Matthew Baldisimo

Matthew Anthony Otucan Baldisimo (born January 20, 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club York United. Born in Canada, he has filed his FIFA one-time switch to represent the Philippines at international level, after previously representing Canada at youth level.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Otucan and the surname or paternal family name is Baldisimo.
Matthew Baldisimo
Personal information
Full name Matthew Anthony Otucan Baldisimo
Date of birth (1998-01-20) January 20, 1998
Place of birth Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 York United
Number 33
Youth career
Wesburn YSC
South Burnaby Metro Club
Burnaby Metro Selects SC
2011–2016 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Whitecaps FC 2 46 (0)
2017 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 0 (0)
2018 Fresno FC 3 (0)
2019–2022 Pacific FC 51 (0)
2022 → York United (loan) 3 (0)
2023– York United 15 (1)
International career‡
2013 Canada U15
2014 Canada U16
2015 Canada U17 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 13, 2015

Early life

Baldisimo began playing soccer at age four with Wesburn Youth SC.[1] 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.[2] He was also part of the British Columbia provincial team at U13 level, where he was the co-captain.[2] In 2011, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy[3] and in 2015 was the recipient of the club’s 2015 BMO Registered Education Savings Plan Youth Soccer Player award.[2]

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.[4][5] He made his professional debut on March 26, 2017 against Orange County Blues FC.[6] 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[7]

In May 2017, Baldisimo signed a short-term loan with the Vancouver Whitecaps first team for a 2017 Canadian Championship.[8]

In December 2017, Baldisimo signed with the Whitecaps' new USL affiliate Fresno FC, after the Whitecaps disbanded their second team.[9][10]

In January 2019, he joined Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC for their inaugural season.[11][12] After the 2020 season, he re-signed with the club for the 2021 season.[13][14] In 2021, he won the CPL title with the club.[15] In February 2022, he once again re-signed with the club for another season.[16][17] Over his four seasons with Pacific, he made 56 appearances across all competitions.[18]

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.[19][20] 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.[21][22] He scored his first CPL goal on May 23 against the HFX Wanderers.[23]

International career

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

Canada

In June 2013, he made his debut in the Canada youth program, attending a Canada U15 camp.[1] In August 2013, he was named to the Canada U15 team for the Copa Mexico de Naciones.[24][25] In April 2014, he was named to the Canada U16 squad for the Montaigu Tournament in France,[26] as well as for the U16 Copa Mexico de Naciones.[1] In February 2015, Baldisimo was named to the Canada U17 team for the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and was named team captain.[27][4] On February 28, 2015, he scored the winning goal in the team's first match of the tournament against Haiti U17.[28]

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.[29][30] 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.[31][32][33] However, due to a FIFA registration and eligibility issue, he was unable to appear in a match for the squad.[34] 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.[35] In November 2021, Baldisimo was called-up for the re-scheduled 2020 AFF Championship, but had to withdraw due to injury.[36][37]

Personal

Baldisimo is the older brother of Michael Baldisimo, who is also a professional soccer player.[38]

Honours

Club

Pacific FC

References
  1. Matthew Baldisimo at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. "Matthew Baldisimo Vancouver Whitecaps profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  3. Campbell, Aaron (March 31, 2016). "Ten Count with Whitecaps U18 and USL defender Matthew Baldisimo". Away from the Numbers.
  4. "Whitecaps FC sign teenagers Matthew Baldisimo and Alphonso Davies to WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 23, 2016. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  5. "Baldisimo signs with Whitecaps FC2". Burnaby Now. March 2, 2016.
  6. Ocampo, Piccolo (March 27, 2016). "Greig, Melvin lead Whitecaps FC 2 to 1-0 win over Orange County Blues FC in season-opener". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  7. Weber, Marc (October 7, 2016). "'Telepathic' trio hooks talent, soccer dreams to WFC2 playoff wagon". The Province.
  8. "Whitecaps FC name 23-man roster for Tuesday's Canadian Championship semifinal". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 22, 2017.
  9. "Whitecaps FC assign three players to USL affiliate Fresno FC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017.
  10. Moreno, Angel (December 7, 2017). "The Foxes receive three players from MLS Whitecaps - Sean Melvin, Matthew Baldisimo and Terran Campbell join Fresno FC for 2018 USL season". Fresno FC. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020.
  11. "Three Burnaby natives join Langford-based Pacific FC". Victoria News. January 15, 2019.
  12. "Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals". Pacific FC. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on January 16, 2019.
  13. Thompson, Marty (October 29, 2020). "Pacific FC re-signs de Jong, Baldisimo and 3 others; Verhoven released". Canadian Premier League.
  14. Thompson, Marty (November 5, 2020). "Matthew Baldisimo on re-signing with Pacific FC: 'I could've had a better season'". Canadian Premier League.
  15. "York United FC confirms signing of Canadian midfielder Matthew Baldisimo on loan from Pacific FC". York United FC. August 11, 2022.
  16. Longo, Jack (February 1, 2022). "Baldisimo Returning for 2022 Season!". Pacific FC.
  17. Jacques, John (February 1, 2022). "Pacific FC Signs Baldisimo To New Deal". Northern Tribune.
  18. Drewry, Brian (August 11, 2022). "Pacific FC ships Baldisimo to York United". Times Colonist.
  19. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 11, 2022). "York United, Pacific swap Cédric Toussaint, Matthew Baldisimo". Canadian Premier League.
  20. Davidson, Neil (August 11, 2022). "Pacific, York United swap midfielders with Baldisimo heading east and Toussaint west". Toronto Star.
  21. "York United FC announces permanent signing of Canadian midfielder Matthew Baldisimo". York United FC. December 15, 2022.
  22. Jacques, John (December 15, 2022). "Matthew Baldisimo Signs With York Following Loan Stint". Northern Tribune.
  23. Jacques, John (May 29, 2023). "Baldisimo Shoulder Injury Not Cause For Concern, Says Nash". Northern Tribune.
  24. "Six Whitecaps FC Residency players called up for Canadian U-15 national team camp". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 6, 2013.
  25. Berridge, Tom (June 19, 2014). "Soccer brothers ringing the Bell team". New Westminster Record.
  26. "Canadian U-16 roster announced for Montaigu Tournament in France". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. April 11, 2014.
  27. Berridge, Tom (February 19, 2015). "Burnaby trio to under-17 soccer qualifier". Burnaby Now.
  28. "Baldisimo goal helps Canada U17s beat Haiti". Sportsnet. March 1, 2015.
  29. Longo, Jack (May 13, 2021). "Matthew Baldisimo Called Up to Philippines National Team". Pacific FC.
  30. Longo, Jack (May 15, 2021). "'This is the big leagues': Pacific's Baldisimo joins Philippines senior team following months-long courtship". Canadian Premier League.
  31. Adams, J.J. (May 17, 2021). "Pacific FC: 'Big Baldi' accepts call-up to Philippines, with an eye on World Cup qualification". The Province.
  32. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (May 13, 2021). "Pacific FC's Matthew Baldisimo called up to Philippines senior national team". Canadian Premier League.
  33. Jacques, John (May 13, 2021). "Matthew Baldisimo Accepts Philippines Call Up". Northern Tribune.
  34. Jacques, John (June 8, 2021). "Registration Issues Delay Baldisimo Debut". Northern Tribune.
  35. Bauman, Martin (August 13, 2021). "'Can't wait to get playing again': One-on-one with Pacific FC midfielder Matthew Baldisimo". For the Isle.
  36. "Azkals gear up for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020". The Azkals. November 29, 2021. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021.
  37. Jacques, John (November 29, 2021). "Baldisimo Misses Philippines Call-Up Through Injury". Northern Tribune.
  38. Dheensaw, Cleve (May 31, 2021). "Pacific FC midfielder Baldisimo gets national-team call-up for the Philippines". Times Colonist.
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