{{Short description|Congolese footballer (born 1992)}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mike Cestor | image = | fullname = Mike Botuli Cestor | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|4|30|df=y}} | height = 1.83 m | birth_place = Bagneux, France | currentclub = Metaloglobus București | clubnumber = 75 | position = Centre-back | youthyears1 = 2008–2009 | youthclubs1 = Pisa | youthyears2 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs2 = Leyton Orient | years1 = 2010–2012 | clubs1 = Leyton Orient | caps1 = 3 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2011 | clubs2 = → Boreham Wood (loan) | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = → Woking (loan) | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2012 | clubs4 = → Woking (loan) | caps4 = 9 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2012–2015 | clubs5 = Woking | caps5 = 88 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2016–2018 | clubs6 = Épinal | caps6 = 54 | goals6 = 7 | years7 = 2018–2019 | clubs7 = Astra Giurgiu | caps7 = 28 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2019–2022 | clubs8 = CFR Cluj | caps8 = 29 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2022–2023 | clubs9 = Argeș Pitești | caps9 = 16 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2023–2024 | clubs10= Radomiak Radom | caps10= 28 | goals10= 0 | years11 = 2024–2025 | clubs11= Gloria Buzău | caps11= 19 | goals11= 1 | years12 = 2025 | clubs12= Politehnica Iași | caps12= 9 | goals12= 0 | years13 = 2026– | clubs13= Metaloglobus București | caps13= 6 | goals13= 0 | nationalyears1 = 2013 | nationalteam1 = DR Congo U20 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | pcupdate = 18 May 2026 | ntupdate = }} '''Mike Botuli Cestor''' (born 30 April 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga I club Metaloglobus București.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Cestor w FC Buzău |url=http://www.90minut.pl/news/333/news3337636-Mike-Cestor-w-FC-Buzau.html |website=90minut.pl |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=pl |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> Born in France, Cestor has earned caps for DR Congo at under-20 level.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Cestor was born in Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine, Paris. Before trialling for Leyton Orient, Cestor had been on the books as a youth player for Italian side Pisa.<ref>[http://primavera.ilpisasiamonoi.it/squadra/cestor-mike_edited-1/ Cestor's profile at pisasiamonoi.it] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120719144816/http://primavera.ilpisasiamonoi.it/squadra/cestor-mike_edited-1/ |date=19 July 2012 }}</ref>
===Leyton Orient=== Cestor joined Orient's youth squad early in the 2009–10 season and also featured in the reserve team before being called up to the first-team squad in December 2009, although he made no first-team appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10439~50361,00.html |title=Cestor's profile at leytonorient.com |access-date=10 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908072232/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10439~50361,00.html |archive-date=8 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He signed a new two-year contract on 9 June 2010,<ref>[http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2067530,00.html Chambers agrees new contract]</ref> and he made his professional debut in a League Cup match for Orient, as they won 2–1 at Swindon Town on 10 August 2010.<ref>[http://www.leytonorient.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10439~53941,00.html Swindon Town 1–2 Leyton Orient] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128165945/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10439~53941%2C00.html |date=28 January 2011 }}</ref> His league debut came three days later in the 3–1 defeat to Charlton Athletic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leyton Orient 1–3 Charlton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8897659.stm |publisher=BBC Sport | date=13 August 2010 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref>
On 11 January 2011, Cestor went on a month's loan to Boreham Wood,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2263988,00.html |title=Walker moves on |date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114214433/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10439~2263988%2C00.html |archivedate=14 January 2011 }}</ref> making his debut on 15 January in the 2–0 win over Chelmsford City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webteams.co.uk/MatchReport.aspx?team=borehamwoodfc&mid=match77.xml |title=Boreham Wood 2–0 Chelmsford City |date=15 January 2011 |publisher=Boreham Wood F.C.}}</ref>
===Woking=== On 19 August 2011, he went on a month's loan to Woking,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/2969/mike-cestor-joins-on-loan/ |title=Mike Cestor joins on loan |date=19 August 2011 |publisher=Woking F.C.}}</ref> and made his debut the following day in the 0–0 draw at home to his old club Boreham Wood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/first-team/match/94/#teamsheet |date=20 August 2011 |title=Woking 0–0 Boreham Wood |publisher=Woking F.C.}}</ref> He made seven appearances for Woking before returning to Orient and coming on as a substitute in their 3–2 League Cup defeat at Blackburn Rovers on 20 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14893653.stm |date=20 September 2011 |title=Blackburn Rovers 3–2 Leyton Orient |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He returned to Woking on 12 January 2012 for another month's loan spell,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2575128,00.html |title=Cestor goes to Woking on loan |date=12 January 2012 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115075201/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10439~2575128%2C00.html |archivedate=15 January 2012 }}</ref> which was later extended, and after a brief return to Orient, he began yet another loan period at Woking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/3328/mike-cestor-rejoins-on-loan/ |title=Mike Cestor rejoins on loan |date=22 March 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2012 |publisher=Woking F.C.}}</ref> On 15 May 2012, he was one of three players released by Orient manager Russell Slade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2768017,00.html |title=Lobjoit signs Os deal |date=15 May 2012 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 19 July 2012, Cestor signed permanently for Woking, who were newly promoted to the Football Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/?p=1635 |title=Mike Cestor and Lee Sawyer sign for Woking|date=19 July 2012 |publisher=Woking News and Mail}}</ref>
On 20 December 2014, in a 2–1 defeat to Southport, Cestor suffered a long term knee injury, therefore ruling him out for the remainder of the 2014–15 campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Woking FC suffer double whammy with Southport defeat and Cestor injury |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/woking-fc-suffer-double-whammy-8324308 |publisher=Get Surrey |date=20 December 2014 |accessdate=23 July 2016}}</ref>
Ahead of the following campaign, Cestor was released at the end of his contract, due to his slow progress with his injury.
===Épinal=== On 2 July 2016, Cestor joined French side SAS Épinal after a year without a club.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cinq recrues et un staff modifié pour la reprise |url=http://www.sasfootball.com/equipes-1-2884.html?PHPSESSID=cfb6ccb58e99d5d89f0ce42c6cd3a64b |language=French |publisher=SAS Épinal |date=2 July 2016 |accessdate=23 July 2016}}</ref>
==International career== Prior to the 2013 Toulon Tournament, Cestor received a call-up for the DR Congo U20 team. Cestor went on to start all four of DR Congo's games in the Toulon campaign, initially making his debut in a 1–0 defeat against the France U20 side on 30 May 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |title=France U21 vs. Congo DR U21 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/05/30/world/world-youth-festival-toulon/france-under-21/congo-dr-u21/1469771/ |publisher=Soccerway |date=30 May 2013 |accessdate=23 July 2016}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{Updated|match played 18 May 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{Soccerway|cestor-mike/111191|accessdate=15 January 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, Cupa României, Polish Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Leyton Orient |2010–11 |League One |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>One appearance in Football League Trophy, two appearances in EFL Cup</ref>||0||5||0 |- |2011–12 |League One |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=>Appearance in EFL Cup</ref>||0||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !3!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!0!!7!!0 |- |rowspan="1"|Boreham Wood (loan) |2010–11 |Conference South |9||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||9||1 |- |rowspan="1"|Woking (loan) |2011–12 |Conference South |16||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |rowspan="4"|Woking |2012–13 |Conference Premier |37||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT>Appearance(s) in FA Trophy</ref>||0||39||1 |- |2013–14 |Conference Premier |30||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||0||32||0 |- |2014–15 |Conference Premier |21||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FAT/>||0||23||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !88!!2!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!0!!94!!2 |- |rowspan="3"|Épinal |2016–17 |Championnat National |26||1||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||2 |- |2017–18 |Championnat National 2 Group B |28||6||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||6 |- !colspan="2"|Total !54!!7!!3!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!57!!8 |- |rowspan="1"|Astra Giurgiu |2018–19 |Liga I |26||1||6||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||1 |- |rowspan="4"|CFR Cluj |2019–20 |Liga I |11||1||1||0||5<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League</ref>||0||colspan="2"|—||17||1 |- |2020–21 |Liga I |6||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=UCL>Appearance in UEFA Champions League</ref>||1||0||0||7||1 |- |2021–22 |Liga I |12||0||1||0||9<ref group=lower-alpha name>Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League, three appearances in UEFA Conference League</ref>||1||0||0||22||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !29!!1!!2!!0!!15!!2!!0!!0!!46!!3 |- |rowspan="1"|Argeș Pitești |2022–23 |Liga I |16||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Radomiak Radom |2022–23 |Ekstraklasa |16||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |2023–24 |Ekstraklasa |12||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !28!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!29!!0 |- |rowspan="1"|Gloria Buzău |2024–25 |Liga I |19||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1 |- |rowspan="1"|Politehnica Iași |2025–26 |Liga II |9||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Metaloglobus București |2025–26 |Liga I |6||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !303!!13!!16!!1!!15!!0!!8!!2!!342!!16 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''CFR Cluj'''<ref name="SW"/> *Liga I: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 *Supercupa României: 2020
'''Individual''' *Liga I Team of the Season: 2018–19<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lpf.ro/noutati/echipa-sezonului-2018-2019/1105|title=Echipa sezonului 2018/2019|trans-title=Team of the season 2018/2019|publisher=LPF.ro|language=Romanian|date=24 June 2019|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> *Liga I Team of the Regular Season: 2018–19<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lpf.ro/noutati/liga-1-betano-echipa-sezonului-regulat/854|title=Liga 1 Betano: Echipa sezonului regulat|trans-title=Liga I Betano: Team of the regular season|publisher=LPF.ro|language=Romanian|date=6 March 2019|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{RomanianSoccer|4739/mike-cestor-botuli}} *{{Soccerbase|66007}}
{{FC Metaloglobus București squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cestor, Mike}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Hauts-de-Seine Category:Black French sportspeople Category:People from Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine Category:French sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:French men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's under-20 international footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Championnat National players Category:Championnat National 2 players Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:Ekstraklasa players Category:Pisa SC players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players Category:Woking F.C. players Category:SAS Épinal players Category:FC Astra Giurgiu players Category:CFR Cluj players Category:FC Argeș Pitești players Category:Radomiak Radom players Category:FC Gloria Buzău players Category:FC Politehnica Iași (2010) players Category:FC Metaloglobus București players Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Poland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland Category:21st-century French sportsmen