Jacob Maniti

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jacob Maniti

| fullname = Jacob Francis Mariona Maniti

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|2002|10|16}}

| birth_place = Wetherill Park, Australia

| height = 1.72m

| position = Central midfielder

| currentclub = Blacktown City

| clubnumber = 22

| youthyears1 = 2010–2013

| youthclubs1 = NSW South South Team

| youthyears2 = 2013–2014

| youthclubs2 = Marconi Stallions

| youthyears3 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs3 = Mounties Wanderers

| youthyears4 = 2015–2017

| youthclubs4 = Mt Druitt Town Rangers

| youthyears5 = 2018–2020

| youthclubs5 = Melbourne Victory

| years1 = 2020–2021

| clubs1 = Blacktown City

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2021–2022

| clubs2 = Bulls FC Academy

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022–2023

| clubs3 = ADT

| caps3 = 8

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2023

| clubs4 = Hobro IK II

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2023–

| clubs5 = Blacktown City

| caps5 = 23

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Philippines U14

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2018

| nationalteam2 = Philippines U16

| nationalcaps2 =

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalyears3 = 2019

| nationalteam3 = Philippines U19

| nationalcaps3 =

| nationalgoals3 =

| nationalyears4 = 2022–2023

| nationalteam4 = Philippines U23

| nationalcaps4 = 6

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 21 July 2024

}}

Jacob Maniti (born 16 October 2002) is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for National Premier Leagues NSW club Blacktown City. Born in Australia, he represented the Philippines at youth international level.

Career

Born in Western Sydney to parents of Filipino and El Salvador heritage{{cite web|last1=Calvert|first1=Violi|url=https://www.australianfilipina.com.au/article/focus---filipinas--only-fil-aussie-player--chantelle-maniti?fbclid=IwAR2ZuRrp3gYD_P7bJ3v_LemrHZLUkdY8MQKpr-Kn1_EXDiMD4Bl3cpK34So|title=Focus: Filipinas' Only Fil-Aussie Player, Chantelle Maniti|website=Australian Filipina|date=15 April 2022|access-date=22 April 2022}} he was signed to the academy of A-League Men club Melbourne Victory, following strong performances as a young player in local district competitions.{{cite news |title=Bonnyrigg Heights local Jacob Maniti scouted by Melbourne soccer club |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnewslocal%2Flocalsportsstars%2Fbonnyrigg-heights-local-jacob-maniti-scouted-by-melbourne-soccer-club%2Fnews-story%2F14d9d7b9a0a9004281df3ac6188983d7&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-1-NOSCORE |access-date=22 July 2024 |agency=Fairfield Advance |publisher=Daily Telegraph}}

Maniti would travel to the Philippines and represent the Azkals Development Team in the Philippines Football League, where his first goal would be a penalty against Maharlika Taguig, which rescued the Azkals a 1–1 draw.{{cite news |last1=Del Carmen |first1=Lorenzo |title=PFL: Jacob Maniti scores late penalty as ADT denies Maharlika of first win |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pfl-jacob-maniti-scores-late-penalty-as-adt-denies-maharlika-of-first-win/252438 |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Tiebreaker Times |date=15 October 2022}}

Following a short term move to Hobro IK,{{cite news |last1=Marchetti |first1=Christian |title=SOCCEROOS ABROAD: AN AUSSIE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, A BUNDESLIGA DEBUT, AND MORE MOOY MAGIC DURING A BUSY TRANSFER WINDOW |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/socceroos-abroad-an-aussie-in-the-premier-league-a-bundesliga-debut-and-more-mooy-magic-during-a-busy-transfer-window-590918 |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=FTBL |date=15 February 2023}} Maniti returned to Australia and re-signed with Blacktown City in the NPL1 for the 2024 National Premier Leagues NSW season.{{cite news |last1=Stavroulakis |first1=Mark |title=FAMILIAR FACES RETURN AS BLACKTOWN CITY HYPED FOR 2024 |url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2023/12/12/familiar-faces-return-as-blacktown-city-hyped-for-2024/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Football NSW |date=12 December 2023}}

International career

Due to his heritage, Maniti is eligible to represent Australia, El Salvador and the Philippines. He was called up to the ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship while with the Melbourne Victory academy.{{cite news |title=Victory youth spring into national squads |url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/victory-youth-spring-national-squads/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Melbourne Victory |date=16 July 2019}}

Maniti was called up to the Philippines U-23s for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship.{{cite news |title=Philippines Men's U23 to compete in AFF U23 Championship 2022 |url=https://pff.org.ph/2022/02/10/philippines-mens-u23-to-compete-in-aff-u23-championship-2022/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=Philippines Football Federation |date=10 February 2022}}

Personal life

Maniti is the brother of Philippines women's national football team player Chantelle Maniti{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnewslocal%2Ffairfield-advance%2Fchantelle-maniti-on-kicking-a-new-goal-every-day%2Fnews-story%2F81ffadc85b5e14a17cd8afa4017cc3b9&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-cold-test-noscore&V21spcbehaviour=append|title=Chantelle Maniti on kicking a new goal every day|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=6 May 2019|access-date=22 April 2022}} and Philippines national under-16 football team player Michael Maniti.