Gabriel Escobar (footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Escobar and the second or maternal family name is Flores.
Gabriel Escobar
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Ricardo Escobar Flores
Date of birth (2000-04-04) 4 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth San Miguel, El Salvador
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
TSS FC Rovers
Cliff Avenue United
Vancouver Whitecaps
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 TSS FC Rovers
2022 HFX Wanderers FC 5 (0)
2023– TSS FC Rovers 16 (0)
International career
2016 Canada U17 2 (0)
2018 El Salvador U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 14, 2024

Gabriel Ricardo Escobar Flores (born 4 April 2000) is a Salvadoran professional footballer who plays for TSS FC Rovers in League1 British Columbia.

Early life

Born in San Miguel, El Salvador,[1] Escobar moved to Vancouver, Canada, at age six.[2][3] He began playing football with TSS FC Rovers immediately upon arrival in Canada,[3] later joining Cliff Avenue United[4] and the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy.[5]

He played at the amateur adult level with FC Tigers Vancouver.[6]

Club career

In 2022, he joined TSS FC Rovers in League1 British Columbia,[7] being named to the L1BC Team of the Week five times and helping the Rovers win the championship final,[8] where he scored the winning penalty kick in their shootout victory over Varsity FC.[citation needed]

In August 2022, he signed a contract for the remainder of the 2022 season, with club options for 2023 and 2024, with HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League.[9][10] He made five straight appearances for the club, before suffering a season-ending foot injury in a match against York United FC.[11]

In 2023, after having his option declined by the Wanderers, he returned to the TSS FC Rovers for the 2023 season.[11]

International career

In 2014, he was called up by the Canada under-15 team to take part in a training camp.[3] In 2016, he played for the Canada under-17 team in two friendly matches against the United States[12] and was later called-up for matches against Panama and Jamaica.[3][13] He was nominated for 2016 Canadian U17 Player of the Year, finishing in the top three in voting behind winner Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.[14][15]

In 2018, he was called up to the El Salvador under-20 team for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, playing in three matches and cap-tying him to El Salvador.[16]

Career statistics

As of August 4, 2024[17]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
TSS FC Rovers 2022 League1 British Columbia ? ? 1 0 – – 1+ 0
HFX Wanderers FC 2022 Canadian Premier League 5 0 – 0 0 – 5 0
TSS FC Rovers 2023 League1 British Columbia 9 0 1 0 1 0 – 11 0
2024 7 0 2 0 0 0 – 9 0
Total 16 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 20 0
Career total 21+ 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 26+ 0

References

  1. ^ Tovar, Diego (17 August 2022). "Salvadoreño, rumbo a la primera división de Canadá" [Salvadoran, heading to the first division of Canada]. El Gráfico (in Spanish).
  2. ^ Pandher, Steve (28 June 2017). "AFTN's Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 'Ones To Watch' 2017 (Part One – the U16s)". Away from the Numbers.
  3. ^ a b c d Gabriel Escobar at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ^ "Gabriel Escobar - EA Sports One to Watch". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 9 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Gabriel Escobar VWFC profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  6. ^ McColl, Michael (14 May 2022). "Local powerhouses BB5 United and FC Tigers square off in eagerly anticipated BC Provincial A Cup final". Away from the Numbers.
  7. ^ McColl, Michael (12 May 2022). "TSS Rovers 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part Two – Defenders)". Away from the Numbers.
  8. ^ Jacques, John (15 August 2022). "Halifax Adds Defensive Duo Escobar And Nouajaa". Northern Tribune.
  9. ^ "Wanderers sign Canadian defenders Gabriel Escobar and Nassim Nouajaa". HFX Wanderers FC. 15 August 2022.
  10. ^ Menendez, Ricardo (16 August 2022). "A la Canadian Premier League: un salvadoreño jugará con el HFX Wanderers" [To the Canadian Premier League: a Salvadoran will play with the HFX Wanderers]. ReporteSV (in Spanish).
  11. ^ a b Jacques, John (23 January 2024). "Former Wanderer Gabriel Escobar Loses House To Fire". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ "U17 MNT beats Canada in two friendlies". Top Drawer Soccer. 19 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Canada U17 Roster Named For Camp, Jamaica Friendlies". Box Score News. 18 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Six 'Caps nominated for 2016 Canada Soccer Player Awards". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 28 November 2016.
  15. ^ "'It's a great honour:' Alphonso Davies named Canadian U-17 Player of the Year". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 13 December 2016.
  16. ^ Martell, Samuel (10 October 2018). "Gabriel Escobar: de Canadá a la sub 20 salvadoreña" [Gabriel Escobar: from Canada to the Salvadoran sub 20]. El Gráfico (in Spanish).
  17. ^ Gabriel Escobar at Soccerway