Matthew Baldisimo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Matthew Baldisimo

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Matthew Anthony Otucan Baldisimo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|1|20}}

| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

| height = 1.75 m

| position = Defensive midfielder

| currentclub = York United

| clubnumber = 33

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Wesburn YSC

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = South Burnaby Metro Club

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Burnaby Metro Selects SC

| youthyears4 = 2011–2016

| youthclubs4 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC

| years1 = 2016–2017

| clubs1 = Whitecaps FC 2

| caps1 = 46

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2017

| clubs2 = → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2018

| clubs3 = Fresno FC

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019–2022

| clubs4 = Pacific FC

| caps4 = 51

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022

| clubs5 = → York United (loan)

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2023–

| clubs6 = York United

| caps6 = 27

| goals6 = 1

| pcupdate = October 27, 2024

| nationalyears1 = 2013

| nationalteam1 = Canada U15

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2014

| nationalteam2 = Canada U16

| nationalcaps2 =

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalyears3 = 2015

| nationalteam3 = Canada U17

| nationalcaps3 = 4

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| nationalyears4 = 2024–

| nationalteam4 = Philippines

| nationalcaps4 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalteam-update = 17:10, September 4, 2024 (UTC)

}}

Matthew Anthony Otucan Baldisimo (born January 20, 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club York United. Born in Canada, he represents the Philippines at international level, after previously representing Canada at youth level.

Early life

Baldisimo began playing soccer at age four with Wesburn Youth SC.{{Canada Soccer player|id=12947}} Afterwards, he played with South Burnaby Metro Club and Burnaby Metro Selects SC, serving as team captain and being named U14 MVP with the latter.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/players/matthew-baldisimo/|title=Matthew Baldisimo Vancouver Whitecaps profile|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}} He was also part of the British Columbia provincial team at U13 level, where he was the co-captain. In 2011, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy{{Cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/ten-count-matthew-baldisimo/|title=Ten Count with Whitecaps U18 and USL defender Matthew Baldisimo|date=March 31, 2016|first=Aaron|last=Campbell|work=Away from the Numbers}} and in 2015 was the recipient of the club's 2015 BMO Registered Education Savings Plan Youth Soccer Player award.

Club career

In February 2016, Baldisimo attended training camp with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC first team, before signing his first professional contract with the second team, Whitecaps FC 2, who played in the USL.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/post/2016/02/22/whitecaps-fc-sign-teenagers-matthew-baldisimo-and-alphonso-davies-wfc2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303072445/https://www.whitecapsfc.com/wfc2/post/2016/02/22/whitecaps-fc-sign-teenagers-matthew-baldisimo-and-alphonso-davies-wfc2|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead|date=February 23, 2016|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC|title=Whitecaps FC sign teenagers Matthew Baldisimo and Alphonso Davies to WFC2}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/local-sports/baldisimo-signs-with-whitecaps-fc2-3028399|title=Baldisimo signs with Whitecaps FC2|date=March 2, 2016|work=Burnaby Now}} He made his professional debut on March 26, 2017 against Orange County Blues FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/greig-melvin-lead-whitecaps-fc-2-1-0-win-over-orange-county-blues-fc-season-open|title=Greig, Melvin lead Whitecaps FC 2 to 1-0 win over Orange County Blues FC in season-opener|first=Piccolo|last=Ocampo|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC|date=March 27, 2016}} Baldisimo, along with fellow Whitecaps Academy products Kadin Chung and Thomas Gardner were praised during the club's USL playoff run in the 2016 USL season{{cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/telepathic-trio-hooks-talent-soccer-dreams-to-wfc2-playoff-wagon|title='Telepathic' trio hooks talent, soccer dreams to WFC2 playoff wagon|publisher=The Province|first=Marc|last=Weber|work=theprovince |date=October 7, 2016}}

In May 2017, Baldisimo signed a short-term loan with the Vancouver Whitecaps first team for a 2017 Canadian Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/05/22/roster-canadian-championship-semifinal|title=Whitecaps FC name 23-man roster for Tuesday's Canadian Championship semifinal|website=Vancouver Whitecaps FC|date=May 22, 2017}}

In December 2017, Baldisimo signed with the Whitecaps' new USL affiliate Fresno FC, after the Whitecaps disbanded their second team.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/usl/post/2017/12/04/whitecaps-fc-assign-three-players-usl-affiliate-fresno-fc|title=Whitecaps FC assign three players to USL affiliate Fresno FC|website=Vancouver Whitecaps FC|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070721/https://www.whitecapsfc.com/usl/post/2017/12/04/whitecaps-fc-assign-three-players-usl-affiliate-fresno-fc|date=December 7, 2017}}{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040359/https://www.fresnofc.com/news_article/show/864417|url=https://www.fresnofc.com/news_article/show/864417|archive-date=November 9, 2020|url-status=dead|date=December 7, 2017|first=Angel|last=Moreno|work=Fresno FC|title=The Foxes receive three players from MLS Whitecaps - Sean Melvin, Matthew Baldisimo and Terran Campbell join Fresno FC for 2018 USL season}}

In January 2019, he joined Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC for their inaugural season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vicnews.com/sports/three-burnaby-natives-join-langford-based-pacific-fc/|title=Three Burnaby natives join Langford-based Pacific FC|date=January 15, 2019|work=Victoria News}}{{cite web|title=Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals |url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-football-club-bolsters-lineup-with-trio-of-canadian-youth-internationals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045911/https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-football-club-bolsters-lineup-with-trio-of-canadian-youth-internationals|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2019|work=Pacific FC|date=January 15, 2019}} After the 2020 season, he re-signed with the club for the 2021 season.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/pacific-re-signs-de-jong-baldisimo-and-3-others-verhoven-released|title=Pacific FC re-signs de Jong, Baldisimo and 3 others; Verhoven released|date=October 29, 2020|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Marty|last=Thompson}}{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/matthew-baldisimo-on-re-signing-with-pacific-fc-i-couldve-had-a-better-season|title=Matthew Baldisimo on re-signing with Pacific FC: 'I could've had a better season'|date=November 5, 2020|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Marty|last=Thompson}} In 2021, he won the CPL title with the club.{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-confirms-signing-of-canadian-midfielder-matthew-baldisimo-on-loan-from-pacific-fc|work=York United FC|date=August 11, 2022|title=York United FC confirms signing of Canadian midfielder Matthew Baldisimo on loan from Pacific FC}} In February 2022, he once again re-signed with the club for another season.{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/baldisimo-returning-for-2022-season|title=Baldisimo Returning for 2022 Season!|date=February 1, 2022|work=Pacific FC|first=Jack|last=Longo}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/pacific-fc-matthew-baldisimo-2022/|title=Pacific FC Signs Baldisimo To New Deal|date=February 1, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} Over his four seasons with Pacific, he made 56 appearances across all competitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/pacific-fc-ships-baldisimo-to-york-united-5688610|title=Pacific FC ships Baldisimo to York United|work=Times Colonist|date=August 11, 2022|first=Brian|last=Drewry}}

In August 2022, Baldisimo was loaned to fellow CPL club York United, as part of an intra-league player swap that involved Cédric Toussaint joining Pacific FC.{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2022 |title=York United, Pacific swap Cédric Toussaint, Matthew Baldisimo |url=https://canpl.ca/article/york-united-pacific-swap-cedric-toussaint-matthew-baldisimo|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke |work=Canadian Premier League}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2022/08/11/pacific-york-united-swap-midfielders-with-baldisimo-heading-west-and-toussaint-east.html|title=Pacific, York United swap midfielders with Baldisimo heading east and Toussaint west|date=August 11, 2022|work=Toronto Star|first=Neil|last=Davidson}} In December 2022, the club announced Baldisimo would remain with York on a permanent contract, signing a one-year deal with an option for 2024.{{cite web|title=York United FC announces permanent signing of Canadian midfielder Matthew Baldisimo|work=York United FC|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-announces-permanent-signing-of-canadian-midfielder-matthew-baldisimo|date=December 15, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-matthew-baldisimo/|title=Matthew Baldisimo Signs With York Following Loan Stint|date=December 15, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} He scored his first CPL goal on May 23 against the HFX Wanderers.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-matthew-baldisimo-shoulder/|title=Baldisimo Shoulder Injury Not Cause For Concern, Says Nash|date=May 29, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}

International career

At the international level, Baldisimo is eligible to represent Canada by birth and the Philippines through parentage.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-matthew-baldisimo-philippines-call-up-2024/|title=Patience Paying Off: Matthew Baldisimo Called Up By Philippines|first=John|last=Jacques|date=May 26, 2024|work=Northern Tribune}}

=Canada=

In June 2013, he made his debut in the Canada youth program, attending a Canada U15 camp. In August 2013, he was named to the Canada U15 team for the Copa Mexico de Naciones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/six-whitecaps-fc-residency-players-called-canadian-u-15-national-team-camp|title=Six Whitecaps FC Residency players called up for Canadian U-15 national team camp|date=August 6, 2013|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-sports/soccer-brothers-ringing-the-bell-team-2980393|title=Soccer brothers ringing the Bell team|work=New Westminster Record|first=Tom|last=Berridge|date=June 19, 2014}} In April 2014, he was named to the Canada U16 squad for the Montaigu Tournament in France,{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/canadian-u-16-roster-announced-montaigu-tournament-france|title=Canadian U-16 roster announced for Montaigu Tournament in France|date=April 11, 2014|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}} as well as for the U16 Copa Mexico de Naciones. In February 2015, Baldisimo was named to the Canada U17 team for the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and was named team captain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/local-sports/burnaby-trio-to-under-17-soccer-qualifier-2994075|title=Burnaby trio to under-17 soccer qualifier|date=February 19, 2015|work=Burnaby Now|first=Tom|last=Berridge}} On February 28, 2015, he scored the winning goal in the team's first match of the tournament against Haiti U17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/baldisimo-goal-helps-canada-u17s-beat-haiti/sn-amp/|title=Baldisimo goal helps Canada U17s beat Haiti|date=March 1, 2015|work=Sportsnet}}

=Philippines=

In 2020, he was set to join the Philippines national team for a camp, however, the camp was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/matthew-baldisimo-called-up-to-philippines-national-team|title=Matthew Baldisimo Called Up to Philippines National Team|first=Jack|last=Longo|date=May 13, 2021|work=Pacific FC}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/this-is-the-big-leagues-pacifics-baldisimo-joins-philippines-senior-team-following-months-long-courtship|title='This is the big leagues': Pacific's Baldisimo joins Philippines senior team following months-long courtship|date=May 15, 2021|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Jack|last=Longo}} In May 2021, Baldisimo was finally able to accept his first call-up to the Philippines national team ahead of three 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.{{Cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/international-soccer/big-baldi-accepts-call-up-to-philippines-with-an-eye-on-world-cup-qualification|title=Pacific FC: 'Big Baldi' accepts call-up to Philippines, with an eye on World Cup qualification|date=May 17, 2021|work=The Province|first=J.J.|last=Adams}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/pacific-fcs-matthew-baldisimo-called-up-to-philippines-senior-national-team|date=May 13, 2021|work=Canadian Premier League|title=Pacific FC's Matthew Baldisimo called up to Philippines senior national team|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/pacific-fc-matthew-baldisimo-philippines/|title=Matthew Baldisimo Accepts Philippines Call Up|date=May 13, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} However, due to a FIFA registration and eligibility issue, he was unable to appear in a match for the squad.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/philippines-matthew-baldisimo-registration/|title=Registration Issues Delay Baldisimo Debut|date=June 8, 2021|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}} Two days after departing the camp, he was notified by FIFA that his one-time switch paperwork was now officially processed and he would now be eligible to officially represent the Philippines.{{Cite web|url=https://fortheisle.substack.com/p/cant-wait-to-get-playing-again-one|work=For the Isle|title='Can't wait to get playing again': One-on-one with Pacific FC midfielder Matthew Baldisimo|first=Martin|last=Bauman|date=August 13, 2021}} In November 2021, Baldisimo was called-up for the rescheduled 2020 AFF Championship, but had to withdraw due to injury.{{cite web|url=http://theazkals.com/news/azkals-gear-up-for-aff-suzuki-cup-2020/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127095105/http://theazkals.com/news/azkals-gear-up-for-aff-suzuki-cup-2020/|archive-date=November 27, 2021|url-status=dead|title=Azkals gear up for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020|date=November 29, 2021|work=The Azkals}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/pacific-fc-matthew-baldisimo-injury-2021/|title=Baldisimo Misses Philippines Call-Up Through Injury|date=November 29, 2021|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}}

In March 2024, Baldisimo accepted a call-up to the squad ahead of two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Iraq.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/philippine-national-team-baldisimo-brothers/|date=March 12, 2024|title=Baldisimo Brothers Called Up To Philippine National Team|work=Northern Tribune|last=Jacques|first=John}}{{Cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/country-feedback-matthew-baldisimo-and-dennis-salanovic-called-up-for-international-duty|title=Country Feedback: Matthew Baldisimo and Dennis Salanović called up for international duty|date=March 18, 2024|work=York United FC}} He made his debut on September 4, 2024 in a 2024 Merdeka Tournament match against Malaysia.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/international-roundup-10-cplers-to-represent-their-country-in-september-window|title=International Roundup: 10 CPLers to represent their country in September window|date=September 5, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}}

Personal

Baldisimo is the older brother of Michael Baldisimo, who is also a professional soccer player.{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/pacific-fc-midfielder-baldisimo-gets-national-team-call-up-for-the-philippines-4689755|title=Pacific FC midfielder Baldisimo gets national-team call-up for the Philippines|date=May 31, 2021|work=Times Colonist|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw}}{{cite news|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/556973/ph-mens-football-team-taps-baldisimo-brothers-for-world-cup-qualifiers|title=PH men's football team taps Baldisimo brothers for World Cup qualifiers|first=Jonas|last=Terrado|date=March 12, 2024|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}