Christian Zeppieri
{{Short description|Canadian soccer player (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Christian Zeppieri
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|5|4}}
|birth_place = Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = York United
|clubnumber = 30
|youthyears1 = 2008–2017 |youthclubs1 = Vaughan Azzurri
|youthyears2 = 2017–2020 |youthclubs2 = Toronto FC
|collegeyears1 = 2023– |college1 = York Lions |collegecaps1 = 17 |collegegoals1 = 5
|years1 = 2021 |clubs1 = Vaughan Azzurri |caps1 = 10 |goals1 = 2
|years2 = 2023 |clubs2 = Vaughan Azzurri |caps2 = 19 |goals2 = 1
|years3 = 2024– |clubs3 = York United |caps3 = 9 |goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2025– |clubs4 = → York United FC Academy (loan) |caps4 = 1 |goals4 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|club-update = August 15, 2024
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Christian Zeppieri (born May 4, 2003) is a Canadian professional soccer player for York United FC and also plays in U Sports for the York Lions.
Early life
Zeppieri played youth soccer with Vaughan Azzurri and the Toronto FC Academy and also spent a year playing club soccer in Italy.
University career
In 2023, Zeppieri began attending York University, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/christian-zeppieri/10539|title=Christian Zeppieri York Lions profile|work=York Lions}} In the first game of the 2023 season on September 1, he scored the tying goal via a penalty kick in a 1-1 draw against the Laurier Golden Hawks.{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/9/2/womens-soccer-zeppieri-zaps-hawks-with-late-equalizer-to-secure-season-opening-draw-for-lions.aspx|title=Zeppieri zaps Hawks with late equalizer to earn season-opening draw for Lions|date=September 2, 2023|first=Arpan|last=Kaur|work=York Lions}} In his rookie season, he was twice named the York Lions Athlete of the Week.{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/9/18/varsity-athletics-zeppieri-hannah-ives-named-york-athletes-of-the-week-for-period-ending-sept-17.aspx|title=Zeppieri, Hannah, Ives named York Athletes of the Week for period ending Sept. 17|date=September 18, 2023|work=York Lions}}{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/6/varsity-athletics-zeppieri-mclennan-named-york-athletes-of-the-week-for-period-ending-nov-5.aspx|title=Zeppieri, Mclennan named York Athletes of the Week for period ending Nov. 5|date=November 6, 2023|work=York Lions}} He helped York advance to the OUA final, but missed the final due to suspension, after earning a second yellow card in the semi-final after removing his jersey in celebration after scoring a goal.{{cite web|url=https://49-sport.com/2023/11/02/york-lions-defeat-ontario-tech-oua-semifinal/|title=Zeppieri sees red for shirt celebration as York advance to OUA Final|work=49 Sport|date=November 2, 2023|first=Ben|last=Steiner}} At the end of his rookie season, he was named the OUA West MVP and an OUA First Team All-Star,{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/2/womens-soccer-zeppieri-wins-oua-west-mvp-attardo-ramirez-earn-all-star-selections.aspx|title=Zeppieri wins OUA West MVP, Attardo, Ramirez earn All-Star selections|date=November 2, 2023|work=York Lions}}{{cite web|url=https://oua.ca/sports/msoc/2023-24/releases/awards_and_all_stars|title=Veteran Marzouk, newcomer Zeppieri take home top honours at opposite ends of varsity tenure|work=Ontario University Athletics|date=November 2, 2023}} and was also named a U Sports First Team All-Canadian.{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/11/8/mens-soccer-zeppieri-named-u-sports-first-team-all-canadian-following-stellar-rookie-campaign.aspx|title=Zeppieri named U Sports First-Team All Canadian following stellar rookie campaign|date=November 8, 2023|work=York Lions}} He was also name the school's Male Athlete of the Year for 2023-24.{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2024/4/4/best-and-brightest-of-2023-24-take-centre-stage-at-55th-annual-york-varsity-athletics-banquet.aspx|title=Best and brightest of 2023-24 take centre stage at 55th annual York varsity athletics banquet|date=April 4, 2024|work=York Lions}} In 2024, he was again named the OUA West MVP and an OUA West First Team All-Star,{{Cite web|url=https://oua.ca/sports/msoc/2024-25/award_winners|title=Coore, Zeppieri claim most valuable player honors for their championship bound teams|date=November 1, 2024|work=Ontario University Athletics}} and was also award the Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy, as the most outstanding player of U Sports men's soccer.{{cite web|url=https://en.usports.ca/sports/msoc/2024-25c/releases/MSOCAWARDS2024 |title=Christian Zeppieri named U Sports men's soccer player of the year |publisher=U Sports |date=November 6, 2024}}
Club career
In 2021 and 2023, Zeppieri played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/48060027|title=Christian Zeppieri 2021 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/64352939|title=Christian Zeppieri 2023 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}
At the 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft, Zeppieri was selected in the first round (fourth overall) by York United FC.{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-select-christian-zeppieri-and-jason-hartill-in-2024-cpl-u-sports-draft|title=York United FC select Christian Zeppieri and Jason Hartill in 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft|date=December 14, 2023|work=York United FC}}{{cite web|url=https://yorkulions.ca/news/2023/12/14/mens-soccer-zeppieri-taken-by-york-united-fc-in-2024-u-sports-cpl-draft.aspx|title=Zeppieri Taken By York United FC In 2024 CPL-U Sports Draft|date=December 14, 2023|work=York Lions}} In April 2024, he signed a U Sports contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-announce-signing-of-midfielder-christian-zeppieri-to-u-sports-contract|title=York United FC announce signing of midfielder Christian Zeppieri to U SPORTS contract|date=April 12, 2024|work=York United FC}} In August 2024, he departed the club to return to university, with the club retaining his rights for the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/cpl-clubs-announce-multiple-u-sports-players-remaining-with-teams-returning-to-university|title=CPL clubs announce multiple U SPORTS players remaining with teams, returning to university|date=August 15, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League}}
Career statistics
{{updated|June 28, 2024}}{{soccerway|christian-zeppieri/607259}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Vaughan Azzurri
|2021 |rowspan=2|League1 Ontario |10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2" |Total
!29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| York United FC
|2024 |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 3 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|christian-zeppieri/607259}}
{{York United FC squad}}
{{2024 CPL–U Sports Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeppieri, Christian}}
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sportspeople from Vaughan
Category:Vaughan Azzurri players
Category:Toronto FC Academy players
Category:League1 Ontario players
Category:York United FC draft picks
Category:York United FC players
Category:Canadian Premier League players
Category:York Lions men's soccer players
Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen
Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada