Ryan Raposo Explained

Ryan Raposo
Birth Date:5 March 1999
Birth Place:Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.70 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Clubnumber:27
Youthyears1:2003–2009
Youthclubs1:Mount Hamilton SC
Youthyears2:2010–2011
Youthclubs2:Toronto FC
Youthyears3:2012–2015
Youthclubs3:Burlington Youth SC
Youthyears4:2016–2017
Youthclubs4:Vaughan SC
Collegeyears1:2018–2019
College1:Syracuse Orange
Collegecaps1:38
Collegegoals1:19
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Vaughan Azzurri
Caps1:24
Goals1:13
Years2:2020–
Clubs2:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps2:114
Goals2:5
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:Canada U23
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:July 21, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:March 28, 2021

Ryan Raposo (born March 5, 1999) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a wingback for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.[1]

Youth

Born in Hamilton to a Portuguese father and Chinese mother, Raposo began playing soccer at a young age, making his first competitive rep team when he was eight with Mount Hamilton SC.[2] When he was 11, he joined the Toronto FC Academy, but the club released him two years later, believing him to be "too small and too skinny".[3] Afterwards, he joined the Burlington Youth SC at age 12, joining the provincial program at age 14. Soon after, he was selected to play on the Canadian under-15 national team.[4] When he was 16, he moved to Vaughan SC. In 2016, he fractured his right fibula in a club match against Sigma FC. He was named MVP at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, as part of the gold medal-winning Team Ontario.[5]

Raposo attended Syracuse University, where he played soccer for two years. In his second and final year, Raposo led his team in goals (15) and points (37), which set the school records for a sophomore, and earned a spot in the All-ACC first team.[6] [7]

Club career

During college, Raposo also appeared for League1 Ontario side Vaughan Azzurri in the 2017,[8] 2018[9] and 2019 during the NCAA offseason.[10] He played in the 2019 Canadian Championship and scored in the first leg of their tie, which was lost on away goals to Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers FC.[11]

On January 9, 2020, Raposo was selected fourth overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, and was signed by the club to a Generation Adidas contract.[12] He made his debut on March 7, 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute, against the Los Angeles Galaxy, recording an assist on the only goal of the game.[13] He scored his first professional goal in the 73rd minute of a 1–0 win over Sporting Kansas City on April 2, 2022.[14] Later that year, he won the Best Young Canadian Player Award at the 2022 Canadian Championship, after scoring one goal and getting two assists.[15]

International career

Eligible for Canada, China, Portugal.

He joined the Canadian under-15 in 2014, playing matches against Costa Rican teams.[16]

Raposo was named to the Canadian under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on March 10, 2021.[17]

In May 2023, Raposo was listed on the Canada preliminary rosters for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[18]

Style of play

Described as "a skilful winger" by Neil Davidson, Raposo is also capable of playing as a number ten. His former Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre labelled him a "dynamic, exciting attacker who can torment defenders."[19]

Honours

Vancouver Whitecaps

Individual

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vaughan Azzurri2017League1 Ontario10900109
201840003171
20191040021125
Total2413002131002915
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2020MLS150150
20212100010220
202229241333
202326010202041341
202423300202030303
Total1145109140711357
Career total1381810112617116422

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan Raposo profile . mlssoccer.com . January 11, 2020.
  2. Web site: Ryan Raposo's family background fuels his passion on the field. Michael. McCleary. The Daily Orange. November 15, 2018.
  3. Web site: 'Too small, too skinny,' Hamilton soccer star gets noticed ahead of MLS draft. January 8, 2020. CBC.
  4. Web site: Raposo sizes up a career in soccer. August 27, 2017. Scott. Radley. The Hamilton Spectator.
  5. Web site: Hamilton's Ryan Raposo top player in Canada Games soccer tournament. August 13, 2017. Gord. Bowes. Hamilton Mountain News.
  6. Web site: All-ACC first team announced . theacc.com . January 11, 2020.
  7. Web site: Hamilton's Ryan Raposo ready to take next step of soccer dream with Whitecaps. Neil. Davidson. The Canadian Press. Global News. January 10, 2020.
  8. Web site: Ryan Raposo 2017 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  9. Web site: Ryan Raposo 2018 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  10. Web site: Ryan Raposo 2019 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  11. Web site: Halifax, Calgary lead Qualifying Round 1 of the 2019 Canadian Championship . canadasoccer.com . January 14, 2020.
  12. Web site: Whitecaps FC select midfielder Ryan Raposo . whitecapsfc.com . January 11, 2020.
  13. Web site: 'Too small' Raposo takes his chances, makes an impact for Whitecaps. J.J.. Adams. The Province. March 11, 2020.
  14. Web site: Raposo scores first MLS goal, Vancouver Whitecaps down Sporting Kansas City 1-0. Gemma. Karstens-Smith. April 3, 2022. Global News.
  15. Web site: Gauld and Raposo win awards at 2022 Canadian Championship. Canadian Soccer Association. July 27, 2022.
  16. Web site: STM's Ryan Raposo suits up for Canada. Larry. Moko. Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.
  17. Web site: CANADA SOCCER ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR CONCACAF MEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING. March 10, 2021.
  18. Web site: CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names. May 19, 2023. May 19, 2023. Canada Soccer Daily.
  19. News: Four Canadians go in top 20 of MLS draft with Ryan Raposo leading the way at No. 4 . CP24 . Davidson . Neil . January 9, 2020 . April 8, 2020 .
  20. News: Vancouver Whitecaps FC win the 2022 Canadian Championship Final. July 27, 2022 . July 29, 2022 . Canada Soccer.
  21. News: Vancouver Whitecaps FC win the 2023 Canadian Championship. June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023 . Canada Soccer.