Joseph Chipolina

Joseph Chipolina
Chipolina playing against Slovakia in Gibraltar's UEFA debut, 2013
Personal information
Full name Joseph Louis Chipolina[1][2]
Date of birth (1987-12-14) 14 December 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth Gibraltar
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Left back, Winger
Team information
Current team
 Manchester 62
Number 3
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Linense 108 (17)
2011–2012 → San Roque (loan) 24 (2)
2012 Real Colorado Foxes 15 (5)
2013 St Joseph's – (–)
2013–2023 Lincoln Red Imps 123 (73)
2022–2023 → Glacis United (loan) 16 (1)
2023–2024 FCB Magpies 14 (1)
2024– Manchester 62 6 (1)
International career‡
2009–2013 Gibraltar XI (Non-FIFA) 8 (5)
2013– Gibraltar 61 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 September 2024

Joseph Louis Chipolina (born 14 December 1987) is a Gibraltar international footballer who plays for Manchester 62 of the Gibraltar Football League as a left back or left winger.[3]

He is his nation's third most-capped player of all time, having also played the first 27 official matches after Gibraltar were accepted into UEFA.

Club career

Chipolina began his career with Linense of the Spanish Segunda División B and Tercera División, the third and fourth tier of the Spanish football league system respectively, between 2007 and 2012. In 2011–12, Chipolina played one season at CD San Roque of the Tercera División. In March 2012, Chipolina earned a week-long trial at Leyton Orient of England's League One.[4][5] Chipolina and San Roque terminated his contract by mutual consent in April 2012. In total, Chipolina made 26 appearances for the club.[6]

On 2 July 2014, Chipolina scored the first goal for a Gibraltarian club in the UEFA Champions League, with a penalty to give Lincoln Red Imps the lead over HB Tórshavn of the Faroe Islands in a 1–1 draw.[7]

In December 2015, Chipolina was offered trials with three Scottish clubs, including Hibernian. However, the trials were cancelled at the last moment because of apparent contract complications with his club Lincoln Red Imps.[8]

International career

Between 2007 and 2013, Chipolina appeared in seven matches for Gibraltar and scored five goals before Gibraltar applied for and was granted UEFA membership.[9] One of his caps came in a friendly match against England C[10] which garnered interest in the player from Leyton Orient and Scotland's Livingston.[11] He was also a part of the squad that competed in the 2011 Island Games.[12] Chipolina made history by being the first Gibraltarian player to score in an official UEFA match when he scored for the Gibraltar national futsal team in a UEFA Futsal Championship match against Montenegro in 2013.[13][14]

After Gibraltar was accepted as a member of UEFA, Chipolina was selected as part of the 23-man squad for Gibraltar's official debut against Slovakia on 19 November 2013.[3] Chipolina made his international debut in the match, a start in the eventual 0–0 draw.[15] He played in every one of Gibraltar's games from 19 November 2013 until 3 September 2017, but was left out of the senior squad announcement on 28 September 2017 to face Estonia and Greece national football team. On 13 October 2018, Chipolina scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Gibraltar recorded their first competitive win in a 1–0 victory over Armenia in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League. [16] He was on the scoresheet again three days later, heading the winner as Gibraltar came from behind to beat Liechtenstein 2–1.[17]

International goals for Gibraltar XI

Scores and results list Gibraltar's goal tally first.[18]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 June 2009 Solvallen, Eckerö, Åland  Frøya 2–0 8–0 2009 Island Games
2. 3–0
3. 26 June 2011 St Georges Park, Newport, Isle of Wight  Alderney 1–0 6–1 2011 Island Games
4. 28 June 2011 Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight  Isle of Wight 2–3 2–3 2011 Island Games
5. 30 June 2011 Peter Henry Ground, Brading, Isle of Wight  Saare County 2–0 4–0 2011 Island Games

International goals for Gibraltar

Scores and results list Gibraltar's goal tally first.[18]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
 13 October 2018 Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia  Armenia
1–0
1–0
 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D
2
 16 October 2018 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar  Liechtenstein
2–1
2–1

International career statistics

As of match played 4 September 2024.[18]
Gibraltar
Year Apps Goals
2013 1 0
2014 8 0
2015 7 0
2016 7 0
2017 4 0
2018 5 2
2019 10 0
2021 5 0
2022 5 0
2023 6 0
2024 3 0
Total 61 2

Personal life

Chipolina works as a Prison Officer in Gibraltar.[19] He is the older brother of Kenneth Chipolina who also plays for the Gibraltar national football team[20] and cousin of Roy Chipolina.[21]

References

  1. ^ "La prensa ceutí sitúa al gibraltareño Joseph Chipolina en la órbita del equipo caballa". Diario Sur (in Spanish). 19 May 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  2. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (16 December 2020). "Gibraltar – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "GFA Announces A Team Line Up for First UEFA Friendly Against Slovakia". Your Gibraltar TV. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Joseph Luis Chipolina Profile". lapreferente.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Chipolina to go on trial at Leyton Orient". footballgibraltar.wordpress.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  6. ^ Gonzalez, Alessio. "Joseph se desvincula del CD San Roque" (in Spanish). europasur.es. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Lincoln Red Imps 1-1 HB Tórshavn". BBC Sport. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  8. ^ Johnstone, Darren. "Defender admits Celtic fans blaring out 'You'll Never Walk Alone' inspired Li". Deadline News. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  9. ^ "National Football Team Profile". National Football Team. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  10. ^ "England C Report". Gibraltar FA. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  11. ^ Gonzalez, Alessio. "Joseph regresa para acabar la campaña con el San Roque" (in Spanish). europasur.es. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  12. ^ Almagro, R. "Joseph y Liam participan en los Island Games sin permiso de los albinegros" (in Spanish). europasur.es. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Gib's first UEFA goal scorer". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Chief Minister Presented with Chipolina GFA Shirt". younggibraltartv.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Gibraltar 0–0 Slovakia". Football Gibraltar. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Armenia v Gibraltar". BBC Sport. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Gibraltar v Liechtenstein". BBC Sport. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b c Joseph Chipolina at National-Football-Teams.com
  19. ^ "Gibraltar v Poland: Starting XIs by professional occupation". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  20. ^ "Lincoln set up dream Celtic tie". Football Gibraltar. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Fußballzwerg Gibraltar träumt von EM: „Eine Woche voller Geschichte"". skysportaustria. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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