Malanda’s short Wolfsburg story reads like a catalogue of cruel interruption. He made his Bundesliga debut only in February 2014, was then often left unused or injured, and became a nationwide target of mockery after missing from less than a metre in the season opener at Bayern in 2014/15. A week later he blew another huge chance against Frankfurt. “You can see Junior’s disappointment,” coach Dieter Hecking said afterwards.\n\nHe would never score for Wolfsburg. His final appearance came on December 20, 2014 against Cologne.
Five weeks later Wolfsburg faced Bayern again, in the first match after his death.\n\nThe occasion turned into one of the most emotional acts of remembrance in Bundesliga history, with sustained applause instead of silence, a huge choreography, and later a cup final victory in shirts marked with a green heart and Malanda’s number 19. Wolfsburg dedicated the title to him.