Erickson Gallardo Explained

Erickson Gallardo
Fullname:Erickson Yirson Gallardo Toro
Birth Date:26 July 1996
Birth Place:Barinas, Venezuela
Height:1.67 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Carabobo
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Fundarleo Raúl Leoni
Youthclubs2:Santa Bárbara
Youthclubs3:Potros de Barinas FC
Youthyears4:2013–2015
Youthclubs4:Zamora
Years1:2014–2019
Clubs1:Zamora
Caps1:117
Goals1:11
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Toronto FC
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2021
Clubs3:Toronto FC II (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Zamora
Caps4:31
Goals4:10
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Phoenix Rising
Caps5:32
Goals5:1
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Carabobo
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2019–
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:9 July 2024
Nationalteam-Update:22 September 2022

Erickson Yirson Gallardo Toro (born 26 July 1996) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Carabobo in the Venezuelan Primera División.

Early life

He began playing football at the age of four at the Fundarleo Raúl Leoni, where he was coached by his father.[1] He later played youth football with Santa Bárbara and Potros de Barinas FC, before joining Zamora FC at age 17.[2]

Club career

He made his first team debut for Zamora on 16 February 2014 against Atlético El Vigía. After limited appearances in his first couple of years, he became a regular player in the 2016 season as a nineteen year old.[3] In the second leg of the 2018 Apertura Final, Gallardo scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory, giving Zamora the title winning 2–1 on aggregate.[4] Over his time with the club, he won four league titles in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.[5] [4] [6]

In July 2019, he signed with Toronto FC in Major League Soccer,[7] after Toronto acquired his MLS rights from Orlando City SC, who had Gallardo on their Discovery List, in exchange for $50,000 of General Allocation Money.[8] After suffering a quad strain shortly after joining the club, he made his debut for Toronto on 7 August 2019 in a Canadian Championship match against Ottawa Fury FC.[9] He recorded his first MLS assist on 15 September against the Colorado Rapids.[10] In his debut season in which he arrived mid-season, he only made five appearances, which coach Greg Vanney attributed to his late arrival to the team, opting to go with the players who had played all season due to their familiarity with the system.[11] He did not make any appearances in the playoffs as Toronto advanced to the MLS Cup finals, where they finished as runner-ups.[12] [13] In a CONCACAF Champions League match on 7 April 2021 against Mexican side León, after coming on as a substitute, Gallardo created the tying goal in the first leg, intercepting the ball before making a pass which was deflected by a defender for an own goal,[14] but later had to leave the match due to suffering an injury,[15] requiring him to undergo right groin surgery.[16] In 2021, after recovering from his injury, he was loaned to Toronto FC II for some matches.[17] At the end of the 2021 season, Gallardo's contract expired and he departed the club.[18]

In 2022, he returned to Zamora,[19] [20] joining them in preseason, despite interest from several other clubs, including MLS club Inter Miami CF.[21] In his debut, he scored a goal in a 2–0 victory over Estudiantes de Mérida.[22]

On November 9, 2022, Gallardo signed with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship for the 2023 season.[23]

Gallardo returned to the Venezuelan Primera División in July 2024, transferring to Carabobo.[24]

International career

In May 2019, he earned his first callup to the Venezuela national team.[25] He made his debut in a 1–1 friendly tie with Ecuador on 1 June 2019, playing seven minutes in a substitute appearance.[26] [27] In June 2022, he was called up to the national team again, after a three-year absence, for matches against Malta and Saudi Arabia, but was an unused substitute.[28]

Personal

Gallardo's nickname in Venezuelan football is Meteoro (Meteor) due to his speed.[29] [30] In 2019, Gallardo and his wife had a daughter, born in Canada.[31]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zamora2013–14Venezuelan Primera División10000010
2014–1530000030
201550100060
2016233403[32] 0303
2017321706[33] 1452
201838664204610
20191510061212
Total1171118417215217
Toronto FC2019Major League Soccer5000300080
202060100070
202100001[34] 010
Total110103010160
Toronto FC II (loan)2021USL League One3030
Zamora2022Venezuelan Primera División3110003110
Phoenix Rising2023USL Championship1714020231
Career total179323023418222628

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela201910
202000
202100
202220
Total30

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gallardo hace donativos a una escuela de fútbol en Barinas. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión. Gallardo makes donations to a soccer school in Barinas. es.
  2. Web site: Erickson Gallardo retumba en el balompié venezolano. Erickson Gallardo resounds in Venezuelan football. es. Solovenex. Alejandro. Mistaje. 13 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Erickson Gallardo lucha por un puesto en la titular del Zamora. Erickson Gallardo fights for a position in the Zamora lineup. es. 26 January 2016. Meridiano Televisión.
  4. Web site: Erickson Gallardo es nuevo jugador del Toronto F.C.. Erickson Gallardo is a new Toronto FC player. es. 9 July 2019. Alejandro. Zamora Calafat. Meridiano Televisión.
  5. Web site: Toronto FC optimistic about rest of season as Gallardo, Gonzalez join the fold. 9 July 2019. Toronto Star. Neil. Davidson.
  6. Web site: Erickson Gallardo deslumbra en el Clausura 2018. es. Erickson Gallardo dazzles at the Clausura 2018. 25 August 2018. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión.
  7. Web site: Toronto FC signs Venezuelan winger Erickson Gallardo. torontofc.ca. Toronto FC. 9 July 2019. 5 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Orlando City Using Discovery List Creatively. 27 February 2020. The Mane Land. Guilherme. Torres.
  9. Web site: Recent additions give TFC depth, options for playoff run. Neil. Davidson. Toronto Star. August 9, 2019.
  10. Web site: Erickson Gallardo da asistencia en la MLS. Kerlin. Mosquera. Erickson Gallardo provides assistance in the MLS. es. 15 September 2019. Meridiano Televisión.
  11. News: TFC's Gallardo hits the reset button. February 27, 2020. Steve. Buffery. Toronto Sun.
  12. News: TFC remains confident in Gallardo. November 11, 2019. Steve. Buffery. Toronto Sun.
  13. Web site: Erickson Gallardo: Vengo muy enfocado para un año de muchos éxitos. es. Erickson Gallardo: I am very focused for a year of many successes. 20 February 2020. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión.
  14. News: Shorthanded Toronto FC holds on for a draw in hot and steamy Leon. Toronto Sun. Steve. Buffery. April 7, 2021.
  15. Web site: Jozy Altidore and Erickson Gallardo leave Club Leon game with injuries. Benedict. Rhodes. April 7, 2021. Waking the Red. 18 July 2021. 25 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230425211903/https://www.wakingthered.com/2021/4/7/22373000/jozy-altidore-and-erickson-gallardo-leave-club-leon-game-with-injuries. dead.
  16. Web site: Injury Report: Erickson Gallardo undergoes surgery; Pozuelo, Mavinga ruled out vs. CF Montreal. April 16, 2021. Waking the Red. Michael. Singh.
  17. Web site: Toronto FC loan Erickson Gallardo to TFC II. July 18, 2021. Toronto FC.
  18. Web site: Toronto FC Announce Year-End Roster Decisions. December 1, 2021. Toronto FC.
  19. Web site: Síntesis deportiva. Sports Synthesis. es. 29 January 2022. El Carabobeño. Avelino. Avancín.
  20. 1486041595925438465. 25 January 2022. Jesus Elijah. Rojas. JesusConClase. Confirmado: Erickson Gallardo será jugador de Zamora FC al menos una temporada. Confirmed: Erickson Gallardo will be a Zamora FC player for at least one season. es.
  21. Web site: El delantero Erickson Gallardo suena para el Inter de Miami. 31 December 2021. Forward Erickson Gallardo sounds for Inter Miami. es. Avelino. Avancín. Meridiano Televisión.
  22. Web site: Zamora marcó dos veces en la victoria ante Estudiantes Mérida en la Carolina. Zamora scored twice in the victory against Estudiantes Mérida in the Carolina. TYC Sports. 4 March 2022.
  23. Web site: Phoenix Rising Signs Venezuelan National Team Midfielder Erickson Gallardo. Jason. Minnick. Phoenix Rising FC. November 9, 2022. November 9, 2022.
  24. Web site: Hill. Tyson. Phoenix Rising FC Transfers Erickson Gallardo to Liga FUTVE’s Carabobo FC . . 8 July 2024.
  25. Web site: Erickson Gallardo: Daré lo mejor para ganarme un puesto. es. Erickson Gallardo: I will do my best to earn a position. 21 May 2019. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión.
  26. Web site: Toronto FC sign winger Erickson Gallardo. Benedict. Rhodes. Waking the Red. July 9, 2019. 18 July 2021. 26 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230426031553/https://www.wakingthered.com/2019/7/9/20687853/toronto-fc-sign-winger-erickson-gallardo. dead.
  27. Web site: Erickson Gallardo a HSM: "No vamos a bajar la guardia". Erickson Gallardo to HSM: "We are not going to lower our guard". es. 18 October 2019. Nelson. Perez Esis. Hispanic Sports Media. 5 February 2022. 5 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220205162006/https://www.hsmamerica.com/2019/10/18/erickson-gallardo-a-hsm-no-vamos-a-bajar-la-guardia/. dead.
  28. Web site: Erickson Gallardo summoned to the Vinotinto. May 31, 2022. Press Compa. 30 August 2022. 30 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220830203149/https://presscompa.com/erickson-gallardo-summoned-to-the-vinotinto/. dead.
  29. Web site: "Meteoro" Gallardo quiere mostrar su calidad en circuitos internacionales. es. "Meteoro" Gallardo wants to show his quality in international circuits. 14 February 2019. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión.
  30. Web site: Erickson Gallardo, el veloz y desequilibrante del Zamora FC. es. Erickson Gallardo, the fast and unbalanced player of Zamora FC. 16 February 2018. Carlos Alberto. Chacon. Meridiano Televisión.
  31. Web site: Toronto FC's Erickson Gallardo: 'This year is going to be different'. March 7, 2020. Michael. Singh. Waking the Red. 18 July 2021. 21 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421172223/https://www.wakingthered.com/2020/3/7/21168429/toronto-fcs-erickson-gallardo-this-year-is-going-to-be-different. dead.
  32. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  33. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  34. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League