Maheta Matteo Molango (born 24 July 1982) is a Swiss-born sports executive and former professional footballer. He was born in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, he is an Italian citizen, born to a Congolese father and Italian mother.
Molango began his professional career at Atletico Madrid when he was aged 18, following a successful trial with the club he signed a two-year professional contract.[2] Molango signed a three-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion, after impressing then-manager Mark McGhee during a two-week trial for the club in the summer of 2004, shortly after being released by SV Wacker Burghausen in Germany.[3] His career at Brighton got off to a quick start, scoring a goal just 12 seconds into his debut versus Reading at Madejski Stadium. Despite his early goal, Brighton fell 3–2.[4] Shortly after, Molango had a falling out with McGhee and after six total appearances, would not make another appearance in the 2004–05 season.
In the summer of 2005, Brighton allowed Molango to pursue a move elsewhere. After a successful trial with Lincoln City,[5]Keith Alexander signed Molango on 3 August on a season-long loan.[6] He scored his first and only goal for Lincoln in a 5-1 League Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra on 23 August 2005.[7] In December 2005, while still at Lincoln City, Brighton informed Molango that he did not have a future with the Seagulls.[8] After being sent back to Brighton by Keith Alexander, he again went on loan, this time to UB Conquense for the remainder of the 2005–06 season.[9] He debuted for the club in their 1-1 Segunda División B home draw with UD Almansa on 29 January 2006 and went on to make eight league appearances for the club without finding the net.[10]
At the start of the 2006–07 season, Molango went on loan to League One side Oldham Athletic on a month's loan.[11] On 12 August 2006, he scored his only goal for the Latics in a 1–0 win over Swansea City.[12] After six appearances and one goal for the club, Oldham decided not to renew his loan.[13]
After returning to Brighton, Molango was given another chance under manager Dean Wilkins[14] after Jake Robinson fell to an illness.[15] However, Brighton lost to Carlisle United 3–1.[16] Molango failed to impress Wilkins in the loss, who loaned him out to Wrexham the following week on a one-month loan.[17] At Wrexham, Molango earned four starts including one in the FA Cup. However, his loan again was unrenewed, effectively sending him back to Brighton.[18] After failing to make any more first-team appearances, Brighton and Molango agreed to part ways several months before his three-year contract was set to expire.[19]
The day after ending his career with Brighton, Molango signed with Conference National side Grays Athletic until the end of the 2006–07 season. However, after just two league appearances for the Essex club, he was released after just a month.[20]
Having obtained a LL.B and B.A. Political Science from Charles III University of Madrid, he joined the employment law department of the Madrid office of Baker & McKenzie in April 2007.[25] Molango is a specialist in employment and sports law and was part of the Baker McKenzie Advisory Board. In January 2008 he moved to the United States to study for the LL.M program in International Legal Studies at the American University Washington College of Law graduating in 2009 whilst also being the recipient of the college's Rubin Scholarship.[25] Returning to Madrid and Baker & McKenzie, he played part-time football in the 2009–10 season for FC Villanueva del Pardillo
in group one of the Preferente before moving on to join their divisional counterparts Unión Adarve for the 2010–2011 season. He passed the New York bar examination in 2011.[26]
Fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German, Maheta was twice named one of the best sports lawyers in Spain by international rankings company Chambers and Partners.[27]
Molango was appointed Director of FIFA’s Diploma in Club management programme, which commenced in March 2021.[29] In the role, he helps train executives, with speakers ranging from Arsène Wenger to Fabio Cannavaro.[30]
Professional Footballers' Association
From 1 June 2021, Molango was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) for England and Wales.[31]
PFA and Premier League Funding Agreement
In May 2023, the PFA and the Premier League announced a new five-year partnership.
The agreement saw an uplift in funding to help support the wide range of services the players’ union provides to its members across the professional game at all stages of their careers, including, enhanced focus on player welfare and support, community initiatives and coaching programmes to increase diversity in the workforce, greater support for Academy players, mental health support, education for careers after playing and medical research.
The five-year partnership is the longest agreement that has existed between the PFA and the Premier League.
Women's Football
The PFA outlined details of reforms to contracts in the women’s game in February 2022. Following negotiations with The FA, the PFA achieved three significant policy changes relating to maternity provision, injury and illness and the termination of contracts due to long term injury. The changes will apply to players in the Women's Super League (WSL) and the Women's Championship.[32]
Molango spoke at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in September 2023 where he highlighted the current lack of security around the contracts and conditions of female professionals. He also called for the immediate implementation of structures, which already exist in the men’s game, to better protect players.[33]
PFA Business School
In January 2022, Molango unveiled the PFA's ambitious initiative, the PFA Business School. The project, led by experts from the world of football, sport, and beyond, is designed to enable players to acquire new skills, discover their potential and unlock new career opportunities within the industry.[34]
Fast forward to September 2023, and the PFA Business School launched seven specialised programmes focusing on sectors such as Global Football Business Management, Psychology, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership, Football Data Analytics, Communication, and Media. The courses are delivered by renowned figures from world football, including Gary Neville, Andoni Zubizarreta, Giorgio Furlani, Hope Powell and Steve Parish. All the courses are designed for the busy schedules of current players and working professionals, employing a flexible approach, blending online learning with in-person seminars.[35]
In September 2021, Molango pledged to donate his brain as part of a concussion initiative which will research Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and other consequences of brain trauma in athletes.[37]
It was announced in October 2021 that Molango and the PFA were calling on football stakeholders to establish an industry-wide care fund to support players living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.[38]
In February 2022, Molango, working closely with Dawn Astle, announced the creation of a dedicated Brain Health department focused on neurodegenerative diseases within football. It is the first of its kind in world football. The department is now led by Dr Adam White, a renowned research leader in sports, medicine and health.[39]
In September 2023, it was announced that the PFA and the Premier League would launch a new Brain Health Fund. An initial £1 million has been made available to assist former players and their families who have been impacted by dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.[40]
FIFPRO
In January 2023, Molango joined the Global and European Boards of FIFPRO, the Global Players’ Union. Molango joins an 18-person Board, which carries the responsibility of representing over 66,000 professional footballers from across Africa, Asia/Oceania, Central and North America, South America and Europe.[41]
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[42]
