Josh Cavallo
{{Short description|Australian association footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Josh Cavallo
| fullname = Joshua John Cavallo
| image = Josh Cavallo Adelaide United FC.jpg
| caption = Cavallo with Adelaide United in 2021
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|11|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bentleigh East, Victoria, Australia
| position = Left back, central midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Melbourne Victory
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Melbourne City
| years1 = 2017–2019
| clubs1 = Melbourne City NPL
| caps1 = 54
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2019–2021
| clubs2 = Western United
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021–2025
| clubs3 = Adelaide United
| caps3 = 49
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2018
| nationalteam1 = Australia U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 3 May 2024
| nationalteam-update = 23 March 2020
}}
Joshua John Cavallo (born 13 November 1999) is an Australian professional soccer player who last played for A-League Men club Adelaide United. Cavallo has represented the Australian under-20 national team.
Early life
Joshua John Cavallo{{Cite web|url=http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/13384|title=AFCS|website=stats.the-afc.com|accessdate=27 October 2021}} was born on 13 November 1999 in Bentleigh East, Victoria.{{cite web| url=https://www.nationalworld.com/sport/josh-cavallo-what-did-adelaide-united-football-player-say-about-coming-out-as-gay-and-support-received-3434113| title=Josh Cavallo: what did Adelaide United football player say about coming out as gay - and support received| publisher=National World| date=27 October 2021| accessdate=27 October 2021}} He is of Italian and Maltese descent.{{cite web| url = https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltese-australian-player-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay-in-a-league-first.910836| title = Maltese-Australian footballer Josh Cavallo comes out as gay| date = 27 October 2021}}
He says that he was initially more into playing tennis, but his brother encouraged him to kick a ball around in the backyard and it was not long before he "fell in love" with the game.
Career
=Youth=
File:Joshua Cavallo.jpg in 2016]]
Cavallo was scouted by a national program at the age of 15, and later offered a scholarship by Melbourne Victory. He represented both Melbourne Victory FC Youth and Melbourne City FC Youth.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-29|title=Youth in Focus: Josh Cavallo|url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/youth-focus-josh-cavallo|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Melbourne City FC|language=en}}
=Western United=
On 15 April 2019, Melbourne City announced that Cavallo would leave the club at the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news|website=Melbourne City FC|date=15 April 2019|accessdate=27 October 2021|title=Cavallo to depart at season's end|url=https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/cavallo-depart-seasons-end}}
On 24 June 2019, new A-League side Western United, representing western Melbourne suburbs and western Victorian regional towns,{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.wufc.com.au/about-us |website=Western United FC |access-date=13 March 2024 }} announced that Cavallo would join the club ahead of its inaugural season.{{cite news|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/western-united-confirm-two-new-signings|title=Signing news: Western United confirm double swoop|website=A-League|date=24 June 2019|first=Jacob|last=Windon}} He made his debut on 3 January 2020 in a 3–2 loss at his previous club. On as a 71st-minute substitute for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, he earned a penalty when fouled by goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, which was converted by Besart Berisha.{{cite news |last1=Greco |first1=John |title=Maclaren at the double as 10-man City hold off United fightback |url=https://www.a-league.com.au/match/melbourne-city-fc-v-western-united-fc-a-league-men-03-01-2020/2024008 |access-date=27 October 2021 |date=3 January 2020}}
Western United announced that Cavallo was leaving the club on 10 February 2021{{cite news|url=https://www.wufc.com.au/news/josh-cavallo-departs|title=Josh Cavallo departs|website=Western United FC|date=10 February 2021|accessdate=27 October 2021}} to seek more playing time with another A-League club.
=Adelaide United=
On 18 February 2021, Cavallo signed a short-term contract to play for Adelaide United.{{Cite web|date=18 February 2021|title=Reds sign Cavallo for remainder of the season|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-sign-cavallo-remainder-season|access-date=11 August 2021|website=Adelaide United FC}} After a successful stint in the 2020–21 A-League, he signed a two-year contract extension on 11 May.{{Cite web|date=11 May 2021|title=Reds extend Cavallo contract for two-years|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/reds-extend-cavallo-contract-two-years|access-date=11 August 2021|website=A-League}} He was rewarded with Adelaide United's A-League Rising Star award after a successful 2020–21 campaign, in which he started 15 games and made 18 appearances.{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/news/waldus-and-halloran-claim-2021-alagich-vidmar-awards|website=Adelaide United FC|accessdate=27 October 2021|date=15 June 2021|title=Waldus and Halloran claim 2021 Alagich Vidmar Awards}}
He plays as a left back and central midfielder for the club.{{Cite web|date=2017-08-29|title=Joshua Cavallo|url=https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/joshua-cavallo|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Adelaide United|language=en|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112110220/https://www.adelaideunited.com.au/player/joshua-cavallo|url-status=dead}}
During the 2024-25 season, Cavallo failed to make a single appearance for Adelaide, only making the bench eight times throughout the season. He departed the club at the season's end.{{cite web |title=Thank you and farewell, Josh Cavallo |url=https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/thank-you-and-farewell-josh-cavallo/ |website=adelaideunited.com.au |access-date=21 June 2025 |date=22 May 2025}}
=National team=
Cavallo was in the Australian under-19 national team which played in the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in October–November 2018, starting with a game against Korea Republic.{{cite web | title=Update to Young Socceroos squad for AFC U19 Championship | website=Socceroos | date=19 October 2018 | url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/update-young-socceroos-squad-afc-u19-championship | access-date=13 March 2024}}
Cavallo has represented the Australian under-20 national team.{{Cite news|last=|first=|title=Australian Josh Cavallo becomes only openly gay male footballer in the pro game|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4076068/2021/10/27/australian-josh-cavallo-becomes-only-openly-gay-male-footballer-in-the-pro-game/|access-date=2021-11-12|language=en}}
Cavallo hoped to make the team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup,{{cite web | title=Josh Cavallo: My dream is to play in Qatar, but I don't want to put my life in danger | website=Marca | date=15 May 2024 | url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/2022/06/30/62bd7b9b268e3eca0f8b45ef.html | access-date=30 June 2022}} but was not selected to play. He was disappointed at FIFA's decision to ban players from wearing "OneLove" armbands at the tournament{{cite web | last=Emmet Lyons | first=Ami Kaufman | title=Josh Cavallo: Only openly gay top-flight male footballer says FIFA's 'OneLove' armband ban has made him feel 'excluded' | website=CNN | date=23 November 2022 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/23/football/josh-cavallo-qatar-world-cup-fifa-armband-ban-spt-intl/index.html | access-date=24 January 2025}}
Personal life
He came out as gay in October 2021.{{Cite news|date=2021-10-27|title=Josh Cavallo: 'I'm a footballer and I'm gay,' says Australian player|language=en-GB|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-59060323|access-date=2021-11-12}} At the time, there were no other openly gay male footballers playing professional top-flight football. He said in a statement, "I hope that in sharing who I am, I can show others who identify as LGBTQ+ that they are welcome in the football community".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/27/i-have-been-fighting-my-sexuality-a-league-player-josh-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay| title='I have been fighting my sexuality': A-League player Josh Cavallo comes out as gay| work=The Guardian | first=Emma| last=Kemp | date= 27 October 2021|access-date= 27 October 2021 | archive-date= 27 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027065534/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/27/i-have-been-fighting-my-sexuality-a-league-player-josh-cavallo-comes-out-as-gay | url-status=live}} Cavallo said he had "never smiled so much in my life" and had "the best night's sleep" after his announcement.{{cite web | title=Cavallo: 'I've never smiled this much' | website=The Senior | date=28 October 2021 | url=https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/7489120/cavallo-ive-never-smiled-this-much/ | access-date=14 March 2024}} He was fully and explicitly supported by Adelaide United management and fellow players.{{cite web | last=Berrill | first=Sophie | title=Josh Cavallo: 'People don't have to get football to get my story' | website=Marketing Mag | date=22 August 2022 | url=https://www.marketingmag.com.au/featured/josh-cavallo-people-dont-have-to-get-football-to-get-my-story/ | access-date=14 March 2024}}{{cite web | title=Adelaide United supports Josh's truth | website=Football Australia | date=27 October 2021 | url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/adelaide-united-supports-joshs-truth | access-date=14 March 2024}} The announcement was widely reported in the international press,{{cite web | title=Australian footballer Josh Cavallo says he is gay in emotional social media post | website=BreakingNews.ie | date=27 October 2021 | url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/australian-footballer-josh-cavallo-says-he-is-gay-in-emotional-social-media-post-1205103.html | access-date=14 March 2024}} and Cavallo received messages of support from many football players, including Gerard Piqué, Marcus Rashford, Antoine Griezmann,{{cite interview | interviewer-last=Safi | interviewer-first=Michael|first= Josh| last=Cavallo| format=audio + text | title=Josh Cavallo: the world's only openly gay top-tier men's footballer | website=the Guardian | date=14 November 2021 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2021/nov/15/josh-cavallo-the-worlds-only-openly-gay-top-tier-mens-footballer | access-date=14 March 2024}} Jordan Henderson, Gary Lineker, and Lionel Messi, as well as fans, strangers, and celebrities such as Lil Nas X and Ellen DeGeneres.
Cavallo was the first high-profile player to come out during their career since English footballer Justin Fashanu made a similar announcement in 1990. Fashanu faced widespread homophobia after the announcement.{{efn|Fashanu committed suicide eight years later, after fleeing to England following charges being laid in the U.S. that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old boy, which he denied, saying that the sex had been consensual.{{cite web | title=Fashanu 'may have fled US'| website=BBC News | date=2 May 1998 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/86840.stm | access-date=14 March 2024}}{{cite web | title=Justin Fashanu found hanged in lock-up garage| website=The Independent | date=4 May 1998 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/justin-fashanu-found-hanged-in-lockup-garage-1161425.html | access-date=14 March 2024}}}} In May 2022 English footballer Jake Daniels came out, aged 17, becoming the UK's only male professional footballer to be publicly out at the time, and the first since Fashanu.{{Cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12614531/jake-daniels-blackpool-forward-becomes-uks-first-active-male-professional-footballer-to-come-out-publicly-as-gay |title=Jake Daniels: Blackpool forward becomes UK's first active male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Sky Sports}} He cited Cavallo among those who had helped him to come out.{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Daniel |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/jake-daniels-coming-out-gay-beautiful-moment-change-british-football-forever-1633724 | title=Jake Daniels coming out as gay is a beautiful moment that could change British football forever |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=i News}}
In March 2024, Cavallo proposed to his partner Leighton Morrell on the pitch at Coopers Stadium, Adelaide United's home ground.{{cite web | title=Trailblazer Cavallo gets engaged on Adelaide Utd pitch | website=BBC Sport | date=13 March 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68552458 | access-date=13 March 2024}} He posted three photos on Instagram, one of which showed Morrell wearing an engagement ring, and thanked his club for their support and encouragement to live his life authentically.{{Cite web |title=Starting this year with my fiancé... |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4c4_HoSUtK/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website= Instagram}}
Recognition
He won Adelaide United's Rising Star award for the 2020–21 season.
In 2022, Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide, in recognition of "his exceptional contributions as a role model in elite men's sport and as a champion for equality".{{cite web | title=Josh Cavallo | website=Australian of the Year | url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/josh-cavallo | access-date=13 March 2024}}
Cavallo was nominated as 2023 SA Young Australian of the Year.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 18 March 2025|{{cite web |title=J. Cavallo |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/joshua-cavallo/522062/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=27 October 2021}}}}
| class="wikitable" Style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Western United
|9 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|A-League |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!9 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 9 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Adelaide United
|A-League |19 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|A-League Men |19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|A-League Men |7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023–24
|A-League Men |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024–25
|A-League Men |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Total
!49 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!58 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 64 | 0 |
See also
Footnotes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|joshua-cavallo/522062}}
- {{instagram|joshua.cavallo}}
{{Adelaide United FC squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cavallo, Josh}}
Category:People from Bentleigh, Victoria
Category:Sportsmen from Victoria (state)
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Soccer players from Melbourne
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Melbourne Victory FC players
Category:Melbourne City FC players
Category:Western United FC players
Category:Adelaide United FC players
Category:National Premier Leagues players
Category:Australian LGBTQ soccer players
Category:Australian gay sportsmen
Category:Australian people of Italian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent