Rocco Vata Explained

Rocco Vata
Fullname:Rocco Vata
Birth Date:18 April 2005
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Height:1.75 m
Currentclub:Watford
Clubnumber:11
Position:Right Midfielder
Youthyears1:2012–2021
Youthclubs1:Celtic
Years1:2021–2024
Clubs1:Celtic B
Caps1:55
Goals1:28
Years2:2022–2024
Clubs2:Celtic
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Watford
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2019–2020
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2022–2023
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps4:8
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:5
Club-Update:19:43, 3 February 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:17:01, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Rocco Vata (born 18 April 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Watford. Born in Scotland, he is a youth international for Ireland.

Club career

Celtic

Born in Glasgow, Vata followed in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer and Celtic player Rudi Vata by joining Celtic at the age of seven.[1] [2] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.[3]

He was included in pre-season training with the Celtic first team ahead of the 2022–23 season, but was assigned to the club's B team in 2022, making his debut in the Lowland League the same year.[1] [4] [5] Following impressive performances for Celtic's youth and B teams, he is seen as one of Celtic and Ireland's most promising players, and was linked with Italian clubs Juventus, Roma and AC Milan, as well as English sides Arsenal and Manchester City in October 2022.[6] [7] [8]

Vata made his first team debut for Celtic on 28 December 2022, coming on as a substitute for Matt O'Riley as Celtic beat Hibernian 4–0 away at Easter Road.[9] He scored his first senior goal in a 5–0 rout of Buckie Thistle on 21 January 2024 in the 2023–24 Scottish Cup.

Watford

On 5 July 2024, Vata signed for EFL Championship club Watford on a four-year contract.[10]

Personal Life

Rocco is the son of former footballer Rudi Vata.

International career

Vata is eligible to represent Albania through his father (who played for the Albania national team), the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother on his mother's side, Scotland through his mother and by virtue of being born there, and Montenegro.[1]

On 31 August 2023, Vata received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification fixtures against Turkey U21 and San Marino U21 on 8 and 12 September 2023.[11] He made his U21 debut in the San Marino game, scoring twice in a 3–0 win at Turners Cross.[12] On 22 March 2024, he scored a hat-trick on his second appearance for the side, in a 7–0 win away to San Marino U21.[13]

Honours

Celtic

2022–23, 2023–24

2023–24

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic B2021–22Lowland League24700247
2022–23169211810
2023–241512111613
Total5528325830
Celtic2022–23Scottish Premiership4000000040
2023–241011000021
Total5011000061
Watford2024–25EFL Championship00000000
Career total60281100326431

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who is Rocco Vata? Celtic starlet with a famous father and his 'killer attitude' that sounds oven ready for Angeball. Steven. Mair. 12 March 2022. 23 October 2022. dailyrecord.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Rocco Vata. 23 October 2022. celticfc.com.
  3. Web site: Rocco Vata - son of Celtic cult hero Rudi - signs first professional deal for the Hoops. Daniel. Caw. 9 July 2021. 23 October 2022. glasgowlive.co.uk.
  4. Web site: Rocco Vata given 'looks ready' Celtic assessment as veteran coos over starlet's quality. James. McLaughlin. 18 July 2022. 23 October 2022. heraldscotland.com.
  5. Web site: Report: Europe's Biggest Clubs Lining Up To Sign Ireland Youth Star. Gary. Connaughton. 20 October 2022. 23 October 2022. balls.ie.
  6. Web site: 'He could become the Ronaldo of Ireland' – High hopes for talented 16-year-old. Aidan. Fitzmaurice. 8 November 2021. 23 October 2022. independent.ie.
  7. Web site: Celtic, tutti pazzi per Rocco Vata: classe 2005, è seguito da Juventus e Milan. Celtic, all crazy for Rocco Vata: born in 2005, followed by Juventus and Milan. Andrea. Losapio. 20 October 2022. 23 October 2022. tuttomercatoweb.com. Italian.
  8. Web site: Rocco Vata Celtic exit talk addressed by Postecoglou with Callum McGregor example after 'valuation'. Ben. Banks. 22 October 2022. 23 October 2022. glasgowlive.co.uk.
  9. Web site: Scots Prem (Sky Sports) . 4 January 2023 . Sky Sports . en.
  10. Web site: 2024-07-05 . Rocco Vata: Watford sign Celtic teenager on four-year deal . 2024-07-05 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  11. Web site: Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  12. https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u21s-san-marino-6167053-Sep2023/
  13. https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/rocco-vata-bags-hat-trick-and-sinclair-armstrong-on-the-double-as-ireland-hammer-san-marino-as-it-happened/a1163053254.html