In the ultra-professionalized, multi-million-euro empire surrounding Kylian Mbappé, every key figure seems to carry an executive title. Fayza Lamari manages negotiations, Delphine Verheyden oversees legal defense, Ziad Hammoud directs corporate investments, and Yaëlle handles operational logistics.
Yet, sitting quietly alongside Wilfrid Mbappé at top-tier European matches is a man who holds no official corporate rank, no executive board seat, and no formal mandate: Jirès Kembo Ekoko.
While he is absent from the legal deeds of modern corporate entities, his presence within the family network is anything but accidental. From coaching on grass-roots pitches in Paris to serving as the emotional and technical anchor for his younger brothers, here is what Jirès Kembo Ekoko actually does today—and why his informal role remains irreplaceable.
The Transition Out of the Spotlight: Overcoming Post-Retirement Depression
Retiring from professional football in 2019 after a 13-year career across Ligue 1, the Gulf Pro League, and the Turkish Süper Lig brought a brutal psychological adjustment. Kembo Ekoko openly confessed that the sudden loss of a highly structured daily routine, team camaraderie, and weekly competitive pressure threw him into a period of mild depression.
Like many former elite athletes, adjusting to life after the final whistle required a complete recalibration. Supported closely by the Mbappé family during this vulnerable phase, Jirès deliberately stepped back from the public eye to rebuild his routine and rediscover his identity away from the commercial noise surrounding his family’s name.
Back on the Touchline: Assistant Coach at US Ivry
In July 2025, Kembo Ekoko officially found his way back to the pitch, channeling his elite background into player development. He joined the technical staff of US Ivry, a National 3 (fifth-division) club based in the Paris suburbs.
The move was a family affair: US Ivry is presided over and managed by his uncle, Pierre Mbappé.
Jirès Kembo Ekoko's Coaching Profile (US Ivry)
├── Club: US Ivry (National 3)
├── Executive Leadership: Pierre Mbappé (President/Manager)
├── Role: Assistant Coach / Attacking Specialist
└── Focus Areas: Finishing mechanics, deep runs, positional awareness & movement
In his role as assistant coach, Kembo Ekoko works hands-on with the club’s attacking unit. He mentors young forwards on the fine details of finishing, executing sharp deep runs, timing movements inside the penalty box, and building tactical composure.
His return to competitive football produced early drama: in November 2025, Jirès sat on the bench during a thrilling Coupe de France run, watching Ivry push professional side Le Mans to the absolute limit before narrowly falling in a penalty shootout.
The Unofficial Anchor of the Mbappé Inner Circle
Within the formal corporate architecture of the Mbappé empire—which evolved from the original family holding company KEWJF into Interconnected Ventures and Coalition Capital—Kembo Ekoko maintains zero executive authority.
Yet, in a sports network where access is strictly audited and audited often, his proximity is permanent. He brings three unique assets that no corporate attorney or financial strategist can offer:
- Authentic Dressing-Room Empathy: As a former professional striker, he understands what elite pressure feels like from the inside—the emotional toll of media scrutiny, dressing-room dynamics, and the psychological weight of performance expectations.
- Unfiltered Sisterly and Brotherly Loyalty: His connection to Kylian and Ethan is rooted in childhood guardianship and shared family life in Bondy, completely free from transactional motives or commercial agendas.
- The “Safe Zone”: For Kylian and Ethan, Jirès represents an environment where football can be discussed purely as a game, or ignored entirely, without contract clauses or brand endorsements entering the conversation.
A Brother’s Pride: Supporting Kylian and Ethan
Today, Kembo Ekoko spends much of his personal time staying intimately connected with his younger brothers. He speaks with Kylian and Ethan constantly on the phone and frequently travels across Europe to watch them compete at the highest level.
His pride as an elder sibling was on full display in October 2025, when he joined Wilfrid Mbappé in the stadium stands to watch a historic family moment: Ethan Mbappé (representing LOSC Lille) and Kylian Mbappé (representing Real Madrid) facing each other in a highly anticipated 1-1 clash.
For Kembo Ekoko, seeing both of his younger brothers share a pitch at the elite level represents the full realization of a journey that began decades ago on a small patch of grass in Bondy. He holds no corporate title in their business empire because he doesn’t need one—his role as the foundational older brother is already set in stone.
— Analysis by Victor Blanc, Sports Business Correspondent for Mbappé Live
Deepen Your Intelligence
- 🔗 [Back to Main Profile] Jirès Kembo Ekoko: The Complete Story of Mbappé’s Older Brother
- 🔗 [Career Breakdown] From Kinshasa to Rennes: How Jirès Kembo Ekoko’s Career Tested the Mbappé Blueprint
- 🔗 [Corporate Map] Inside the Fortress: The Complete Map of the Mbappé Inner Circle
About the author
Victor Blanc
Football Business Correspondent at Mbappé Live. Covers contracts, sponsorships, investment strategy, and the financial architecture behind elite sport.
