Sebastian Breza
{{short description|Canadian soccer player (born 1998)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sebastian Breza
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Sebastian Jean-Baptiste Breza{{cite web|url=https://stconcacafwp001.blob.core.windows.net/media/rredlpru/22_sccl-rosters-r16_feb7.pdf|title=2022 CONCACAF Champions League player lists|publisher=CONCACAF|access-date=May 15, 2022|date=February 7, 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|15}}
| birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| height = 1.93 m{{cite web |title=Sebastian Breza |url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/players/sebastian-breza/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |publisher=CF Montréal}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = CF Montreal
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 2007–20??
| youthclubs1 = FS Salaberry
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2014
| youthclubs2 = CS Sainte-Julie
| youthyears3 = 2014–2016
| youthclubs3 = Monopoli
| youthyears4 = 2016–2017
| youthclubs4 = Palermo
| years1 = 2016–2017
| clubs1 = Monopoli
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = → Palermo (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2020
| clubs3 = Potenza
| caps3 = 44
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2019–2020
| clubs4 = → Bologna (loan)
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2020–2023
| clubs5 = Bologna
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2021–2022
| clubs6 = → CF Montréal (loan)
| caps6 = 31
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023
| clubs7 = → Carrarese (loan)
| caps7 = 15
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023
| clubs8 = → Yverdon (loan)
| caps8 = 5
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2024–
| clubs9 = CF Montréal
| caps9 = 3
| goals9 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = Canada U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = May 17, 2025
| nationalteam-update = January 1, 2024
}}
Sebastian Jean-Baptiste Breza (born March 15, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal.
Club career
=Early career=
Breza was nine years old when he started playing soccer at FS Salaberry.{{cite web|url=https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=4253&teamId=2079|title=Sebastian Breza Bio|website=canadasoccer.com/|author=|date=January 28, 2020 |accessdate=April 26, 2022}} As a youth, Breza played goaltender in both hockey and soccer. In 2016, he signed with Serie C club Monopoli, and was loaned to Serie A club Palermo in 2017, initially playing for the latter's Primavera side.{{cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/special/podium-soccer-sebastian-breza-italie-sicile-palerme/|title=Aux portes de Palerme|website=Radio Canada|author=Emilie Dubreuil|accessdate=September 13, 2019}} Breza made three appearances on the bench for Palermo's first team squad in the 2016–17 Serie A season.{{cite web|url=https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/sebastian-breza-un-guardiano-extralarge-per-i-pali-del-monopoli-le-scarpe-me-le-mandano-dal-canada|title=Sebastian Breza, un guardiano extralarge per i pali del Monopoli: "Le scarpe? Me le mandano dal Canada"|website=Gianluca di Marzio|author=Gianluca di Marzio|date=April 8, 2017}}
=Potenza=
In 2017, Breza signed for Serie D club Potenza, helping them gain promotion to Serie C for the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttopotenza.com/calciomercato/un-portiere-canadese-per-il-potenza-ecco-chi-e-sebastian-breza-21285|title=Un portiere canadese per il Potenza? Ecco chi è Sebastian Breza.|website=Tutto Potenza|date=August 30, 2017}} During the offseason, he was rumoured to go to fellow Serie D club Taranto.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttocalciopuglia.com/taranto/tcp-esclusiva-taranto-in-stand-by-breza-del-potenza-17293|title=Taranto, in stand-by Breza del Potenza|website=Tutto Calcio Puglia|date=July 11, 2018|author=Christian Cesario}} In his second season, Breza largely played a backup role to Raffaele Ioime, but made 8 starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-c/potenza-breza-avevo-i-studiato-i-lodi-futuro-ci-pensero-piu-avanti-1221490|title=Potenza, Breza: "Avevo studiato Lodi. Futuro? Ci penserò più avanti"|website=Tutto Mercato|author=Tommaso Macchio|date=March 6, 2019}} In January 2020, Breza was linked with a move to Serie A club Bologna.{{cite web|url=https://www.iamcalcio.it/article/163752/potenza-interessano-cerofolini-e-gatto-potrebbe-saltare-bucolo.html|title=Potenza, interessano Cerofolini e Gatto Potrebbe saltare Bucolo|website=I am Calcio|date=January 3, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.talentilucani.it/breza-al-bologna-cerofolini-e-bucolo-al-potenza/|title=Breza al Bologna Cerofolini e Bucolo al Potenza|website=Talenti Lucani|date=January 1, 2020}}
=Bologna=
On January 29, 2020, he joined Serie A club Bologna on loan until June 30, 2020. Bologna held an obligation to purchase his rights at the end of the loan.{{cite press release|publisher=Bologna|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/breza-al-bologna/|title=Breza al Bologna|date=January 29, 2020|language=Italian}}
==Loan to CF Montréal==
On April 6, 2021, Breza was loaned to CF Montréal of Major League Soccer for the 2021 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/04/06/cf-montr%C3%A9al-acquires-goalkeeper-sebastian-breza|title=CF Montréal acquires goalkeeper Sebastian Breza|publisher=CF Montréal|date=April 6, 2021|accessdate=April 6, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430101612/https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/04/06/cf-montr%C3%A9al-acquires-goalkeeper-sebastian-breza|url-status=dead}} He made his debut on August 8 against D.C. United.{{cite tweet|author=CF Montréal|user=clubdefootmtl|number=1424514686679228418|title=Premier départ en @MLS pour Sebastian Breza Ready for his first start with Montreal.|date=August 8, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021}} Breza was given the start in the semifinal of the 2021 Canadian Championship against Forge FC, and the game went to penalties after a 0-0 after 90 minutes. The shootout was still tied after 10 rounds, and Breza was able to stop the shot from Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry, before scoring himself to win the game and advance Montréal to the final.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-27|title=RECAP: CF Montreal bests Forge FC in marathon penalties to advance to CanChamp final|url=https://canpl.ca/article/recap-cf-montreal-bests-forge-fc-in-marathon-penalties-to-advance-to-canchamp-final|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Canadian Premier League|language=en-CA}} CF Montréal went on to win the Voyageurs Cup and Breza was honoured with the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the tournament.{{Cite news |url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-beats-toronto-fc-1-0-to-win-canadian-championship-voyageurs-cup-1.5675569|title=Montreal beats Toronto FC 1-0 to win Canadian Championship Voyageurs Cup |date=November 21, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |publisher=CTV News}}
Upon completion of the 2021 season, CF Montréal announced they would not exercise the option to purchase Breza's contract.{{cite web|url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/cf-montreal-exercises-options-for-12-players|title=CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players|website=CF Montreal|date=November 30, 2021}} However, in January 2022 CF Montréal announced Breza would return to the club for the 2022 season on loan.{{cite web|url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/goalkeeper-sebastian-breza-returns-on-loan-for-2022|title=Goalkeeper Sebastian Breza returns on loan for 2022|website=CF Montréal|date=January 9, 2022}}
==Loan to Carrarese==
On 27 January 2023, Breza joined Serie C side Carrarese on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.voceapuana.com/sport/carrarese/2023/01/27/carrarese-sebastian-breza-e-il-nuovo-portiere-degli-azzurri/63386/|title=Carrarese: Sebastian Breza è il nuovo portiere degli azzurri|trans-title=Carrara: Sebastian Breza is the new goalkeeper of the Azzurri|language=it|date=January 27, 2023|work=La Voce Apuana|first=Lorenzo|last=Nicolai}}{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=Dal Canada a Carrara: Sebastian Breza |url=http://www.carraresecalcio.it/news/dal-canada-a-carrara-sebastian-breza |access-date=31 January 2023 |website=Carrarese Calcio |language=it-IT |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130075921/https://www.carraresecalcio.it/news/dal-canada-a-carrara-sebastian-breza |url-status=dead }}
==Loan to Yverdon==
On July 12, 2023, he joined Swiss Super League club Yverdon on a season long loan.{{cite web |date=12 July 2023 |title=SEBASTIAN BREZA, NOUVEAU GARDIEN À YVERDON SPORT|url=https://www.yverdonsport.ch/sebastian-breza-nouveau-gardien-a-yverdon-sport}}
=Return to CF Montréal=
On January 15, 2024, Breza made the permanent move to CF Montréal on a two-year deal.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=CF Montréal sign Sebastian Breza from Bologna {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montreal-sign-sebastian-breza-from-bologna |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}
International career
Breza was born in Canada to a Polish father and Norwegian mother, and holds dual citizenship with Canada and Norway.{{Cite web|url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/special/podium-soccer-sebastian-breza-italie-sicile-palerme/|title=Aux portes de Palerme|website=ICI Radio-Canada.ca}} He attended his first camp for the Canadian U-20 team in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-men-s-u-20-win-away-2-1-in-honduras-p160123|title=Canada Men's U-20 win away 2:1 in Honduras|website=Canada Soccer|date=November 13, 2016|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117192409/http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-men-s-u-20-win-away-2-1-in-honduras-p160123|url-status=dead}} Breza was named to the Canadian U-23
provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.{{cite web |title=Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying |url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-provisional-list-for-concacaf-men-s-olympic-qualifying-p162594-preview-1 |publisher=Canada Soccer |accessdate=26 February 2020 |date=26 February 2020 |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309191149/https://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-provisional-list-for-concacaf-men-s-olympic-qualifying-p162594-preview-1 |url-status=dead }}
Career statistics
{{updated|May 17, 2025|{{Soccerway|sebastian-breza/473513|accessdate=September 13, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Sebastian Breza Profile|url=https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/Breza_Sebastian|website=Tutto Calciatori|accessdate=September 29, 2019}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|League !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Monopoli
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4|Potenza
|29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="2"|Serie C
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 0 | |
| 2019–20
|7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 |
| rowspan="3"|CF Montreal (loan)
|rowspan="2"|MLS |2021 |8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022
|23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total
!31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Carrarese (loan)
|15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 15 | 0 | |
| Yverdon (loan)
|5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|CF Montréal
|rowspan="2"|MLS |2024 |1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | |
| 2025
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!98 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 119 | 0 |
Honours
See also
{{Portal|Association football|Biography|Ontario|Sports}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://en.cfmontreal.com/players/sebastian-breza/ CF Montréal profile]
- {{MLS player|sebastian-breza}}
- {{FBref|52e7f812/Sebastian-Breza}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|sebastian-breza}}
{{George Gross Memorial Trophy recipients}}
{{CF Montréal squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Breza, Sebastian}}
Category:Canadian people of Polish descent
Category:Canadian people of Norwegian descent
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Soccer players from Ottawa
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:SS Monopoli 1966 players
Category:Potenza Calcio players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:Carrarese Calcio 1908 players
Category:Yverdon-Sport FC players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players
Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland