Matthew Baldisimo

Matthew Baldisimo (born January 20, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC.

Matthew Baldisimo
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-01-20) January 20, 1998
Place of birth Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder, defender
Club information
Current team
 Pacific FC
Number 8
Youth career
Wesburn
South Burnaby Metro
Burnaby Selects
2011–2015 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Whitecaps FC 2 46 (0)
2017 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 0 (0)
2018 Fresno FC 3 (0)
2019– Pacific FC 40 (0)
National team‡
2014–2015 Canada U17 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 17, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 13, 2015

Early life

Baldisimo was born in Vancouver to Samuel Baldisimo and Mely Otucan, both of whom are Filipinos from Roxas, Capiz. He grew up in neighboring Burnaby.[2][3] He began playing soccer at age four with Wesburn YSC.[3] Baldisimo later played for fellow Burnaby clubs South Burnaby Metro and Burnaby Selects.[4]

His brothers Michael and Mark are also soccer players, both of whom are in the Vancouver Whitecaps system.[3]

Club career

Whitecaps FC 2

Baldisimo signed with Whitecaps FC 2 on February 23, 2016.[5] 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[6] In December 2016, Whitecaps FC 2 announced that Baldisimo would return to the club for the 2017 season.[7] In May 2017, Baldisimo was named to the Whitecaps roster for the 2017 Canadian Championship on a short-term contract.[8] He would spend three seasons with Whitecaps FC 2 before the club ceased operations after the 2017 season.[9]

Fresno FC

In December 2017, Baldisimo signed with Whitecaps USL affiliate Fresno FC.[10] He went on to make three appearances for the club that season.[11]

Pacific FC

On January 15, 2019 Baldisimo signed with Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC.[12] That year, he made 22 appearances for the club, including 21 starts.[11] The following year, he started in all ten of Pacific's matches during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.[11] On October 29, 2020, Baldisimo signed a new deal with Pacific, keeping him for the 2021 season.[13]

International career

At the international level, Baldisimo is eligible to represent Canada by birth and the Philippines through parentage.[3]

Canada

In 2013, Baldisimo represented Canada at the Cope de Naciones sub-15 and participated in two other U-15 national team camps that year.[3] In 2014, he played for the under-17 team for the first time at the Montaigu Tournament, and also played at the Copa de Naciones sub-16 later that year.[3] Baldisimo subsequently captained Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, making four appearances and scoring in his competitive debut against Haiti.[3]

Philippines

On May 13, 2021, Baldisimo received his first call-up to the Philippines national team ahead of three 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against China, the Maldives, and Guam.[2][14] However, he failed to make an appearance due to a registration and eligibility issue.[15] In November 2021 Baldisimo was initially called-up to the Azkals squad for the re-scheduled 2020 AFF Championship but had to withdraw due to injury.[16]

Honours

Club

Pacific FC

References
  1. "Matthew Baldisimo: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  2. Adams, J.J. (May 16, 2021). "Whitecaps: 'Big Baldi' accepts call-up to Philippines, with an eye on World Cup qualification". The Province. Postmedia Network Inc. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. "Matthew Baldisimo". Canada Soccer. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  4. "Matthew Baldisimo". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. "Whitecaps FC sign teenagers Matthew Baldisimo and Alphonso Davies to WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 23, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. Marc Weber (October 7, 2016). "'Telepathic' trio hooks talent, soccer dreams to WFC2 playoff wagon". Vancouver Province.
  7. Whitecaps FC 2 (December 20, 2016). "Whitecaps FC 2 re-sign Sem de Wit and Will Seymore, announce roster update". Whitecaps FC 2.
  8. "Whitecaps FC name 23-man roster for Tuesday's Canadian Championship semifinal". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 23, 2017.
  9. Michael McColl (October 14, 2017). "California Dreaming: Goodbye WFC2, hello new beginnings – the ins and outs of the Whitecaps/Fresno partnership". AFTN Canada.
  10. "Whitecaps FC assign three players to USL affiliate Fresno FC". Vancouver Whitecaps. December 7, 2017.
  11. "M. Baldisimo". Soccerway. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  12. "Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals". Pacific FC. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  13. Thompson, Marty (October 29, 2020). "Pacific FC re-signs de Jong, Baldisimo and 3 others; Verhoven released".
  14. Longo, Jack (May 13, 2021). "Matthew Baldisimo Called Up to Philippines National Team".
  15. Jacques, John (June 8, 2021). "Registration Issues Delay Baldisimo Debut". Northern Tribune.
  16. "Azkals gear up for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020". November 29, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.