Tony Mikhael

Anthony Elias Camille Mikhael (Arabic: انطوني إلياس كميل مخائيل; born 1 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as an defender. A versatile defender, Mikhael can play as both a centre-back and a full-back.[3] Born in Canada, Mikhael has represented Lebanon at youth level. He has also won gold with Team Ontario at the Canada Games.

In this Lebanese name, the father's name is Camille and the family name is Mikhael.
Tony Mikhael
Mikhael in 2021
Personal information
Full name Anthony Elias Camille Mikhael[1]
Date of birth (2000-03-01) March 1, 2000
Place of birth Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Nepean Hotspurs SC
2014–2017 Ottawa South United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Carleton Ravens 25 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Ottawa South United 11 (0)
2021–2022 Valour FC 17 (0)
International career‡
2021 Lebanon U22 2 (0)
2021– Lebanon U23 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:03, 13 October 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:02, 31 October 2021 (UTC)

Early life

Mikhael was born on 1 March 2000, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Lebanese parents Camille and Helena.[4] He studied at St. Pius X High School.[3]

Mikhael began playing at the youth level with Nepean Hotspurs SC, later moving to Ottawa South United when he was 14.[5][3] He won an OYSL League Championship (2014),[3] an Ontario Cup (2015),[3] and a Quebec-Ontario Cup (2014).[6] Mikhael also represented Team Ontario at the 2017 Canada Summer Games,[7] helping them win the gold medal,[3] and was awarded player of the match in the final.[8]

University career

On 12 April 2018, Mikhael joined Carleton University's soccer side Carleton Ravens.[3] In 2018–19, he won the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East,[9] and won bronze at the U Sports championship.[10] In 2019–20 Mikhael won the OUA East for the second time,[11] as well as the play-offs,[12] and finished in fourth place at the U Sports championship.[13] He also won the 2019–20 RSEQ Indoor Winter League.[14]

Club career

While at Carleton, he also played with Ottawa South United in League1 Ontario from 2017 to 2019.[15] He made his debut on 9 September 2017, against Master's FA.[16] He didn't return in 2020, due to him suffering a fracture in his foot and undergoing surgery in March.[17]

On 29 January 2021, Mikhael was selected by Canadian Premier League side Valour FC in the 2021 CPL–U Sports Draft,[18][19] and invited to the team's preseason training camp to compete for a roster spot.[20] He signed a developmental contract on 11 June allowing him to retain his university eligibility,[21][22] although in September, he announced that he had decided to forgo his remaining university sports eligibility to remain with Valour,[23] and completing his degree after the season.[24] On 30 June 2021, Mikhael made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 win over HFX Wanderers.[25] His debut from the first minute came on 4 July, helping Valour FC win 2–0 against Atlético Ottawa.[26] In January 2022, Mikhael re-signed with Valour ahead of the upcoming season.[27] His contract expired after the end of the 2022 season.[28]

International career

Born in Canada, Mikhael is also eligible to represent Lebanon through his parents.[29] In 2015, Mikhael attended a training camp with the Canada national under-15 team.[30]

In late 2020, Mikhael was identified by Lebanon U23 head coach Jamal Al Haj; Mikhael's Ottawa-based personal trainer had trained Al Haj's son in Beirut, Lebanon.[4] In November 2020, he played for the U22 team in three unofficial friendlies against Lebanese Premier League sides, scoring a penalty goal against Ahed.[18] In March 2021, he made his official U22 debut in two friendly matches against Bahrain U22.[4][31][32]

In 2021, Mikhael represented the under-23 team in the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship,[33] and the qualifiers for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[1]

Personal life

Mikhael's favorite national team is Brazil, while his favorite club is Spanish side Barcelona.[3] He has described defenders Paolo Maldini and Sergio Ramos as points of reference.[3] Mikhael enjoys fishing in the summer and studying Arabic, and has volunteered at the St. Elias Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[3]

While playing for the Carleton Ravens, Mikhael studied finance at Carleton University.[3] He is the cousin of Canada women's national team player Clarissa Larisey.[34]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 12 May 2022[35]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ottawa South United 2017[36] League1 Ontario 20——0020
2018[37] League1 Ontario 30——0030
2019[38] League1 Ontario 60———60
Total 110000000110
Valour FC 2021 Canadian Premier League 120—10—130
2022 Canadian Premier League 20—10—30
Total 140002000160
Career total 250002000270
  1. Includes Canadian Championship
  2. Includes League1 Ontario Cup

International
As of match played 31 October 2021
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Lebanon U22 202120
Total 20
Lebanon U23 202150
Total 50
Career total 70

Honours

Team Ontario

References
  1. "Tony Mikhael". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. "Valour FC Select Two Players in 2021 CPL-U Sports Draft". OurSports Central. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. "MSOC: Prized recruit Tony Mikhael lands at Carleton". Go Ravens. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. Ed Tait (14 March 2021). "Valour draft pick Tony Mikhael headed to Lebanon's U-23 team camp". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  5. Plouffe, Dan (28 July 2017). "One-time rivals in top youth boys' soccer league link up for Canada Games". Ottawa Sportspages.
  6. "4 latest OSU players hit next level". SportsOttawa.com / Ottawa Sportspage. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. "Ontario Soccer announces its Canada Games rosters". Ontario Soccer Association. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. "Ontario wins gold at 2017 Canada Games". Ontario Soccer Association. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. "2018-19 Men's Soccer Standings". oua.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. "Bronze Medal Match: Bitar, Malekos power Ravens to 3-0 win over Spartans". U SPORTS. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. "2019-20 Men's Soccer Standings". oua.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. "2019 Carleton Mens Soccer Playoffs - Ontario University Athletics". oua.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. "Bronze medal game: Bent secures third-place finish for Capers with penalty strike". U SPORTS. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  14. "Saisons écourtées – 2019–2020" [Shortened seasons – 2019–2020] (PDF). RSEQ (in French). Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  15. Thompson, Marty (30 January 2021). "Four L1O grads picked in 2021 CPL-U SPORTS Draft". League1 Ontario.
  16. "Master's Futbol at OSU Force". League1 Ontario. 9 September 2017.
  17. Diamandas, Ethan (30 January 2021). "Three Carleton soccer players taken in 2021 CPL-U Sports Draft". Capital Current.
  18. Abou Diab, Rami (30 January 2021). "A new Lebanese in the Canadian Premier League". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  19. "Valour FC selects Tony Mikhael 14th overall in 2021 CPL U-Sports Draft". Valour FC. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  20. Tait, Ed (11 June 2021). ""It means everything to me" - Mikhael joins the squad for 2021". Valour FC.
  21. Jacques, John (11 June 2021). "Valour FC Sign Draft Pick Tony Mikhael". Northern Tribune.
  22. "Valour adds Mikhael for 2021 season". Winnipeg Free Press. 11 June 2021.
  23. Dill, Jayden (24 September 2021). "Men's soccer national title hopes take hit as Karajovanovic, Mikhael choose not to return". The Charlatan.
  24. Jacques, John (4 October 2021). "Tony Mikhael Reflects On 'Gained Experience And Life Lessons' Amidst Lebanon U-23 Call-Up". Northern Tribune.
  25. "Valour vs. HFX Wanderers - 30 June 2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  26. Abou Diab, Rami (5 July 2021). "Lebanese Player Abroad: July 2021, Week 1". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  27. "Valour FC sign defender Tony Mikhael and goalkeeper Rayane Yesli". Valour FC. 28 January 2022.
  28. "CPL Off-Season Roster Tracker: Who's in and who's out for 2023?". Canadian Premier League. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  29. Tait, Ed (12 March 2021). ""It's crazy how things can happen. I feel like it's a greater plan." - Valour draft pick Tony Mikhael headed to national team camp". Valour FC.
  30. "Tony Mikhael Canada Soccer profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
  31. "Match Report of Bahrain U22 vs Lebanon U22". Global Sports Archive. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  32. "Match Report of Bahrain U22 vs Lebanon U22". Global Sports Archive. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  33. بعثة لبنان الأولمبي تغادر الى الدمام غدا السبت [The Lebanese Olympic delegation will leave for Dammam tomorrow, Saturday]. Lebanese Football Association (in Arabic). 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  34. "Clarissa Larisey Canada Soccer profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
  35. Tony Mikhael at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  36. "Tony Mikhael 2017 Stats". League1 Ontario.
  37. "Tony Mikhael 2018 Stats". League1 Ontario.
  38. "Tony Mikhael 2019 Stats". League1 Ontario.
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