Jai Quitongo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jai Quitongo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|9|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wishaw, Scotland

| height = 1.80 m{{Soccerway|jai-quitongo/428898}}

| currentclub = Marsaxlokk

| clubnumber = 21

| position = Striker, Winger

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014

| youthclubs1 = Hamilton Academical

| youthyears2 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs2 = Aberdeen

| youthyears3 = 2015

| youthclubs3 = Greenock Morton

| years1 = 2015–2018

| clubs1 = Greenock Morton

| caps1 = 35

| goals1 = 12

| years2 = 2018

| clubs2 = Partick Thistle

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = Machine Sazi

| caps3 = 8

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2020

| clubs4 = Dumbarton

| caps4 = 6

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2020–2022

| clubs5 = Queen's Park

| caps5 = 29

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2022–2024

| clubs6 = Greenock Morton

| caps6 = 48

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2024–

| clubs7 = Marsaxlokk

| caps7 = 12

| goals7 = 4

| nationalyears1 = 2016

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 22 December 2024

| ntupdate = 4 March 2019

}}

Jai Quitongo (born 14 September 1997) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Maltese club Marsaxlokk.

He has previously played for Morton, Partick Thistle, Machine Sazi, Dumbarton and Queen's Park. Throughout his youth career, Quitongo played for Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen.

Quitongo is a one-time capped Scotland U21 internationalist.

Background

Quitongo's father is ex-Hamilton Academical, Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren winger José Quitongo. His brother, Rico, plays as a left back for Scottish League One club Queen of the South.

Club career

=Greenock Morton=

After playing for the youth sides at Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen, Quitongo signed for Greenock Morton on a short-term deal in August 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/14020512.Morton_agree_to_sign_winger/|title=Morton agree to sign winger|publisher=Greenock Telegraph|date=13 August 2015|accessdate=21 December 2015}} He was offered an 18-month extension in December 2015{{cite news|url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/14139782.Young_Morton_duo_earn_18_month_full_time_deals/|title=Young Morton duo earn 18-month full-time deals|publisher=Greenock Telegraph|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell|date=11 December 2015|accessdate=14 December 2015}} and made his debut for the first team as a late substitute against Raith Rovers.{{cite news|url=http://spfl.co.uk/championship/fixture/3636790/|title=Morton 1–2 Raith Rovers|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=18 December 2015|accessdate=21 December 2015}}

In December 2015, Quitongo signed a contract extension, making him contracted to the club until May 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://gmfc.net/News/&action=fullnews&id=1536|title=Contract extensions|publisher=Greenock Morton F.C.|date=22 December 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223094241/http://gmfc.net/News/%26action%3Dfullnews%26id%3D1536|archivedate=23 December 2015|df=dmy-all}} His first goal for the club came against Kilmarnock in the League Cup and followed up with a winning strike against Hamilton Academical.{{cite news|url=http://gmfc.net/2016/08/09/match-report-hamilton-accies-1-2-morton/|title=Match report: Hamilton Accies 1–2 Morton|publisher=Greenock Morton F.C.|date=9 August 2016|accessdate=10 August 2016|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell}}

On 31 August 2016, Morton rejected a bid from Doncaster Rovers for Quitongo's services.{{cite news|url=http://gmfc.net/2016/08/31/jai-quitongo-bid-rejected/ |title=Jai Quitongo bid rejected |publisher=Greenock Morton F.C. |first=Jonathan |last=Mitchell |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=31 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915020146/http://gmfc.net/2016/08/31/jai-quitongo-bid-rejected/ |archivedate=15 September 2016 }} Quitongo underwent knee surgery in January 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39118258 |title=Jai Quitongo signs new deal at Greenock Morton |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=28 February 2017}} While recovering from the injury, he signed a new contract with Morton that ran until June 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://gmfc.net/2017/03/01/jai-staying-with-morton-was-the-right-move/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302113854/http://gmfc.net/2017/03/01/jai-staying-with-morton-was-the-right-move/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2017 |title=Jai: Staying with Morton was the right move |publisher=Greenock Morton F.C. |date=1 March 2017 |accessdate=1 March 2017 |first=Jonathan |last=Mitchell }} He was offered a new one-year deal but this was rescinded in August 2018 and he was released from the club.{{cite web|url=https://gmfc.net/2018/08/10/player-updates-scott-tiffoney-jai-quitongo/|title=Player Updates: Scott Tiffoney / Jai Quitongo|publisher=Greenock Morton F.C.|website=gmfc.net|author=Jonathan Mitchell|date=10 August 2018|accessdate=11 August 2018|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811131803/https://gmfc.net/2018/08/10/player-updates-scott-tiffoney-jai-quitongo/|url-status=dead}}

=Partick Thistle=

After agreeing compensation, due to his age, Quitongo joined Partick Thistle on a short-term deal until January 2019.{{cite web|url=https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/signing-news-jai-quitongo-is-a-jag/|title=Jai Quitongo is a Jag|publisher=Partick Thistle F.C.|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=2 September 2018}} Jai scored his first goal for the Jags in a 2-1 home defeat against Dundee United.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45768830|title=Partick Thistle 1-2 Dundee United|publisher=BBC|website=BBC Sport|date=13 October 2018|accessdate=23 August 2019}}

=Machine Sazi=

After leaving Thistle, in March 2019, Quitongo moved to Iranian side Machine Sazi on a four-year deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2019/03/04/1961368/scottish-winger-jai-quitongo-joins-iran-s-machine-sazi|title=Iranian top-flight football club Machine Sazi has signed Scottish winger Jai Quitongo|publisher=Tasnim News|date=4 March 2019|accessdate=23 August 2019}}

= Dumbarton =

He left Machine after just eight appearances and joined Scottish League One club Dumbarton on a short-term deal in January 2020, teaming up with his younger brother Rico and former manager at Greenock Morton Jim Duffy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=4282|title=Dumbarton Football Club - SIGNING NEWS: JAI QUITONGO JOINS DUMBARTON|website=www.dumbartonfootballclub.com|access-date=2020-01-29}} He scored his first goal for the club against Forfar Athletic in March 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51512673|title=Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic|date=2020-02-22|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2020-03-03|language=en-gb}} He left the club in July 2020 after six appearances and one goal.{{Cite web|title=Dumbarton Football Club - SQUAD CHANGES|url=https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=4511|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.dumbartonfootballclub.com}}

= Queen's Park =

Quitongo signed for League Two club Queen's Park in October 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://queensparkfc.co.uk/spiders-sign-jai-quitongo/|title=Spiders Sign Jai Quitongo|date=24 October 2020}}

= Greenock Morton =

On 20 July 2022, Quitongo returned to his first club, Greenock Morton, signing a one-year contract until the end of the season.{{Cite web |title=Jai Quitongo joins the Ton - Greenock Morton FC |url=https://www.gmfc.net/jai-quitongo-joins-the-ton/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.gmfc.net |date=20 June 2022 |language=en-GB}} He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 home win against Cove Rangers,{{Cite news |title=Quitongo gives Imrie's Morton win over Cove |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62358463 |access-date=2023-02-27}} and scored later in the season in a 1–1 draw with Ayr United.{{Cite news |title=Championship leaders Ayr held by chasing Morton |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63436296 |access-date=2023-02-27}} After the end of the season, Quitongo signed an extension to his contract, expiring in summer 2024.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-29 |title=Jai Quitongo Extends his stay |url=https://www.gmfc.net/jai-quitongo-extends-his-stay/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Greenock Morton FC |language=en-GB}}

International career

On 31 October 2016, Quitongo was selected by coach Scot Gemmill for the Scotland under-21 squad.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37821662 |title=Scotland Under-21s: Morton winger Jai Quitongo given first call-up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 October 2016 |accessdate=31 October 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://gmfc.net/2016/10/31/quitongo-nesbitt-receive-scots-u-21-call-ups/ |title=Quitongo & Nesbitt named in Scots U-21 squad |publisher=Greenock Morton F.C. |date=31 October 2016 |accessdate=31 October 2016 |first=Jonathan |last=Mitchell |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041624/http://gmfc.net/2016/10/31/quitongo-nesbitt-receive-scots-u-21-call-ups/ |archivedate= 1 November 2016 }} He debuted as a substitute in a friendly defeat away to Slovakia.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37930204 |title=International friendly: Slovakia U21 4–0 Scotland U21 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=9 November 2016 |accessdate=9 November 2016}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Scottish Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4" \|Greenock Morton \|2015–16{{soccerbase season \|80740\|2015\|accessdate=12 November 2017 }} \|rowspan="3"\|Championship \|6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
2016–17{{soccerbase season \|80740\|2016\|accessdate=12 November 2017 }} \|14	2	1	0	7	4	1Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup	0	23	6
2017–18{{soccerbase season \|80740\|2017\|accessdate=12 November 2017 }} \|15	3	0	0	4	1	1	0	20	4
colspan="2" \|Greenock Morton total !35 !5 !2 !0 !11 !5 !2 !0 !50 !10
Partick Thistle \|2018–19 \|Championship \|13 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|13 \|1
Dumbarton \|2019–20 \|League One \|6 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|6 \|1
colspan="3" \|Career total !54	7	2	0	11	5	2	0	69	12

Honours

Morton

SPFL Development League West: Winners 2015–16{{cite news|url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/14388949.Morton_Under_20s_crowned_champions/|title=Morton Under-20s crowned champions|publisher=Greenock Telegraph|date=29 March 2016|accessdate=30 March 2016|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell}}