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At 24, the former Wanderers midfielder was told he had to retire after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham.
March 17, 2012, is a date which will follow Muamba around for the rest of a life miraculously extended that night. But while football’s miracle man used his harrowing experience to help raise awareness of heart health in the months after hanging up his boots, he did so masking an inner frustration at having been forced to leave the sport behind.
“I’ll walk away from football and do something different with my life,” he said in an interview just three months after he had officially called it quits at Bolton.
Muamba did give himself some space, spent time with his wife, Shauna, and sons, Josh and Mathew. As a man in demand he helped several charitable causes, presented award, earned honorary degrees but stopped short of appearing on I’m a Celebrity.
All the while, football continued to call his name.
At one stage he met it half-way, training as a sports journalist. He even had a column in The Bolton News.
It was not long, however, before Muamba started to tentatively explore options in coaching, travelling into Europe to watch different methods, and working on an informal basis at Liverpool’s Academy.
A few months ago he accepted an offer from friend, Brett Issitt, to get involved at Rochdale’s development centres, based in Manchester. Now, with a UEFA Pro Licence in sight over the next two years, Muamba is ready to start again at the bottom and work his way up.
“It has always been in the back of my mind,” he told The Bolton News. “When I got told I couldn’t play again, even though I didn’t admit it at the time I knew somewhere down the line I wanted to be back in football. It was about timing.
“I think I made the right decision to step away, have some quality time with my friends and family and see the world.
“But now I feel I’m at the stage where I can take control again and be what I want to be.
“I’m not scared. What happened to me has taught me a lot. I am not under any illusions. I know what is good for my health but I want to put myself out there.
“I never had control over what happened but I can shape what happens to me from here. I want to look forward.
“I can’t change the past. I can put everything into being the best coach I can be, and whether that turns out to be League One, League Two, an academy, I will be absolutely committed to it, just as I tried to be when I was playing.”
There is no sense of entitlement as the former England Under-21 international steps on to the coaching ladder. Coaching Rochdale’s Under-16s is ample experience, for now.
Muamba has applied for jobs at Nottingham Forest and Watford’s Under-21s, without success, but believes the right role will materialise if he continued to hone his craft.
“There are opportunities out there but I think it helps if you are already in a system,” he said. “If I am applying for an interview and can say ‘here’s the evidence, this is what I do,’ then it makes it easier for people to speak with you.
“I am not going to jump straight in. What is it now – seven months, the average for a Premier League manager? One season in the Championship and a bit more in Leagues One and Two.
“I’m in no hurry to do this before I am ready. I am happy to practice my skills, to make my own mistakes and then at the end of it I’ll be able to handle myself.
“You make mistakes at first team level and you’re out. I’d rather see something that doesn’t quite work while I am still learning to be a coach and know I have got tomorrow to fix it.
“The biggest enjoyment I get is by putting on a session that I’ve been thinking about all say and seeing it come to fruition. I love to see the young players improve.
“I like to see little elements in the way they play football which reminds me of myself, or one of my friends. But ultimately I can only advise and try to pass on what I learned.”
It is less than a decade since Muamba lined up for England in the final of the European Under-21 Championship against Germany alongside the likes of James Milner, Mark Noble and Theo Walcott – all still plying their trade at the top level today.
During that time, however, the former Arsenal and Birmingham City ball-winner believes there has been a societal shift in the attitude of young players which makes coaching a different prospect than it was when he came through the ranks at the Emirates.
Furthermore, his journeys around the top clubs and academies in Europe over the past few years have shown him the problem is not necessarily restricted to these shores.
“I don’t think it is particular to England, I think it is a millennial thing,” he said. “Everyone loves the idea of being a footballer but no-one wants to put the work in to get there.
“Every kid wants to be Cristiano Ronaldo but they don’t get that they need to do the nitty gritty like he did to get to the very top.
“No disrespect at all to Rochdale but we even see it here, kids who have got the talent but don’t want to put in the effort.”
If Muamba is to make his way in management he will not be short on former mentors to give advice.
From Arsene Wenger – who gave him his debut at Arsenal in a League Cup tie against Sunderland in 2005 – through Steve Bruce, Alex McLeish, Gary Megson or Owen Coyle, he has a range of muses from which to draw inspiration.
“You take something from everyone,” he said. “I can’t make anyone play like Arsene Wenger did, I have to find my own style. I will take bits from how he taught me and the other players at Arsenal though, and put them into my own plans.
“Coming through a great academy like that I got to learn from the best. One thing I will take from him is that he wanted his players to work with the ball at their feet and be comfortable.
“I wasn’t the best at that kind of thing – but the game is changing.”
Muamba is reminded of a silky step-over against Wigan in his Bolton days, adding quickly: “I had my moments - even though I didn’t mean that one. Hopefully I can stay lucky as a coach.”
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March 17, 2012, is a date which will follow Muamba around for the rest of a life miraculously extended that night. But while football’s miracle man used his harrowing experience to help raise awareness of heart health in the months after hanging up his boots, he did so masking an inner frustration at having been forced to leave the sport behind.
“I’ll walk away from football and do something different with my life,” he said in an interview just three months after he had officially called it quits at Bolton.
Muamba did give himself some space, spent time with his wife, Shauna, and sons, Josh and Mathew. As a man in demand he helped several charitable causes, presented award, earned honorary degrees but stopped short of appearing on I’m a Celebrity.
All the while, football continued to call his name.
At one stage he met it half-way, training as a sports journalist. He even had a column in The Bolton News.
It was not long, however, before Muamba started to tentatively explore options in coaching, travelling into Europe to watch different methods, and working on an informal basis at Liverpool’s Academy.
A few months ago he accepted an offer from friend, Brett Issitt, to get involved at Rochdale’s development centres, based in Manchester. Now, with a UEFA Pro Licence in sight over the next two years, Muamba is ready to start again at the bottom and work his way up.
“It has always been in the back of my mind,” he told The Bolton News. “When I got told I couldn’t play again, even though I didn’t admit it at the time I knew somewhere down the line I wanted to be back in football. It was about timing.
“I think I made the right decision to step away, have some quality time with my friends and family and see the world.
“But now I feel I’m at the stage where I can take control again and be what I want to be.
“I’m not scared. What happened to me has taught me a lot. I am not under any illusions. I know what is good for my health but I want to put myself out there.
“I never had control over what happened but I can shape what happens to me from here. I want to look forward.
“I can’t change the past. I can put everything into being the best coach I can be, and whether that turns out to be League One, League Two, an academy, I will be absolutely committed to it, just as I tried to be when I was playing.”
There is no sense of entitlement as the former England Under-21 international steps on to the coaching ladder. Coaching Rochdale’s Under-16s is ample experience, for now.
Muamba has applied for jobs at Nottingham Forest and Watford’s Under-21s, without success, but believes the right role will materialise if he continued to hone his craft.
“There are opportunities out there but I think it helps if you are already in a system,” he said. “If I am applying for an interview and can say ‘here’s the evidence, this is what I do,’ then it makes it easier for people to speak with you.
“I am not going to jump straight in. What is it now – seven months, the average for a Premier League manager? One season in the Championship and a bit more in Leagues One and Two.
“I’m in no hurry to do this before I am ready. I am happy to practice my skills, to make my own mistakes and then at the end of it I’ll be able to handle myself.
“You make mistakes at first team level and you’re out. I’d rather see something that doesn’t quite work while I am still learning to be a coach and know I have got tomorrow to fix it.
“The biggest enjoyment I get is by putting on a session that I’ve been thinking about all say and seeing it come to fruition. I love to see the young players improve.
“I like to see little elements in the way they play football which reminds me of myself, or one of my friends. But ultimately I can only advise and try to pass on what I learned.”
It is less than a decade since Muamba lined up for England in the final of the European Under-21 Championship against Germany alongside the likes of James Milner, Mark Noble and Theo Walcott – all still plying their trade at the top level today.
During that time, however, the former Arsenal and Birmingham City ball-winner believes there has been a societal shift in the attitude of young players which makes coaching a different prospect than it was when he came through the ranks at the Emirates.
Furthermore, his journeys around the top clubs and academies in Europe over the past few years have shown him the problem is not necessarily restricted to these shores.
“I don’t think it is particular to England, I think it is a millennial thing,” he said. “Everyone loves the idea of being a footballer but no-one wants to put the work in to get there.
“Every kid wants to be Cristiano Ronaldo but they don’t get that they need to do the nitty gritty like he did to get to the very top.
“No disrespect at all to Rochdale but we even see it here, kids who have got the talent but don’t want to put in the effort.”
If Muamba is to make his way in management he will not be short on former mentors to give advice.
From Arsene Wenger – who gave him his debut at Arsenal in a League Cup tie against Sunderland in 2005 – through Steve Bruce, Alex McLeish, Gary Megson or Owen Coyle, he has a range of muses from which to draw inspiration.
“You take something from everyone,” he said. “I can’t make anyone play like Arsene Wenger did, I have to find my own style. I will take bits from how he taught me and the other players at Arsenal though, and put them into my own plans.
“Coming through a great academy like that I got to learn from the best. One thing I will take from him is that he wanted his players to work with the ball at their feet and be comfortable.
“I wasn’t the best at that kind of thing – but the game is changing.”
Muamba is reminded of a silky step-over against Wigan in his Bolton days, adding quickly: “I had my moments - even though I didn’t mean that one. Hopefully I can stay lucky as a coach.”
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