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 the 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, and then moved to Canadian Soccer League side SC Toronto.

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. Gasparotto made his second Rangers appearance in a 1–2 defeat to Peterhead at Ibrox on 20 April. Gasparotto made his first start for Rangers on the final day of the 2012–13 season in a 1–0 win over Berwick Rangers.

Gasparotto did not play for Rangers during the 2013–14 season but was loaned out to Stirling Albion. He joined Airdrieonians on 1 September 2014, initially until January, however, this was extended until the summer of 2015.

Greenock Morton Following a serious injury to Frank McKeown, Gasparotto was signed by Greenock Morton on a short-term deal until January 2016. After impressing in his loan stint, Gasparotto's loan with Morton was extended to the end of the 2015–16 season. 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.

Falkirk In June 2016, Gasparotto joined Scottish Championship side Falkirk.

Second spell at Morton In November 2017, Gasparotto returned to Greenock Morton on an emergency loan deal until the start of January 2018, whereupon he signed a permanent deal until the end of the 2017–18 season. He was released at the end of the season.

York9 On 14 February 2019, Gasparotto returned to Canada, signing with Canadian Premier League side York9. He made his first appearance for York9 in their inaugural match against Forge FC on 27 April 2019. He scored his first goal for the Nine Stripes in a Canadian Championship match against FC Edmonton on 5 June 2019. 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.

Later career In 2021, he began attending Humber College, where he joined the men's soccer team. In his debut season, Gasparotto was named to the 2021 OCAA League All-Star team. 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. Gasparotto was again called into the squad for a training camp in March 2015.

He has also played for Canada at U17 (including three games at the U17 World Cup in Mexico) and U20 level. In August 2015, Gasparotto was called up for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belize. In May 2016, Gasparotto was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada. He saw action in both matches.

Gasparotto was called up to the senior Canada squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belize in September 2015.

Personal life Gasparotto was born in North York, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and an Australian father. When he was one year old, his family moved to Ajax, Ontario. His father was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRangers2012–13Scottish Third Division40000000402013–14Scottish League One00000000002014–15Scottish Championship00000000002015–160000000000Total4000000040Stirling Albion (loan)2013–14Scottish League Two3000000030Airdrieonians (loan)2014–15Scottish League One262100000272Greenock Morton (loan)2015–16Scottish Championship200302000250Falkirk2016–1729000413One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs03612017–185100301Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup091Total341007140452Greenock Morton (loan)2017–18Scottish Championship4000000040Greenock Morton7020000090Total110200000130York92019Canadian Premier League28161——003422020Canadian Premier League7000——0070Total351610000412Career total133412191401586

Honours Humber Hawks

Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association: 2021

Ontario Colleges Athletic Association: 2021–22 Individual Airdrieonians Young Player of the Year: 2014–15 Airdrieonians Player of the Year: 2014–15

References

External links