Gabriel Escobar (footballer)

Gabriel Ricardo Escobar Flores (born 4 April 2000) is a Salvadoran professional footballer who plays for TSS FC Rovers in League1 British Columbia.

Gabriel Escobar
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Ricardo Escobar Flores
Date of birth (2000-04-04) 4 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth San Miguel, El Salvador
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
TSS FC Rovers
Cliff Avenue United
Vancouver Whitecaps
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 TSS FC Rovers
2022 HFX Wanderers FC 5 (0)
2023– TSS FC Rovers 16 (0)
International career
2016 Canada U17 2 (0)
2018 El Salvador U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 14, 2024

Early life

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Born in San Miguel, El Salvador,[1] Escobar moved to Vancouver, Canada, at age six.[2][3] He began playing football with TSS FC Rovers immediately upon arrival in Canada,[3] later joining Cliff Avenue United[4] and the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy.[5]

He played at the amateur adult level with FC Tigers Vancouver.[6]

Club career

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In 2022, he joined TSS FC Rovers in League1 British Columbia,[7] being named to the L1BC Team of the Week five times and helping the Rovers win the championship final,[8] where he scored the winning penalty kick in their shootout victory over Varsity FC.[citation needed]

In August 2022, he signed a contract for the remainder of the 2022 season, with club options for 2023 and 2024, with HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League.[9][10] He made five straight appearances for the club, before suffering a season-ending foot injury in a match against York United FC.[11]

In 2023, after having his option declined by the Wanderers, he returned to the TSS FC Rovers for the 2023 season.[11]

International career

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In 2014, he was called up by the Canada under-15 team to take part in a training camp.[3] In 2016, he played for the Canada under-17 team in two friendly matches against the United States[12] and was later called-up for matches against Panama and Jamaica.[3][13] He was nominated for 2016 Canadian U17 Player of the Year, finishing in the top three in voting behind winner Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.[14][15]

In 2018, he was called up to the El Salvador under-20 team for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, playing in three matches and cap-tying him to El Salvador.[16]

Career statistics

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As of August 4, 2024[17]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
TSS FC Rovers 2022 League1 British Columbia ? ? 1 0 1 0
HFX Wanderers FC 2022 Canadian Premier League 5 0 0 0 5 0
TSS FC Rovers 2023 League1 British Columbia 9 0 1 0 1 0 11 0
2024 7 0 2 0 0 0 9 0
Total 16 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 20 0
Career total 21 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 26 0

References

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  1. ^ Tovar, Diego (17 August 2022). "Salvadoreño, rumbo a la primera división de Canadá" [Salvadoran, heading to the first division of Canada]. El Gráfico (in Spanish).
  2. ^ Pandher, Steve (28 June 2017). "AFTN's Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 'Ones To Watch' 2017 (Part One – the U16s)". Away from the Numbers.
  3. ^ a b c d Gabriel Escobar at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ^ "Gabriel Escobar - EA Sports One to Watch". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 9 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Gabriel Escobar VWFC profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  6. ^ McColl, Michael (14 May 2022). "Local powerhouses BB5 United and FC Tigers square off in eagerly anticipated BC Provincial A Cup final". Away from the Numbers.
  7. ^ McColl, Michael (12 May 2022). "TSS Rovers 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part Two – Defenders)". Away from the Numbers.
  8. ^ Jacques, John (15 August 2022). "Halifax Adds Defensive Duo Escobar And Nouajaa". Northern Tribune.
  9. ^ "Wanderers sign Canadian defenders Gabriel Escobar and Nassim Nouajaa". HFX Wanderers FC. 15 August 2022.
  10. ^ Menendez, Ricardo (16 August 2022). "A la Canadian Premier League: un salvadoreño jugará con el HFX Wanderers" [To the Canadian Premier League: a Salvadoran will play with the HFX Wanderers]. ReporteSV (in Spanish).
  11. ^ a b Jacques, John (23 January 2024). "Former Wanderer Gabriel Escobar Loses House To Fire". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ "U17 MNT beats Canada in two friendlies". Top Drawer Soccer. 19 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Canada U17 Roster Named For Camp, Jamaica Friendlies". Box Score News. 18 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Six 'Caps nominated for 2016 Canada Soccer Player Awards". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 28 November 2016.
  15. ^ "'It's a great honour:' Alphonso Davies named Canadian U-17 Player of the Year". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 13 December 2016.
  16. ^ Martell, Samuel (10 October 2018). "Gabriel Escobar: de Canadá a la sub 20 salvadoreña" [Gabriel Escobar: from Canada to the Salvadoran sub 20]. El Gráfico (in Spanish).
  17. ^ Gabriel Escobar at Soccerway
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