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Mario Melchiot Bio
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Melchiot returned to England in the summer of 2007 when signing for Wigan Athletic.
The defender had previously enjoyed seven years in the Premier League with Chelsea and Birmingham City.
A product of the Ajax production line, he is a tough tackling right-sided player most comfortable at wing-back or right-back.
He showed enough potential for Chelsea to make a move for him in the summer of 1999 under the Bosman ruling, though he missed most of the ensuing season through injury and had to wait until April of that season to make his debut in a 1-1 home draw with Middlesbrough.
Nevertheless, the club look set to be richly rewarded for their faith in him. He came back with some strong displays in the league, the FA Cup final - picking up a winners' medal - and the 2000 Charity Shield.
The following two seasons saw Melchiot become an integral member of the Chelsea squad, and he picked up another medal in 2002 - this time as a runner-up - in the FA Cup.
His place in the side was placed under threat by the £6million purchase of Glen Johnson from West Ham in July 2003 and he initially appeared to have lost his battle with the young England prospect, before winning it back in November.
New Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho then made Porto right-back Paulo Ferreira one of his first signings at Stamford Bridge, leading to Melchiot's release at the end of his contract in the summer of 2004.
He soon picked up a club, signing for Birmingham City in July on a two-year contract. But he left the Blues following their relegation at the end of his contract in 2006.
Melchiot then moved to France to play for Stade Rennes for one season before signing for Wigan Athletic on a three-year contract - snubbing offers from Marseille, PSG, Roma, Lazio and Olympiakos.
He was given the captaincy in July 2007 and was an important player for the club in their bid for top flight survival.