Canadian soccer player
Alessandro Feridun Hojabrpour (Persian : آلساندرو فریدون هژبرپور ; born January 10, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder .
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] 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] In November 2024, Hojabrpour was also nominated for the Player of the Year award.[ 36] Hojabrpour and Forge finished the regular season as CPL Shield winners.[ 37] On November 2, 2024, Hojabrpour and Forge advanced to the 2024 Canadian Premier League final after a semi-final win over Atlético Ottawa .[ 38] He departed the club after the 2024 season, following the expiration of his contract.[ 39]
International career
Hojabrpour was born in Burnaby , Canada to an Italian mother and Iranian father, and also holds an Italian passport.[ 4] [ 40]
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.[ 41] [ 42]
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.[ 43]
Career statistics
As of November 9, 2024 [ 44]
Honours
Pacific FC
Forge FC
Individual
References
^ a b Alessandro Hojabrpour at the Canadian Soccer Association
^ "Alessandro Hojabrpour Whitecaps profile" . Vancouver Whitecaps FC . Archived from the original on April 18, 2021.
^ Pandher, Steve (June 28, 2017). "AFTN's Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 'Ones To Watch' 2017 (Part One – the U16s)" . Away from the Numbers .
^ 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 .
^ Laufer, Jesse (January 15, 2019). "Three Burnaby natives join Langford-based Pacific FC" . Victoria News .
^ a b Bauman, Martin (September 21, 2019). "Pacific FC's Hojabrpour emerging as key contributor in Fall push (Part 2)" . Canadian Premier League .
^ @Pacificfccpl (May 16, 2019). "Here's our Starting XI for tonight's #canChamp game! 🍁Watch live on!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . [better source needed ]
^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (December 12, 2019). "Trust the Kids: Looking at what to expect from Pacific FC's re-signed youngsters" . The Third Sub .
^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 3, 2020). "Pacific FC brings back Hojabrpour, Wirth for 2021 CPL season" . Canadian Premier League .
^ Jacques, John (December 3, 2020). "Pacific FC Re-Signs Wirth And Hojabrpour" . Northern Tribune .
^ "Match Analysis: Pacific FC 1-2 Forge FC" . July 18, 2021.[better source needed ]
^ Dheensaw, Cleve (October 6, 2021). "Strong start propels FC Edmonton to victory over Pacific FC" . Times Colonist .
^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earn spot in final with 2-1 extra time win over Cavalry FC" . Canadian Premier League . November 20, 2021.
^ Bashir, Raheem (December 6, 2021). "Alessandro Hojabrpour goal gives Pacific FC the North Star Shield" . Last Word on Sports .
^ Jacques, John (December 7, 2021). "Right Place, Right Time: Hojabrpour's Path To CPL History" . Northern Tribune .
^ 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 .
^ Dheensaw, Cleve (December 15, 2021). "Pacific FC's Kah, Hojabrpour win CPL awards" . Times Colonist .
^ 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 .
^ Thompson, Marty (January 25, 2022). "Terran Campbell & Alessandro Hojabrpour depart Pacific FC ahead of 2022 CPL season" . OneSoccer .
^ "Forge FC Signs 2021 CPL Canadian U21 Player of the Year Hojabrpour" . Forge FC . January 12, 2022.
^ Jacques, John (January 7, 2022). "Pacific Originals Hojabrpour, Campbell Set For Forge" . Northern Tribune .
^ Jacques, John (January 12, 2022). "Forge Announces Arrival Of Alessandro Hojabrpour" . Northern Tribune .
^ Urciuoli, Anthony (January 12, 2022). "Hamilton's Forge FC sparks rivalry with Pacific FC with signing of Alessandro Hojabrpour" . In The Hammer .
^ Jacques, John (January 13, 2022). "Hojabrpour Details Forge Move: 'Best For My Career' " . Northern Tribune .
^ Palermo, Adam (February 18, 2022). "Forge FC lose 1-0 to Cruz Azul in historic CONCACAF Champions League debut" . Waking the Red . Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ Steiner, Ben (April 16, 2022). "Golazos Galore: Forge grabs late point against Cavalry in home opener" . The Third Sub .
^ "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 ]
^ a b Jacques, John (October 31, 2022). "Hojabrpour Proves A Title-Winner, Twice" . Northern Tribune .
^ Molinaro, John (October 30, 2022). "Forge FC shuts out Atlético Ottawa to win CPL Final" . TFC Republic .
^ "CPL Centurions: Forge's Alessandro Hojabrpour hits 100 games for CPL clubs in all competitions" . Canadian Premier League . April 25, 2023.
^ https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/forge-fc-beats-cavalry-fc-235910978.html [bare URL ]
^ 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 .
^ "MATCH ANALYSIS: Forge FC take over 1st place after controlled victory over 10-man Halifax Wanderers" . August 14, 2024.
^ "Gatorade Team of the Week (Week 20)" . August 26, 2024.
^ "Meet the 2024 CPL Players' Player of the Year Contenders" .
^ "Bekker, Borges, Hojabrpour, Warschewski, Wright Nominated for 2024 Canadian Premier League Player of the Year" .
^ a b "Forge Fc Take Home Three Individual Honours at the CPL Awards Ceremony" .
^ "Forge FC advances to sixth straight CPL final with 1-0 win over Atletico Ottawa" . Toronto Star .
^ Jacques, John (January 17, 2025). "Hojabrpour Headlines Forge Departures" . Northern Tribune .
^ Longo, Jack (January 7, 2021). "Thank you, Terran Campbell and Alessandro Hojabrpour!" . Pacific FC .
^ "Canadians exit u17 tourney on winning note" . Burnaby Now . May 4, 2017.
^ "Pacific Football Club bolsters lineup with trio of Canadian youth internationals" . Pacific FC . January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019.
^ Thompson, Marty (December 13, 2021). "CPL Awards 2021 set for Tuesday: View nominees here" . Canadian Premier League .
^ Alessandro Hojabrpour at Soccerway
External links