Theo Corbeanu
Personal information
Full name Theodor Alexander Corbeanu
Date of birth (2002-05-17) May 17, 2002
Place of birth Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Grasshopper Club Zürich (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Number 19
Youth career
Quinndale Youth Soccer
Mount Hamilton SC
Hamilton Sparta SC
Saltfleet SC
Givova Academy
2016–2018 Toronto FC
2018–2021 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Toronto FC III 5 (2)
2021– Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 (0)
2021–2022 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 13 (2)
2022 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 16 (1)
2022–2023 → Blackpool (loan) 18 (3)
2023 → Arminia Bielefeld (loan) 15 (0)
2023– → Grasshopper (loan) 15 (1)
International career‡
2018 Romania U16 5 (2)
2018–2019 Romania U17 8 (0)
2021– Canada 7 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 15, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 27, 2022

Theodor Alexander Corbeanu (born May 17, 2002) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Grasshopper Club Zürich in the Swiss Super League, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the Canada national team.

Early life

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Corbeanu began playing house league soccer at the age of five with local club Quinndale Youth Soccer[2] as a goalkeeper, but soon switched to a forward role.[3] At youth level, he later played for local clubs Mount Hamilton SC, Hamilton Sparta SC, Saltfleet SC and Givova Academy.[4] In late 2016, after a successful trial, Corbeanu joined the academy of Toronto FC.[5]

Club career

Toronto FC

In 2018, he played for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario.[6] He scored two goals in a 6–1 victory over Toronto Skillz FC on May 21, 2018.[7]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Having left Toronto FC in August 2018, Corbeanu was unsuccessful in a trial for English club Leicester City,[8] but was later offered a scholarship with the academy of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in which he represented the club's U16 and U18 sides.[4] In the summer of 2019, he joined the first team on their pre-season trip in China,[9] before joining the club's U23 development squad in 2020.[4]

After playing nine games for the Wolves U23 team, in which he scored four goals, Corbeanu signed a professional contract with the first team in October 2020. He subsequently became a regular fixture on the Wolves bench,[8][10][11] eventually making his Premier League debut appearance for the club on May 16, 2021, coming on as a second-half substitute in their game away to Tottenham Hotspur, which ended with a 2–0 defeat.[12][13]

Loan to Sheffield Wednesday

On August 2, 2021, Corbeanu joined EFL League One club Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan.[14] He made his Owls debut in a single-goal defeat at Morecambe on August 28.[15] On November 2, Corbeanu scored his first senior professional goal, with the opener in a 3–0 victory over Sunderland.[16]

Loan to Milton Keynes Dons

On January 6, 2022, Corbeanu was recalled from his loan early by Wolves and sent back out on loan to another League One club, Milton Keynes Dons, for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[17] He made his debut on January 11 in a 1–0 home win over rivals AFC Wimbledon,[18] and four days later scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away win over Portsmouth.[19] Corbeanu went on to make 17 appearances for MK Dons as the club secured a third-placed play-off finish.[20]

Loan to Blackpool

On July 28, 2022, Corbeanu joined EFL Championship club Blackpool on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[21] He made his debut for the club the next day as second-half substitute in a single-goal victory over Reading at Bloomfield Road.[22] On August 20, Corbeanu scored his first goal for Blackpool, netting their first in an eventual 3–3 draw against Burnley.[23] On January 3, 2023, he was re-called by Wolves after suffering an ankle injury, ending his time at the club.[24]

Loan to Arminia Bielefeld

On January 20, 2023, 2. Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld announced they had signed Corbeanu on a loan from Wolves for the remainder of the season.[25]

Loan to Grasshopper Club Zürich

On 4 July 2023, he signed with Grasshopper Club Zürich in the Swiss Super League for a season long loan spell.[26] He moves to the Swiss record champion with fellow Wolves loanee Nigel Lonwijk. He was selected in the starting lineup of the first game of the season on 22 July 2023 and supplied the assist for Grasshopper's only goal in a 1–3 home defeat to Servette FC.[27]

International career

After not being selected for the Canadian U15 team, Corbeanu contacted the Romanian federation, who were aware of his progress. He began playing for Romania at U16 and U17 level, scoring twice in his first match with the U16 side against the Republic of Ireland.[3][28] After two years with the Romanian youth teams, he left in 2019, wanting to remain eligible for Canada at senior level.[4]

He was called up to the Canadian senior team for the first time in December 2020, for a January training camp,[29] but later withdrew due to club commitments with Wolves.[30] He officially joined the senior squad for the first time in March 2021, when he was called up ahead of Canada's 2022 World Cup qualification matches against Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.[31] He made his debut as a 77th-minute substitute against Bermuda on March 25, 2021, scoring four minutes into his debut with Canada's fifth goal in a 5–1 victory.[32][33][34]

In June 2021, Corbeanu was named in Canada's preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[35] On July 1, 2021, he was named in the final squad that would participate at the tournament.[36] In December 2021, Corbeanu was named the 2021 Canada Soccer Youth Player of the Year.[37]

He was included in the preliminary squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[38] but unfortunately did not make the final squad.

Career statistics

Club

As of October 5, 2023[39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III 2018[6] League1 Ontario 52—2[lower-alpha 1]1—73
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s 2020–21 EFL Trophy[40] ———4[lower-alpha 2]040
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2020–21[40] Premier League 100000—10
2021–22[41] 000000—00
Total 1000004050
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2021–22[41] League One 13220003[lower-alpha 2]0182
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2021–22[41] League One 161——1[lower-alpha 3]0171
Blackpool (loan) 2022–23 Championship 173001000183
Arminia Bielefeld (loan) 2022–23 2. Bundesliga 13000002[lower-alpha 4]0150
Grasshopper (loan) 2023–24 Super League 15110——161
Career total 80930311009610
  1. ↑ Appearances in League1 Ontario League Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearance in 2021–22 EFL League One play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in the relegation play-off.

International

As of match played September 27, 2022[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 202162
202210
Total72
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Corbeanu goal.
List of international goals scored by Theo Corbeanu
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1March 25, 2021Exploria Stadium, Orlando, United States Bermuda5–15–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2July 11, 2021Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, United States Martinique4–14–12021 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Theo Corbeanu at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ↑ "Theo Corbeanu Soccer Canada profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
  3. 1 2 "Get to Know Theo Corbeanu". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. June 17, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Milton, Steve (January 2, 2021). "Theo Corbeanu, just 18, has streaked from Hamilton soccer pitches onto historic Wolverhampton Wanderers' first team". Hamilton Spectator.
  5. ↑ Bogos, Vlad (November 13, 2018). "Theodor Corbeanu: "Visez să câștig Cupa Mondială pentru țara mea"" [Theodor Corbeanu: “I dream to win the World Cup for my country”]. Tackle (in Romanian).
  6. 1 2 "2018 Statistics". League 1 Ontario.
  7. ↑ "TFC III Remain Undefeated With 6-1 Win Over Toronto Skillz". League1 Ontario. May 21, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Reid, Brady (January 4, 2021). "Getting to know the young guns abroad: Dissecting the CanMNT January Camp". Waking the Red.
  9. ↑ McClurg, Ian (December 6, 2019). "How to Succeed Playing in Europe – A Profile of Theo Corbeanu". Ian McClurg Learn Perform Coaching.
  10. ↑ Dicken, Alex (December 7, 2020). "Who is Theo Corbeanu? The 'outstanding' wonderkid in the Wolves squad for Burnley". Birmingham Mail.
  11. ↑ "Corbeanu signs new Wolves contract". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. October 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ Sutcliffe, Steve (May 16, 2021). "Tottenham v Wolves: Hosts boost Europa League hopes after comfortable win". BBC Sport.
  13. ↑ "Theo Corbeanu, românul care a ales să joace pentru Canada, a debutat în Premier League împotriva lui Bale, Kane & Co" [Theo Corbeanu, the Romanian who chose to play for Canada, made his debut in the Premier League against Bale, Kane & Co.]. Digi Sport (in Romanian). May 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Owls sign international forward Corbeanu". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Report: Morecambe 1-0 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  16. ↑ Howson, Dom (November 2, 2021). "Sheffield Wednesday player ratings: Theo Corbeanu and Florian Kamberi superb in Sunderland win".
  17. ↑ "Corbeanu's loan switches to MK Dons". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Report: MK Dons 1-0 AFC Wimbledon". January 11, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Portsmouth 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers (agg 1-2)". BBC. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Seasiders Confirm Signing of Theo Corbeanu". www.blackpoolfc.co.uk. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Blackpool edge past Reading through Connolly goal". BBC Sport. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ Proctor, Tom (August 20, 2022). "Theo Corbeanu scores first goal on loan for Blackpool". Molineux News.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (January 3, 2022). "Wolves Recall Corbeanu". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ "ARMINIA VERPFLICHTET THEO CORBEANU". January 20, 2023.
  26. ↑ "GC Zurich signs Corbeanu and Lonwijk". Grasshopper Club Zürich. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Grasshoppers – Servette". Swiss Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Theo Corbeanu, juniorul român care a ales să joace pentru altă țară! Ce l-a împins să renunțe la "tricolor"" [Theo Corbeanu, the Romanian junior who chose to play for another country! What pushed him to give up the "tricolor"]. Digi Sport (in Romanian). November 19, 2020.
  29. ↑ Galindo, Peter (December 23, 2020). "Herdman unveils young Canada roster with 11 debutants for January camp". Sportsnet.
  30. ↑ "Player tests positive for COVID-19 at Canada Soccer men's camp". Sportsnet. January 12, 2021.
  31. ↑ Edwards, Joe (March 23, 2021). "Wolves' Theo Corbeanu called up by Canada". Express & Star.
  32. ↑ Molinaro, John (March 25, 2021). "Davies, Larin lift CanMNT to big win over Bermuda in World Cup qualifying". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  33. ↑ Edwards, Joe (March 26, 2021). "Wolves' Theo Corbeanu scores minutes into Canada bow". Express & Star.
  34. ↑ "Internationals: Corbeanu Scores Four Minutes into Canada Debut". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. March 26, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Davies, David highlight Canada's preliminary roster for Gold Cup". June 18, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Canada Soccer announces 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster". July 1, 2021.
  37. 1 2 "Theo Corbeanu and Jade Rose Named Canada Soccer Youth Players of the Year". Canadian Soccer Association. December 14, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Canada announce squad for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup". Canadian Soccer Association. June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  39. ↑ Theo Corbeanu at Soccerway
  40. 1 2 "Games played by Theo Corbeanu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  41. 1 2 3 "Games played by Theo Corbeanu in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  42. ↑ Theo Corbeanu at National-Football-Teams.com
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