Alessandro Hojabrpour

Alessandro Hojabrpour
Alessandro Hojabrpour
Hojabrpour with Pacific FC in 2021
Personal information
Full name Alessandro Feridun Hojabrpour
Date of birth (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Forge FC
Number 21
Youth career
Italian Canadian SF
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC
2012–2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2017–2018 Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Pacific FC 56 (1)
2022– Forge FC 75 (3)
International career‡
2017 Canada U17 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 12, 2019

Alessandro Feridun Hojabrpour (Persian: آلساندرو فریدون هژبرپور; born January 10, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder for Canadian Premier League side Forge FC.

Early life

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Hojabrpour began playing soccer at age three with the Italian Canadian Sports Federation.[1] In 2007-08, he participated in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prospects program, before joining Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC.[2][3] In 2012, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy Residency.[4] In 2017, after playing in a youth tournament in Bulgaria, he was recruited and joined Lokomotiv Plovdiv's U19 team.[4]

Club career

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Pacific FC

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Hojabrpour signed with a professional contract with Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League on January 15, 2019;[5] making his club debut on May 12, 2019 against FC Edmonton.[6] He was given his first start for the club in the next game during a Canadian Championship match against Cavalry FC on May 15, 2019.[7] Hojabrpour re-signed with Pacific in December 2019 for the 2020 season[8] and in December 2020 for the 2021 season.[9][10]

During the 2021 Canadian Premier League season, Hojabrpour earned his first assist for the club on July 17 on a goal by Josh Heard against Forge FC.[11] He scored his first goal for Pacific on October 6 against FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium.[12] Hojabrpour helped Pacific reach their first CPL final on November 20, 2021, after a 2–1 extra time win over Cavalry FC at ATCO Field.[13] On December 5, 2021, Hojabrpour scored the winning goal to win Pacific the 2021 Canadian Premier League Final against two-time defending champions Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field.[14][15][16] At the end of the season, he was given the 2021 under-21 player of the year award.[17][18] After the season, he departed the club,[19] having made 63 appearances for the club across all competitions over his three seasons, scoring two goals and adding two assists.[20][21]

Forge FC

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In January 2022, Hojabrpour signed with fellow Canadian Premier League side Forge FC ahead of the 2022 Canadian Premier League season.[22][23][24] Hojabrpour made his club debut on February 16, 2022, in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Liga MX side Cruz Azul.[25] He scored his first goal for Forge on April 16, 2022, in their 2022 home opener against Cavalry FC.[26] On October 23, 2022, Hojabrpour provided an assist in the semifinal to help Forge reach the 2022 Canadian Premier League Final.[27] On October 30, 2022, Hojabrpour scored in the final for his second consecutive championship-winning goal of the Canadian Premier League Finals, helping Forge win the 2022 championship over Atlético Ottawa.[28][29]

On April 22, 2023, Hojabrpour made his 100th professional appearance in a 1–1 league draw against HFX Wanderers: in the process, he became the third player (behind Dominick Zator and Terran Campbell) to ever hit the 100-game milestone in all competitions for multiple CPL clubs.[30] On October 14, 2023, Hojabrpour scored a goal in the semifinal to help lead Forge to the 2023 Canadian Premier League final.[31] At the end of the season, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, which was his third consecutive title (Pacific in 2021 and Forge in 2022 and 2023).[32]

The following 2024 season, Hojabrpour scored his first goal of the season on August 14, 2024 against HFX Wanderers.[33] He earned five selections to the Team of the Week throughout the regular season.[34] In October 2024, Hojabrpour was nominated for the Players' Player of the Year award, having established himself in the Forge midfield and appearing in all but one regular season match.[35] On November 2, 2024, Hojabrpour and Forge advanced to the 2024 Canadian Premier League final after a semi-final win over Atlético Ottawa.[36]

International career

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Hojabrpour was born in Burnaby, Canada to an Italian mother and Iranian father, and also holds an Italian passport.[4][37]

In October 2014, he made his debut in the Canadian national program, attending a camp with the Canada U15 team.[1] He represented the Canada men's national under-17 soccer team in the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, scoring a goal against Cuba on April 25, 2017.[38][39]

Style of play

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Hojabrpour can operate as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder.[6] He has been praised for his defensive abilities and reliability in midfield.[40]

Career statistics

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As of October 22, 2024[41]
Club Division Season League Playoffs National Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pacific FC Canadian Premier League 2019 22 0 — 2 0 — 24 0
2020 10 0 — — — 10 0
2021 24 1 2 1 3 0 — 29 2
Total 56 1 2 1 5 0 0 0 63 2
Forge FC Canadian Premier League 2022 26 2 3 1 3[a] 0 2[b] 0 34 3
2023 22 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 17 1
2023 27 1 0 0 5 0 2 0 34 1
Total 75 3 5 2 11 0 4 0 95 5
Career total 131 4 7 3 16 0 4 0 158 7
  1. ^ Includes appearance(s) in both the 2020 Canadian Championship, which was held in 2022, and the 2022 Canadian Championship
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League

Honours

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Pacific FC

Forge FC

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Alessandro Hojabrpour at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ "Alessandro Hojabrpour Whitecaps profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Pandher, Steve (June 28, 2017). "AFTN's Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 'Ones To Watch' 2017 (Part One – the U16s)". Away from the Numbers.
  4. ^ a b c Bauman, Martin (September 17, 2019). "'Always a ball within reach': For Pacific's Hojabrpour, soccer a family affair (Part 1)". Canadian Premier League.
  5. ^ Laufer, Jesse (January 15, 2019). "Three Burnaby natives join Langford-based Pacific FC". Victoria News.
  6. ^ a b Bauman, Martin (September 21, 2019). "Pacific FC's Hojabrpour emerging as key contributor in Fall push (Part 2)". Canadian Premier League.
  7. ^ @Pacificfccpl (May 16, 2019). "Here's our Starting XI for tonight's #canChamp game! 🍁Watch live on!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.[better source needed]
  8. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (December 12, 2019). "Trust the Kids: Looking at what to expect from Pacific FC's re-signed youngsters". The Third Sub.
  9. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 3, 2020). "Pacific FC brings back Hojabrpour, Wirth for 2021 CPL season". Canadian Premier League.
  10. ^ Jacques, John (December 3, 2020). "Pacific FC Re-Signs Wirth And Hojabrpour". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ "Match Analysis: Pacific FC 1-2 Forge FC". July 18, 2021.[better source needed]
  12. ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (October 6, 2021). "Strong start propels FC Edmonton to victory over Pacific FC". Times Colonist.
  13. ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earn spot in final with 2-1 extra time win over Cavalry FC". Canadian Premier League. November 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Bashir, Raheem (December 6, 2021). "Alessandro Hojabrpour goal gives Pacific FC the North Star Shield". Last Word on Sports.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (December 7, 2021). "Right Place, Right Time: Hojabrpour's Path To CPL History". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ a b Tierney, Mitchell (October 27, 2022). "Last year's CPL Final hero, Forge FC's Hojabrpour to play a big role again in 2022". OneSoccer.
  17. ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (December 15, 2021). "Pacific FC's Kah, Hojabrpour win CPL awards". Times Colonist.
  18. ^ a b O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 14, 2021). "Pacific FC's Alessandro Hojabrpour wins 2021 U-21 Canadian Player of the Year Award". Canadian Premier League.
  19. ^ Thompson, Marty (January 25, 2022). "Terran Campbell & Alessandro Hojabrpour depart Pacific FC ahead of 2022 CPL season". OneSoccer.
  20. ^ "Forge FC Signs 2021 CPL Canadian U21 Player of the Year Hojabrpour". Forge FC. January 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (January 7, 2022). "Pacific Originals Hojabrpour, Campbell Set For Forge". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ Jacques, John (January 12, 2022). "Forge Announces Arrival Of Alessandro Hojabrpour". Northern Tribune.
  23. ^ Urciuoli, Anthony (January 12, 2022). "Hamilton's Forge FC sparks rivalry with Pacific FC with signing of Alessandro Hojabrpour". In The Hammer.
  24. ^ Jacques, John (January 13, 2022). "Hojabrpour Details Forge Move: 'Best For My Career'". Northern Tribune.
  25. ^ Palermo, Adam (February 18, 2022). "Forge FC lose 1-0 to Cruz Azul in historic CONCACAF Champions League debut". Waking the Red.
  26. ^ Steiner, Ben (April 16, 2022). "Golazos Galore: Forge grabs late point against Cavalry in home opener". The Third Sub.
  27. ^ "Hamilton's Forge FC beat Cavalry, advance to CPL final - Hamilton | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022.[better source needed]
  28. ^ a b Jacques, John (October 31, 2022). "Hojabrpour Proves A Title-Winner, Twice". Northern Tribune.
  29. ^ Molinaro, John (October 30, 2022). "Forge FC shuts out Atlético Ottawa to win CPL Final". TFC Republic.
  30. ^ "CPL Centurions: Forge's Alessandro Hojabrpour hits 100 games for CPL clubs in all competitions". Canadian Premier League. April 25, 2023.
  31. ^ https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/forge-fc-beats-cavalry-fc-235910978.html [bare URL]
  32. ^ Milton, Steve (May 17, 2024). "Off to a good start, Hojabrpour will be seeing some old friends as Vancouver FC arrives in town". Forge FC.
  33. ^ "MATCH ANALYSIS: Forge FC take over 1st place after controlled victory over 10-man Halifax Wanderers". August 14, 2024.
  34. ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 20)". August 26, 2024.
  35. ^ "Meet the 2024 CPL Players' Player of the Year Contenders".
  36. ^ "Forge FC advances to sixth straight CPL final with 1-0 win over Atletico Ottawa". Toronto Star.
  37. ^ Longo, Jack (January 7, 2021). "Thank you, Terran Campbell and Alessandro Hojabrpour!". Pacific FC.
  38. ^ "Canadians exit u17 tourney on winning note". Burnaby Now. May 4, 2017.
  39. ^ "Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals". Pacific FC. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019.
  40. ^ Thompson, Marty (December 13, 2021). "CPL Awards 2021 set for Tuesday: View nominees here". Canadian Premier League.
  41. ^ Alessandro Hojabrpour at Soccerway
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