Luca Gasparotto

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Luca Gasparotto

| fullname = Luca Robert Gasparotto

| image = Luca Gasparotto.jpg

| caption = Gasparotto in 2019

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|3|9}}

| birth_place = North York, Ontario, Canada

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Ajax SC

| youthyears2 = 2011

| youthclubs2 = SC Toronto

| youthyears3 = 2011–2013

| youthclubs3 = Rangers

| collegeyears1 = 2021–2022

| college1 = Humber Hawks

| collegecaps1 = 5

| collegegoals1 = 2

| years1 = 2013–2016

| years2 = 2013–2014

| years3 = 2014–2015

| years4 = 2015–2016

| years5 = 2016–2018

| years6 = 2017

| years7 = 2018

| years8 = 2019–2020

| clubs1 = Rangers

| clubs2 = → Stirling Albion (loan)

| clubs3 = → Airdrieonians (loan)

| clubs4 = → Greenock Morton (loan)

| clubs5 = Falkirk

| clubs6 = → Greenock Morton (loan)

| clubs7 = Greenock Morton

| clubs8 = York9

| caps1 = 4

| goals1 = 0

| caps2 = 3

| goals2 = 0

| caps3 = 26

| goals3 = 2

| caps4 = 20

| goals4 = 0

| caps5 = 34

| goals5 = 1

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| caps8 = 35

| goals8 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2011

| nationalteam1 = Canada U17

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2015

| nationalteam2 = Canada U20

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2015–2016

| nationalteam3 = Canada U23

| nationalcaps3 = 7

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| pcupdate = 3 November 2020

| ntupdate = 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,{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-youngster-luca-gasparatto-looking-1851930 | title=Rangers youngster Luca Gasparotto looking for pass marks as he juggles Ibrox career with studies | work=Daily Record |publisher=Trinity Mirror|location=Glasgow | date=25 April 2013 |first=Gavin|last=Berry}} and then moved to Canadian Soccer League side SC Toronto.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sctoronto.ca/?p=1187 |title=2011 U-17 World Cup |date=2011-09-09 |access-date=2016-12-14 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909010454/http://www.sctoronto.ca/?p=1187 |archivedate=9 September 2011 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-u17-camp-in-florida-p145511|title=Canada Soccer|website=www.canadasoccer.com|access-date=2016-12-14}}

=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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3755-rangers-2-0-clyde|title=Rangers 2–0 Clyde|first=David|last=Melvin|publisher=Rangers Football Club|work=Rangers.co.uk|date=13 April 2013|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002125258/http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3755-rangers-2-0-clyde|archive-date=2 October 2015|url-status=dead}} Gasparotto made his second Rangers appearance in a 1–2 defeat to Peterhead at Ibrox on 20 April.{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3801-rangers-1-2-peterhead|title=Rangers 1–2 Peterhead|publisher=Rangers Football Club|work=Rangers.co.uk|first=Neil|last=Smith|date=20 April 2013|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715204032/http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3801-rangers-1-2-peterhead|archive-date=15 July 2015|url-status=dead}} Gasparotto made his first start for Rangers on the final day of the 2012–13 season in a 1–0 win over Berwick Rangers.{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3903-rangers-1-0-berwick-rangers|title=Rangers 1–0 Berwick Rangers|publisher=Rangers Football Club|work=Rangers.co.uk|first=Neil|last=Smith|date=4 May 2013|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715213552/http://www.rangers.co.uk/match/match-reports/2012-13/item/3903-rangers-1-0-berwick-rangers|archive-date=15 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

Gasparotto did not play for Rangers during the 2013–14 season but was loaned out to Stirling Albion.{{cite web| url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/5854-duo-make-loan-moves| title=Duo Make Loan Moves| date=21 December 2013| first=Andrew| last=Dickinson| publisher=Rangers Football Club| work=Rangers.co.uk| access-date=19 August 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224093549/http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/5854-duo-make-loan-moves| archive-date=24 December 2013| url-status=dead}} He joined Airdrieonians on 1 September 2014, initially until January,{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29026791| title=Ibrox club loans out seven fringe players| work=BBC Sport | date=2 September 2014| publisher=BBC }} however, this was extended until the summer of 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/03/27/rangers-defender-luca-gasparotto-hoping-loan-helps-gers-and-inte/page/1/|title=Rangers defender Luca Gasparotto hoping loan helps Gers and international future|publisher=HITC Sport|accessdate=28 August 2015|first=Freddie|last=Shires}}

=Greenock Morton=

Following a serious injury to Frank McKeown, Gasparotto was signed by Greenock Morton on a short-term deal until January 2016.{{cite news|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/gasparotto-joins-morton-on-loan/|title=Gasparotto joins Morton on loan|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League|date=7 August 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015}} After impressing in his loan stint, Gasparotto's loan with Morton was extended to the end of the 2015–16 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/sport/14181930.On_loan_Rangers_man_Luca_Gasparotto_agrees_to_stay_with_Morton/|title= On loan Rangers man Luca Gasparotto agrees to stay with Morton|publisher=Newsquest Media Group|work=Greenock Telegraph|date=5 January 2015|accessdate=9 January 2016|first=Jonathan|last=Mitchell|location=Greenock }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/05/03/luca-gasparotto-confirms-rangers-departure-sends-heartfelt-messa/|title=Luca Gasparotto confirms Rangers departure, sends heartfelt message to fans on Twitter|date=1 May 2016|last=Dawes|first=Olly}}

=Falkirk=

In June 2016, Gasparotto joined Scottish Championship side Falkirk.{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/gasparotto-pens-bairns-deal/ |title=Gasparotto pens Bairns deal|work=Falkirkfc.co.uk |publisher=Falkirk Football Club|date=22 June 2016 |accessdate=22 June 2016}}

=Second spell at Morton=

In November 2017, Gasparotto returned to Greenock Morton on an emergency loan deal until the start of January 2018,{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/luca-gasparotto-joins-morton-on-loan/ |title=Luca Gasparotto joins Morton on loan |publisher=Falkirk FC |date=14 November 2017 |accessdate=14 November 2017}} whereupon he signed a permanent deal until the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |url=https://gmfc.net/2018/01/05/luca-pens-permanent-deal-until-end-of-season/ |title=Luca pens permanent deal until end of season |publisher=Greenock Morton FC |date=5 January 2018 |accessdate=5 January 2018}} He was released at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44282004|title=Scottish Championship ins and outs - summer 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|website=bbc.co.uk|date=4 August 2018|accessdate=9 August 2018|author=Clive Lindsay}}

=York9=

On 14 February 2019, Gasparotto returned to Canada, signing with Canadian Premier League side York9.{{cite web |author1=Marty Thompson |title=York9 FC signs Canadian defender Luca Gasparotto |url=https://york9fc.canpl.ca/article/york9-fc-signs-canadian-defender-luca-gasparotto |publisher=York 9 FC |accessdate=14 February 2019 |date=14 February 2019}} He made his first appearance for York9 in their inaugural match against Forge FC on 27 April 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5114121|first=Neil|last=Davidson|date=April 27, 2019|title=Forge FC, York9 FC tie in Canadian Premier League's entertaining opener}} He scored his first goal for the Nine Stripes in a Canadian Championship match against FC Edmonton on 5 June 2019.{{cite web|date=June 5, 2019|title=York9 FC beats FC Edmonton 3-1 at home in 1st leg of their Canadian Championship series|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5358713/canadian-championship-series-first-leg-edmonton-york/}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/york9-ironman-luca-gasparotto-retires-it-wasnt-an-easy-decision|title=York9 FC ironman Luca Gasparotto retires: 'It wasn't an easy decision'|publisher= Canadian Premier League|accessdate=March 26, 2021|date=November 3, 2020}}

=Later career=

In 2021, he began attending Humber College, where he joined the men's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://humberhawks.ca/sports/msoc/2021-22/releases/20210914f8him6|title=Former Glasgow Rangers defender Luca Gasparotto signs with Humber|date=September 14, 2021|work=Humber College}} In his debut season, Gasparotto was named to the 2021 OCAA League All-Star team.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2021 |title=Humber Hawks brings home gold yet again from the 2021 CCAA National Championship {{!}} Humber News |url=https://humbernews.ca/2021/11/humber-hawks-bring-home-gold-yet-again-from-the-2021-ccaa-national-championship/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=humbernews.ca}} He also helped the Hawks win the national championship by defeating the Douglas Royals.

International career

He was called into a training camp for the Canada national team in January 2014 whilst on loan at Stirling.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/on-loan-luca-set-canada-cap-3007223|title=On-loan Luca set for Canada cap|publisher=Daily Record|first=Donald|last=Morton|date=10 January 2014|accessdate=16 August 2015}} Gasparotto was again called into the squad for a training camp in March 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/8857-gasparotto-gets-international-call|title=Gasparotto Gets International Call|publisher=Rangers F.C.|date=20 March 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710202814/http://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/8857-gasparotto-gets-international-call|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

He has also played for Canada at U17 (including three games at the U17 World Cup in Mexico) and U20 level.{{cite web|url=http://canadasoccer.com/?t=roster&pid=1259|title=Profile|accessdate=16 August 2015|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association}} In August 2015, Gasparotto was called up for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belize.{{cite news|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-picks-players-for-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-against-belize-p158339|title=Canada picks players for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Belize|publisher=Canada Soccer|date=27 August 2015}} In May 2016, Gasparotto was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada.{{cite web|url=http://canadasoccer.com/canada-announces-roster-for-caribbean-tour-p159488|title=Canada announces roster for Caribbean tour|author=Canada Soccer Association|accessdate=19 May 2016|archive-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803131824/https://canadasoccer.com/canada-announces-roster-for-caribbean-tour-p159488|url-status=dead}} He saw action in both matches.{{cite web|url=http://canadasoccer.com/canada-m23-wins-again-on-caribbean-tour-p159531|title=Canada m23 wins again on Caribbean tour|author=Canada Soccer Association|accessdate=19 May 2016|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728190904/https://canadasoccer.com/canada-m23-wins-again-on-caribbean-tour-p159531|url-status=dead}}

Gasparotto was called up to the senior Canada squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belize in September 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-picks-players-for-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-against-belize-p158339|title=Canada picks players for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Belize|publisher=canadasoccer.com |date=27 August 2015 |accessdate=1 July 2016}}

Personal life

Gasparotto was born in North York, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and an Australian father.{{cite news|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/?t=roster&pid=1259|title=Luca Gasparotto|publisher=Canada Soccer|date=27 August 2015}} When he was one year old, his family moved to Ajax, Ontario. His father was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales.

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National 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="5"\|Rangers \|2012–13{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2012\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|Scottish Third Division \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2013–14{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2013\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|Scottish League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014–15{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2014\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015–16{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2015\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Stirling Albion (loan) \|2013–14 \|Scottish League Two \|3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Airdrieonians (loan) \|2014–15 \|Scottish League One \|26	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	2
Greenock Morton (loan) \|2015–16 \|rowspan="3"\|Scottish Championship \|20	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	25	0
rowspan="3"\|Falkirk \|2016–17 \|29	0	0	0	4	1	3One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs	0	36	1
2017–18 \|5	1	0	0	3	0	1Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup	0	9	1
colspan="2"\|Total !34	1	0	0	7	1	4	0	45	2
Greenock Morton (loan) \|rowspan="2"\|2017–18 \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Championship \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
rowspan="2"\|Greenock Morton \|7	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
colspan="2"\|Total !11	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
rowspan="3"\|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
colspan="2"\|Total !35	1	6	1	0	0	0	0	41	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !133	4	12	1	9	1	4	0	158	6

Honours

Humber Hawks

Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association: 2021

Ontario Colleges Athletic Association: 2021–22{{Cite web |title=OCAA Men's Soccer Past Champions |url=https://www.ocaa.com/sports/msoc/past-champions |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=/www.ocaa.com}}

;Individual

Airdrieonians Young Player of the Year: 2014–15{{cite news|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/9802-gasparotto-moves-to-morton|title=Gasparotto moves to Morton|date=7 August 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015|first=Alice|last=Hedworth|publisher=Rangers F.C.|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810021909/http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/9802-gasparotto-moves-to-morton|archivedate=10 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}
Airdrieonians Player of the Year: 2014–15

References

External links

{{Canada Soccer|1259}}
{{Soccerbase}}
{{Soccerway}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Canadian men's soccer players

Category:Soccer players from Ajax, Ontario

Category:Soccer players from North York

Category:Canadian people of Australian descent

Category:Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland

Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland

Category:SC Toronto players

Category:Rangers F.C. players

Category:Stirling Albion F.C. players

Category:Airdrieonians F.C. players

Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players

Category:Falkirk F.C. players

Category:York United FC players

Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players

Category:Scottish Professional Football League players

Category:Scottish Football League players

Category:Canadian Premier League players

Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players

Category:Canada men's under-23 international soccer players

Category:Humber College alumni

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen

Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National 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="5"\|Rangers \|2012–13{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2012\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|Scottish Third Division \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2013–14{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2013\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|Scottish League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014–15{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2014\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015–16{{soccerbase season\|69859\|2015\|accessdate=10 November 2017}} \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Stirling Albion (loan) \|2013–14 \|Scottish League Two \|3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Airdrieonians (loan) \|2014–15 \|Scottish League One \|26	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	2
Greenock Morton (loan) \|2015–16 \|rowspan="3"\|Scottish Championship \|20	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	25	0
rowspan="3"\|Falkirk \|2016–17 \|29	0	0	0	4	1	3One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs	0	36	1
2017–18 \|5	1	0	0	3	0	1Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup	0	9	1
colspan="2"\|Total !34	1	0	0	7	1	4	0	45	2
Greenock Morton (loan) \|rowspan="2"\|2017–18 \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Championship \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
rowspan="2"\|Greenock Morton \|7	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
colspan="2"\|Total !11	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
rowspan="3"\|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
colspan="2"\|Total !35	1	6	1	0	0	0	0	41	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !133	4	12	1	9	1	4	0	158	6