Giovanni Calderón Explained

Giovanni Calderón
Fullname:Giovanni Dwight Calderón Chaparro
Birth Date:8 February 2002
Birth Place:North Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:1.91 m
Position:Defender
Currentclub:New England Revolution II
Clubnumber:66
Youthyears1:2010–2013
Youthclubs1:Connecticut FC Impact
Youthyears2:2014–2015
Youthclubs2:FC Westchester
Youthyears3:2016–2017
Youthclubs3:Beachside SC
Youthyears4:2017–2018
Youthclubs4:D.C. United
Youthyears5:2018–2019
Youthclubs5:New York City FC
Youthyears6:2019–2020
Youthclubs6:Beachside SC
Youthyears7:2020–2021
Youthclubs7:Nomads SC
Collegeyears1:2021
College1:Navy Midshipmen
Collegecaps1:3
Collegegoals1:0
Collegeyears2:2022–2024
College2:Cal State Fullerton Titans
Collegecaps2:40
Collegegoals2:1
Years1:2021
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2021
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Caps3:20
Goals3:0
Years4:2024–
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Puerto Rico U17
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Puerto Rico U20
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Puerto Rico
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:14:19; March 28, 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20:12; March 28, 2023 (UTC)

Giovanni Dwight Calderón Chaparro (born February 8, 2002) is a footballer who plays as a defender for the MLS Next Pro club New England Revolution II. Born in the mainland United States, he plays for the Puerto Rico national team.

Early life

Calderón was born in North Haven, Connecticut to a Colombian father and Puerto Rican mother.[1]

Club career

Early career

Calderón first took an interest in soccer from the age of three, and joined his first club, Connecticut Football Club Impact, at the age of eight, playing alongside ten year olds.[2] He played youth soccer for FC Westchester, before going on to play for a number of academy sides, including professional clubs D.C. United and New York City FC.

College soccer

Calderón was given a scholarship worth $5,000 from the New York Red Bulls in November 2018.[3]

He played for the United States Naval Academy's soccer team, the Navy Midshipmen, in 2021.[4] He then transferred to the California State University, Fullerton, where he again represented the university in soccer and captaining the side.[5]

Professional

In May 2021, he signed a contract with Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship, following a trial in March of the same year. He became the first player in the club's history to sign a USL Academy Contract, which allowed him to keep his collegiate eligibility while remaining eligible to represent Hartford Athletic in USL competitions, having already committed to playing for the Navy Midshipmen in December 2020.[6] [7]

Despite this, he went on to play for AC Connecticut in the USL League Two in the same month.[8] He made three appearances for AC Connecticut, before signing with the Ventura County Fusion for 2022 - going on to make five appearances in the league and five in the playoffs.[9] While at Ventura County Fusion, he captained the side and won the 2022 USL 2 National Championship.[10]

On July 6, 2024, he signed with New England Revolution II of MLS Next Pro.[11]

International career

Calderón made his senior international debut for Puerto Rico on September 6, 2019, in a 4–0 friendly loss to Honduras.

Personal life

He has two elder brothers, Joshua and Neekoli, both of whom played soccer, with Joshua also representing the Puerto Rico national football team.[5]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hartford Athletic2021USL Championship00000000
AC Connecticut2021USL League Two30000030
Ventura County Fusion2022USL League Two500050100
Career total800050130

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Puerto Rico201930
202320
Total50

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joshua Calderón, colombo-estadounidense, con sueño boricua. Joshua Calderón, Colombian-American, with a Puerto Rican dream. Roberto. Urrea P.. 26 October 2020. 28 March 2023. capsulas.com.co. Spanish.
  2. Web site: From North Haven and Hartford to the Puerto Rico National Team, Calderón’s journey to professional soccer. Maggie. Vanoni. 24 May 2021. 28 March 2023. ctpost.com.
  3. Web site: Red Bulls help surprise high school player with scholarship. 28 November 2018. 28 March 2023. eu.usatoday.com.
  4. Web site: Giovanni Calderón. 28 March 2023. navysports.com.
  5. Web site: Giovanni Calderón. 28 March 2023. fullertontitans.com.
  6. Web site: North Haven’s Giovanni Calderón signs first Hartford Athletic USL Academy Contract. Maggie. Vanoni. 10 May 2021. 28 March 2023. ctpost.com.
  7. Web site: A new pathway? Giovanni Calderon signs with Hartford Athletic. Jonathan. Sigal. 12 May 2021. 28 March 2023. hartfordathletic.com.
  8. Web site: AC Connecticut statistics. 28 March 2023. uslleaguetwo.com.
  9. Web site: Ventura County Fusion statistics. 28 March 2023. uslleaguetwo.com.
  10. Web site: Fusion Try To Get Back to Winning Ways vs. Marin Legends Sunday, June 19 at 10:30 am.. 18 June 2022. 28 March 2023. vcfusion.com.
  11. Web site: Revolution II sign defender Giovanni Calderon. July 6, 2024.