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
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
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 48 (2)
International career‡
2017 Canada U17 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023
‡ 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

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

Pacific FC

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

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] On October 28, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, following a 2–1 win over Cavalry FC in the final.[32][33]

International career

Hojabrpour was born in Burnaby, Canada to an Italian mother and Iranian father, and also holds an Italian passport.[4][34]

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.[35][36]

Style of play

Hojabrpour can operate as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder.[6] He has been praised for his defensive abilities and reliability in midfield.[37]

Career statistics

As of October 128, 2023[38]
Club Division Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pacific FC Canadian Premier League 2019 220—20—240
2020 100———100
2021 2412130—292
Total 561215000632
Forge FC Canadian Premier League 2022 262313[lower-alpha 1]02[lower-alpha 2]0343
2023 220213000171
Total 482526020614
Career total 104373110201246
  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

Club

Pacific FC

Forge FC

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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.
  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.
  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.
  28. 1 2 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
  32. ↑ Wharnsby, Tim (October 28, 2023). "Borges scores 'Olimpico' goal as Forge FC completes comeback to win 4th CPL title". CBC. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  33. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (October 28, 2023). "HIGHLIGHTS + ANALYSIS: Forge wins 2023 North Star Cup, defeating Cavalry to lift fourth playoff crown (Oct. 28, 2023)". OneSoccer. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  34. ↑ Longo, Jack (January 7, 2021). "Thank you, Terran Campbell and Alessandro Hojabrpour!". Pacific FC.
  35. ↑ "Canadians exit u17 tourney on winning note". Burnaby Now. May 4, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals". Pacific FC. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019.
  37. ↑ Thompson, Marty (December 13, 2021). "CPL Awards 2021 set for Tuesday: View nominees here". Canadian Premier League.
  38. ↑ Alessandro Hojabrpour at Soccerway
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