Luca Gasparotto

Luca Gasparotto
Gasparotto in 2019
Personal information
Full name Luca Robert Gasparotto
Date of birth (1995-03-09) 9 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth North York, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Ajax SC
2011 SC Toronto
2011–2013 Rangers
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Humber Hawks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Rangers 4 (0)
2013–2014 → Stirling Albion (loan) 3 (0)
2014–2015 → Airdrieonians (loan) 26 (2)
2015–2016 → Greenock Morton (loan) 20 (0)
2016–2018 Falkirk 34 (1)
2017 → Greenock Morton (loan) 4 (0)
2018 Greenock Morton 7 (0)
2019–2020 York9 35 (1)
International career‡
2011 Canada U17 7 (1)
2015 Canada U20 4 (0)
2015–2016 Canada U23 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 August 2016

Luca Robert Gasparotto (born 9 March 1995) is a retired Canadian soccer player who played as a centre-back.

He has played for Canada at youth level and has been called into the senior squad.

Club career

Early career

Gasparotto began playing soccer with local club Ajax SC, coached by his father,[1] and then moved to Canadian Soccer League side SC Toronto.[2][3]

Rangers

In 2011, he went overseas to sign with Rangers and made his debut in 2013, coming on for Emílson Cribari in a 2–0 win over Clyde at Ibrox on 13 April 2013.[4] Gasparotto made his second Rangers appearance in a 1–2 defeat to Peterhead at Ibrox on 20 April.[5] Gasparotto made his first start for Rangers on the final day of the 2012–13 season in a 1–0 win over Berwick Rangers.[6]

Gasparotto did not play for Rangers during the 2013–14 season but was loaned out to Stirling Albion.[7] He joined Airdrieonians on 1 September 2014, initially until January,[8] however, this was extended until the summer of 2015.[9]

Greenock Morton

Following a serious injury to Frank McKeown, Gasparotto was signed by Greenock Morton on a short-term deal until January 2016.[10] After impressing in his loan stint, Gasparotto's loan with Morton was extended to the end of the 2015–16 season.[11] After the conclusion of his loan spell with Greenock Morton, Gasparotto announced that he would not be returning to Rangers for the 2016–17 Scottish Premiership season.[12]

Falkirk

In June 2016, Gasparotto joined Scottish Championship side Falkirk.[13]

Second spell at Morton

In November 2017, Gasparotto returned to Greenock Morton on an emergency loan deal until the start of January 2018,[14] whereupon he signed a permanent deal until the end of the 2017–18 season.[15] He was released at the end of the season.[16]

York9

On 14 February 2019, Gasparotto returned to Canada, signing with Canadian Premier League side York9.[17] He made his first appearance for York9 in their inaugural match against Forge FC on 27 April 2019.[18] He scored his first goal for the Nine Stripes in a Canadian Championship match against FC Edmonton on 5 June 2019.[19] Gasparotto ended up playing every single minute for York9 in 2019, 28 league games and 6 in the Canadian Championship, the only CPL player to do so. On November 3, 2020, he announced his retirement from professional football, citing a desire to pursue a career outside of football.[20]

Later career

In 2021, he began attending Humber College, where he joined the men's soccer team.[21]

International career

He was called into a training camp for the Canada national team in January 2014, whilst on loan at Stirling.[22] Gasparotto was again called into the squad for a training camp in March 2015.[23]

He has also played for Canada at U17 (including three games at the U17 World Cup in Mexico) and U20 level.[24] In August 2015, Gasparotto was called up for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belize.[25] In May 2016, Gasparotto was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada.[26] He saw action in both matches.[27]

Gasparotto was called up to the senior Canada squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belize in September 2015.[28]

Personal life

Gasparotto was born in North York, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and an Australian father.[29] When he was one year old, his family moved to Ajax, Ontario.[29] His father was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales.[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 September 2020 [30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rangers 2012–13[31] Scottish Third Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2013–14[32] Scottish League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[33] Scottish Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[34] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Stirling Albion (loan) 2013–14[32] Scottish League Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Airdrieonians (loan) 2014–15[33] Scottish League One 26 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 2
Greenock Morton (loan) 2015–16[34] Scottish Championship 20 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 25 0
Falkirk 2016–17[34] 29 0 0 0 4 1 3[a] 0 36 1
2017–18[34] 5 1 0 0 3 0 1[b] 0 9 1
Total 34 1 0 0 7 1 4 0 45 2
Greenock Morton (loan) 2017–18[34] Scottish Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Greenock Morton 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Total 11 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
York9 2019 Canadian Premier League 28 1 6 1 — — 0 0 34 2
2020 Canadian Premier League 7 0 0 0 — — 0 0 7 0
Total 35 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 41 2
Career total 133 4 12 1 9 1 4 0 158 6
  1. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Individual
  • Airdrieonians Young Player of the Year: 2014–15[35]
  • Airdrieonians Player of the Year: 2014–15[35]

References

  1. ^ Berry, Gavin (25 April 2013). "Rangers youngster Luca Gasparotto looking for pass marks as he juggles Ibrox career with studies". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror.
  2. ^ "2011 U-17 World Cup". 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "Canada Soccer". www.canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ Melvin, David (13 April 2013). "Rangers 2–0 Clyde". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. ^ Smith, Neil (20 April 2013). "Rangers 1–2 Peterhead". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ^ Smith, Neil (4 May 2013). "Rangers 1–0 Berwick Rangers". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  7. ^ Dickinson, Andrew (21 December 2013). "Duo Make Loan Moves". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Ibrox club loans out seven fringe players". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 September 2014.
  9. ^ Shires, Freddie. "Rangers defender Luca Gasparotto hoping loan helps Gers and international future". HITC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Gasparotto joins Morton on loan". Scottish Professional Football League. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (5 January 2015). "On loan Rangers man Luca Gasparotto agrees to stay with Morton". Greenock Telegraph. Greenock: Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  12. ^ Dawes, Olly (1 May 2016). "Luca Gasparotto confirms Rangers departure, sends heartfelt message to fans on Twitter".
  13. ^ "Gasparotto pens Bairns deal". Falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk Football Club. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Luca Gasparotto joins Morton on loan". Falkirk FC. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Luca pens permanent deal until end of season". Greenock Morton FC. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ Clive Lindsay (4 August 2018). "Scottish Championship ins and outs - summer 2018". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  17. ^ Marty Thompson (14 February 2019). "York9 FC signs Canadian defender Luca Gasparotto". York 9 FC. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  18. ^ Davidson, Neil (27 April 2019). "Forge FC, York9 FC tie in Canadian Premier League's entertaining opener".
  19. ^ "York9 FC beats FC Edmonton 3-1 at home in 1st leg of their Canadian Championship series". 5 June 2019.
  20. ^ "York9 FC ironman Luca Gasparotto retires: 'It wasn't an easy decision'". Canadian Premier League. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Former Glasgow Rangers defender Luca Gasparotto signs with Humber". Humber College. 14 September 2021.
  22. ^ Morton, Donald (10 January 2014). "On-loan Luca set for Canada cap". Daily Record. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Gasparotto Gets International Call". Rangers F.C. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Profile". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Canada picks players for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Belize". Canada Soccer. 27 August 2015.
  26. ^ Canada Soccer Association. "Canada announces roster for Caribbean tour". Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  27. ^ Canada Soccer Association. "Canada m23 wins again on Caribbean tour". Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  28. ^ "Canada picks players for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Belize". canadasoccer.com. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  29. ^ a b c "Luca Gasparotto". Canada Soccer. 27 August 2015.
  30. ^ Luca Gasparotto at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Luca Gasparotto in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Luca Gasparotto in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Luca Gasparotto in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Games played by Luca Gasparotto in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  35. ^ a b Hedworth, Alice (7 August 2015). "Gasparotto moves to Morton". Rangers F.C. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.