Kylian Mbappe once emphasized that, besides his parents, his adopted brother Jires Kembo Ekoko had the greatest influence on his life and football career. Jires has been with the Mbappe family for more than 20 years, since little Kylian was just a few months old…

From a 6 year old boy to France looking for an opportunity to change his life

Jires Kembo was born on January 8, 1988 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Jires’s father is Mr. Jean Kembo (1947-2007), a former Zaire national team player who won the CAN championship twice and attended the 1974 World Cup once. When Jires was 6 years old, due to the very complicated political situation in Zaire, His parents sent him to France to have a better life, get an education and escape poverty. When he first arrived in Paris, Jires lived with his uncle and sister. But then due to his business, the uncle could not take care of his nephew, forcing Jires to become independent. The boy started playing football on the street and then in a boarding school for migrants and was noticed by the local football team AS Bondy, accepted to study and practice. Here in 1999, Jires met Wilfrid Mbappe, coach of AS Bondy at that time.

Seeing that the boy was agile, skillful, gentle and had no relatives nearby, Wilfrid decided to become the legal guardian and bring Jires to his family to live. In the small house in Bondy, Jires calls Wilfrid and Mrs. Fayza Lamari his parents. And they both raised and taught Jires like their own children.

Jires Kembo Ekoko was once the hope of Rennes

Thanks to Wilfrid’s training, Jires was recruited to the famous Clairefontaine Academy in 2003 and studied football there for 2 years, before officially joining the Rennes youth academy at the age of 16. “At that time, Jires received There were many offers from European and French teams, but he chose Rennes because he thought there would be many opportunities to play and shine here,” Mr. Wilfrid said about his adopted son, whom he loved like no other. the intestine.

After returning from Clairefontaine Academy, Jires rejected PSG to sign with Rennes and began his professional career at the French Bretagne team in 2016. “I have always been impressed with Rennes’ youth training system.” , likes the comfortable, sociable atmosphere here. That’s why I turned down PSG. I don’t regret this choice,” Jires confided. And in 6 seasons with Rennes, Jires played 141 matches, scored 22 goals and reached the final of the French National Cup in 2009. Also during this time, Jires played for the French U20 and U21 teams.

To Mbappe’s great teacher

Jires is a fast, versatile midfielder with an extremely sharp tactical vision. However, the physical condition of this player born in 1988 is very sensitive to injuries. Every time he plays, he suddenly gets injured and has to stay away from the field for quite a long time. In December 2010, while playing very well, he injured his ankle and then re-injured his thigh twice after that. Therefore, Jires can no longer hold an official position at Rennes, he often has to sit on the bench. This was also the time when Jires spent more time making friends with his adopted younger brother, who is 10 years younger than him.

Jires not only taught Kylian tactical thinking, but was also willing to eat and sleep with the ball with this hyperactive boy. “When I was at Clairefontaine Academy, I only came home every weekend. At that time, Kyky was as happy as celebrating. The boy forced me to play football in his room until past midnight, listening to every word I said about what I had learned. Kylian loves football madly. Anything spherical, it turns into a ball. For Kyky, football is breathing, everyday life.

Jires Kembo was the first person to inspire Mbapp’s passion for football

The boy eats and sleeps with the ball. And what made me happiest when playing football with Kyky was when I found in him my own image, desire, and passion at the age of 14 or 15,” Jires said.

After 5 years of playing football in Asia, Jires returned to Europe to play for Bursaspor, but since 2019 he has stopped playing due to injury. Although his career is not outstanding, it is clear that Jires is one of the special witnesses and first teachers (along with his father Wilfrid) for Mbappe’s development to genius.

Mbappe cried when he had to leave Jires.In 2012, Jires left Rennes to go to Al Ain (UAE). This left Mbappe disappointed for a very long time. “I cried and couldn’t accept being away from him. I asked Jires to stay in Europe, but he had already made up his mind. I had to swallow my tears and support him. Jires is a great brother and teacher,” Mbappe once shared.

Jires is named after the legendary Alain GiresseMr. Jean Kembo, father of Jires Kembo Ekoko is a professional football player, a special fan of Alain Giresse. So when he was born, he chose the name of the former French football legend to name his son. “My father had a great career in Africa, he loved the French team very much and especially Alain Giresse. Later when I came to France, I met Giresse and he said that I was his brainchild in a way. I’m so proud to hear such elegant words,” Jires Kembo said.

211 & 42.  After 13 years of professional football, Jirès Kembo Ekoko has played 211 matches and scored 42 goals for Rennes, Al Ain, Al Nasr Dubai and Bursaspor. At the same time, this French player of Zaire origin also won two UAE national championships and reached the final of the 2009 Toulon Four Heroes Cup with France U21.