to training on his moped,” he shares.
His lucky break came at 23. During a match with the Belgian Under-21 team, scouts from Torino—who were originally there for another player—noticed him. “I played one of the best matches of my career: grit, tackles, dynamism, and some technical flair.” Mudingayi subsequently moved to Italy and contributed to Torino`s promotion to Serie A in 2005. After 42 appearances for the Granata, he arrived at Lazio amidst considerable skepticism.
“They had spoken negatively about the Biancoceleste environment, and there were fears I might face problems due to my skin color. Instead, I found myself very comfortable; the fans even dedicated a chant to me: `Oh oh oh Gaby Mudingayi, Gaby Mudingayi, Gaby Mudingayi, oh oh oh`.”
His most bitter memory remains Fabio Cannavaro`s tackle in a 2006 Juve-Lazio match: “He fractured my tibia and didn`t even receive a yellow card. He apologized and shook my hand, but I couldn`t believe no action was taken.”
His years at Lazio were also dotted with curious incidents. “One evening, Di Canio organized a dinner that included the new signings. I`m afraid of dogs, and he had a Rottweiler. As I walked through the entrance, Paolo came from behind, grabbed me, and pretended to bark. I screamed, `The dog bit me!` and almost cried as I jumped. It was a prank gone wrong, at least for me: a muscle strain, out for a month. I was forced to miss a derby because of a dog. The next day, on the physiotherapist`s advice, I faked an injury.”
The Tribal Dances
In 2008, he signed for Bologna. In Emilia, Mudingayi spent four intense years, playing 128 matches and adopting many habits that made locker room life special. “During training days, we would light newspapers on fire and perform tribal dances. We were crazy, but we played with enthusiasm; partly thanks to this, we managed to avoid relegation for four years.”
In 2012, Inter came calling. “I could have gone to Napoli or Fiorentina, but when Moratti called me, I was trembling. Zanetti welcomed me like a son.” However, an Achilles tendon injury marked the beginning of the end. “I suffered a lot and went through a difficult period.” From his experience with the Nerazzurri, he recalls jokes with Cassano: “In training, he never wanted to run; we would tease each other every day.”
Later, he moved to Elche (never officially registered due to the club`s financial problems), Cesena, and finally Pisa with Gattuso. “I took the minimum salary; Rino used his own money to pay our wages. I only played two games; the club decided to focus on young players, so I was forced to leave.” At 36, he retired, and at 44, he embraced his new life—always on the move, both on and off the field.
