Carlo Ritaccio Explained

Carlo Ritaccio
Birth Date:9 January 2000
Birth Place:Westbury, New York, United States
Height:185 cm
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:2007–2013
Youthclubs1:BW Gottschee
Youthyears2:2013–2016
Youthclubs2:IMG Academy
Youthyears3:2016–2018
Youthclubs3:BW Gottschee
Collegeyears1:2018–2021
College1:Akron Zips
Collegecaps1:58
Collegegoals1:7
Years1:2019
Clubs1:New York Red Bulls U23
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Long Island Rough Riders
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Chicago Fire II
Caps3:19
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:United States U19
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:October 4, 2022
Nationalteam-Update:October 4, 2022

Carlo Ritaccio (born January 9, 2000) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender.

Career

Youth

Ritaccio began playing club soccer at local side BW Gottschee, before getting recruited to play at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[1] [2] He returned to BW Gottschee, who he helped tobe champions of the Northeast Academy Conference in the 2016–17 season, and were ranked top 20 nationally.[2]

While at youth level, Ritaccio was called up to various youth levels of the United States national team, joining camps at under-14, under-15, under-17 and under-19 level.[2] [3] [4]

College

In 2018, Ritaccio began his college soccer career at the University of Akron. In four seasons with the Zips, Ritaccio made 58 appearances, scoring seven goals and tallying two assists. During his college career, he picked accolades including National Freshman of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com, as well as being tabbed to their Freshman Best XI first team in 2018, first-team All-MAC honoree, and was tabbed a third-team All-North United Soccer Coaches Regional selection in 2019, Second-Team All-MAC honoree and Academic All-MAC selection in 2020, and Academic All-MAC selection, as well as being recognized as First-Team Academic All-Ohio recipient in 2021.[2] [5]

While at college, Ritaccio also played in the USL League Two, spending the summer of 2019 with New York Red Bulls U-23 side, where he made three appearances,[6] before joining Long Island Rough Riders to make six appearances.[7] He then returned to join the Rough Riders in 2021, playing in two regular season games.[8] During this spell, he was named to the USL League Two's '20 under 20' list.[9]

Professional

On January 11, 2022, Ritaccio was selected 63rd overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire.[10] [11] On March 10, 2022, he signed a professional contract with Chicago's MLS Next Pro side Chicago Fire FC II ahead of the league's inaugural season.[12] [13] During the 2022 season, he went on to make 19 appearances for the club.[14]

Personal

Carlo's younger brother, Matteo, is also a professional soccer player, who currently plays with the Liverpool academy.[15] His older brother, Giraldo, also played college soccer, spending four seasons at SUNY Oneonta.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: One-on-one with Akron signee Carlo Ritaccio | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer. TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  2. Web site: Carlo Ritaccio - Men's Soccer. University of Akron Athletics.
  3. Web site: U.S. U-19, U-20 MNT rosters set for Invitational at IMG Academy.
  4. Web site: Ritaccio Named to USMNT U-19 Squad for Upcoming U-20 Men’s Invitational Tournament. University of Akron Athletics.
  5. Web site: Akron Enters The 2022 Season With A Lot of Pieces Back from the 2021 Team. Experience and Continuity Are Positives. – College Soccer News.
  6. Web site: New York Red Bulls U23 | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. Web site: Long Island Rough Riders | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  8. Web site: Long Island Rough Riders | uslleaguetwo.com. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  9. League Two 20 Under 20
  10. Web site: Chicago Fire FC Select Four Players in MLS SuperDraft 2022 Presented by adidas | Chicago Fire FC. chicagofirefc.
  11. Web site: Two University of Akron men's soccer players drafted by MLS teams. George M.. Thomas. Akron Beacon Journal.
  12. Web site: Chicago Fire FC II Signs Defender Carlo Ritaccio | Chicago Fire FC. chicagofirefc.
  13. Web site: Chicago Fire FC II Announce Roster for Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season | Chicago Fire FC. chicagofirefc.
  14. Web site: Carlo Ritaccio | MLSsoccer.com. mlsnextpro.
  15. Web site: Meet the Academy: Matteo Ritaccio. Liverpool FC.
  16. Web site: Giraldo Ritaccio - Men's Soccer. SUNY Oneonta Athletics.