Alfie Theodore Cicale (born 19 April 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a wing back for Veikkausliiga club VPS.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alfie Theodore Cicale | ||
| Date of birth | 19 April 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position(s) | Wing-back, left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | VPS | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2017 | Norwich City | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Oxford Jesus College | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | VPS | 19 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2024 | |||
Early career
editCicale joined the Norwich City youth academy when he was aged 12.[1] Cicale played with Norwich for three years until he resigned from the academy and continued to study and play football in a small local club with his friends.[1] In 2020, Cicale started studying history in Oxford and playing in Oxford Jesus College university team.[2][3][4] During his time at Oxford, his other sport was sprinting. He graduated in 2023 with "a first-class history degree".[5][1]
Club career
editAfter graduating, Cicale trialled with Northampton Town and Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax, but was not able to get a contract due to his lack of competitive playing experience and due to visa difficulties.[1] He also spent time with Finnish second-tier club TPS, but could not be registered as the transfer window had already closed.[5][1]
VPS
editIn March 2024, Cicale was invited for a trial to Finnish top-tier Veikkausliiga club Vaasan Palloseura (VPS). On 21 March 2024, he signed a two-year deal with the club, his first professional contract after playing college football in England.[6][7] He debuted with his new club on 7 April, in the opening game of the 2024 Veikkausliiga season against Haka, helping his side to get a 2–1 away victory.[8] On 27 April, Cicale scored his first professional senior goal, a winning goal in a 2–1 league victory over AC Oulu.[9][10][11][12][13] He also made an appearance for VPS in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers against Žalgiris, but was forced to miss the 2nd leg due to a delay in Lithuanian visa process.[14]
Personal life
editBorn in England to an English mother and an Italian father, Cicale grew up in North London.[5][6] He is a Tottenham supporter.
Career statistics
edit- As of 23 October 2024.
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| VPS | 2024 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Career total | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
- ^ Includes Suomen Cup
- ^ Includes Finnish League Cup
- ^ Includes UEFA Conference League
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "England's rare trip to Finland, where Britons are thriving". BBC Sport. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ Eliittiyliopistosta suomalaiseen takatalveen – VPS-laituri Alfie Cicalen vauhti on riittänyt myös pikajuoksukisoissa, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 4 April 2024
- ^ VPS hankki nopeutta laidalleen, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 21 March 2024
- ^ Oxford deal double Varsity defeat to Cambridge after winning 137th Men's Football Match, varsity.co.uk, 13 March 2022
- ^ a b c Eliittiyliopistossa opiskelleella Alfiella oli salainen unelma – nyt hän elää sitä todeksi Vaasassa: "Voisi tehdä Lontoossa ihan toisenlaista uraa", mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 7 May 2024
- ^ a b Tervetuloa Vaasan Palloseuraan Alfie Cicale!, vepsu.fi, 21 March 2024
- ^ Veikkausliigassa säväyttää pelaaja, josta edes internet ei tiedä juuri mitään: "Hämmentävän hyvä", Yle, 23 April 2024
- ^ Otteluraportti: FC Haka - VPS | Veikkausliiga, vepsu.fi, 7 April 2024
- ^ Sensaatiopelaaja teki sen taas Veikkausliigassa, Iltalehti, 27 April 2024
- ^ VPS har hittat en guldklimp från ingenstans – doldisvärvningen Alfie Cicale bakom båda målen i "bortasegern" över AC Oulu, Svenska Yle, 27 April 2024
- ^ Bolltrollaren Alfie Cicale hyllas – avgjorde matchen mot AC Oulu: "Vi förtjänade segern helt", Vasabladet, 27 April 2024
- ^ Kommentti: Yksi jalkapalloliigan kuumimmista nimistä löytyy VPS:n riveistä – Eikä häntä tunne edes verkon tilastoraamattu, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 29 April 2024
- ^ "Joukkueen henki on loistava" - VPS:n Alfie Cicale luottavaisena FC Lahtea vastaan, veikkausliiga.com, 3 May 2024
- ^ Alfie Cicale on poissa kokoonpanosta FK Žalgiris - VPS -ottelussa, vepsu.fi, 18 July 2024
External links
edit- Alfie Cicale at Soccerway
- Alfie Cicale at WorldFootball.net