Victor Wanyama, the former captain of the Harambee Stars, is celebrating his 32nd birthday this Sunday June 25.

The central midfielder has had a remarkable career and he is currently plying his trade in Major League Soccer for Montreal Impact after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur.

With 450 appearances in various leagues under his belt, Wanyama has showcased his talent and has netted 31 goals throughout his career.

On this special occasion, People Daily Digital reflects on some of the standout moments that firmly establish Wanyama as one of the greatest footballers in the country:

Winning EPL Goal of the Month

In a memorable moment for Victor Wanyama, he clinched the prestigious Carling Goal of the Month award for February in March 2018.

Representing Tottenham Hotspur at the time, Wanyama displayed his exceptional skill by unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box during a match against Liverpool on 4 February. His sensational goal helped secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw for his team.

The award-winning goal saw Wanyama triumph over formidable contenders such as Danilo, Mario Lemina, Jose Izquierdo, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero, and Adam Smith.

Stop that, @VictorWanyama… 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/aPXy1NJJIQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) June 23, 2023

His ability to connect with a bouncing ball and deliver an unstoppable shot left spectators in awe. Notably, this achievement holds extra significance as Wanyama became the first East African player to receive such an accolade, further solidifying his place in football history.

Another notable accolade in Wanyama‘s career came in 2012 when he was named the Scottish Premier League’s Young Player of the Year.

This recognition arrived after Wanyama’s impressive performances for Celtic FC, where he amassed 49 appearances and scored nine goals.

Impactful Stint at Celtic

Wanyama’s career truly took off during his time at Celtic FC. His performances in midfield were consistently outstanding, and he played a pivotal role in helping the club secure the Scottish Premiership title in the 2012-2013 season.

His dominant displays caught the attention of clubs across Europe, propelling him onto the international stage.

Wanyama makes history with Tottenham

Wanyama played a crucial role in Tottenham’s historic journey to the Champions League semi-finals. In a thrilling match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Tottenham secured a 4-4 away-goals victory, marking their first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.

Throughout the Champions League campaign, Wanyama made notable contributions as a midfielder for Tottenham.

He played a key part in the semi-final against Ajax, helping his team overcome a 2-0 deficit and secure a spot in the final.

However, in the final match, Wanyama was left on the bench as Tottenham suffered a defeat. This saw his brother McDonald Mariga remain the sole East African player to have won the Champions League.

Scoring against Barcelona in Champions League

Wanyama made the headlines on 7 November when he headed past Victor Valdez to help Celtic pick a famous 2-1 win over giants Barcelona.

Wanyama put the Hoops ahead in the 21st minute and Tony Watt doubled the lead in the 83rd minute to send the stadium into a frenzy as they picked the greatest results in their 125-year history.

The Barcelona squad featured all-time greats likes Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas, and Gerard Pique.

Strong debut season at Spur

Wanyama had an impressive debut season at Spurs, he appeared in all the league matches and had 34 straight starts, for the side in the premier league. Wanyama scored four goals in the league in that campaign.

He had 47 appearances in all competitions, clocking 3895 minutes.

Captaining Harambee Stars to AFCON

In 2018, Wanyama captained Harambee Stars to a second-place finish in the Africa Cup of Nations Group F qualifiers. Stars finished second behind Ghana after picking seven points following two wins and a draw.

Stars returned to AFCON after 15 years but failed to impress as they were eliminated following defeats against Senegal and Algeria. They however won the East African Derby against Tanzania.

EPL/Spurs move

In July 2013, Southampton announced the signing of Wanyama from Celtic on a four-year deal. He became the first Kenyan to sign for an English Premier League club.

He made 97 appearances with the Saints and helped them qualify for Europa League in 2015.

He later left the Spurs to join Tottenham in June 2016 at a fee of around £11m, with the Kenyan midfielder signing a five-year deal at White Hart Lane.