Cyle Larin

Cyle Larin
Personal information
Full nameCyle Larin
Date of birth17 April 1995
Place of birthBrampton, Ontario, Canada
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Orlando City
Number21
Youth career
2007–2014Sigma FC
2013–2014Connecticut Huskies
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2014Sigma FC5(4)
2015–Orlando City5(1)
National team‡
2015Canada U205(0)
2014–Canada5(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2015

Cyle Larin (born April 17, 1995) is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in Major League Soccer and the Canadian national team.

Early life

Larin was raised in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and attended St. Edmund Campion High School. Larin was the school's top goal scorer for the final three years that he attended.[1]

Youth and college

In 2007, at the age of 11, Larin joined the private soccer academy Sigma FC of the Ontario Soccer League before graduating in 2013. During his time at Sigma FC, Larin traveled to Europe for training periods with Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg in Germany and Racing Genk and Club Brugge in Belgium twice. About the striker, Sigma FC Technical Director Bobby Smyrniotis said, "Cyle is a rare player to find in Canada...a complete and modern striker able to play with both feet, finish from all areas, dominate his region of the park and provide for his teammates."[2]

In 2013, Larin committed to the University of Connecticut. During his first year on the team, Larin scored 14 goals in 23 appearances, the 6th highest goal total in the entire NCAA for the season. His performance during his freshman year earned him multiple honors including Freshman of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com and being named to the Conference All-Rookie Team.[1] In January 2014, Larin was touted as one of the best players available in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. However, he did not sign a Generation Adidas deal with Major League Soccer before the draft and was named the #2 best college player available in 2015 if he opted to sign with the league.[3]

In 2014, during the college offseason Larin rejoined Sigma FC as they entered the newly formed League1 Ontario.[4] During the season, Larin scored four goals for Sigma.[5] During the season, Sigma FC reached the League 1 Ontario Cup final before ultimately losing 1-2 to Vaughan Azzurri.[6] Following the 2014 Major League Soccer regular season and during his sophomore season at UConn, Larin was once again predicted to be the #1 pick in the upcoming 2015 MLS Superdraft if he opted to sign with the league and not for a European club, which were also rumored to be interested in the player.[7] At that time, Orlando City SC held the #1 pick in the draft after selecting it in the Expansion Draft held between OCSC and fellow-expansion club New York City FC.[8]

Professional

In early January 2015, it was announced that Larin had reached a verbal agreement to sign a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer despite interest from European clubs, including a club from the English Premier League.[9] On January 8, 2015 it was officially announced that Larin had signed a Generation Adidas contract with the league, along with four other players.[10] At the draft, Larin was selected by Orlando City SC as the first overall pick as expected, becoming the first Canadian ever chosen first overall in the MLS SuperDraft in the process.[11]

Larin began his MLS career with Orlando City on March 21, 2015 coming on as a substitute against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[12] Larin scored his first professional league goal on April 12, 2015 against the Portland Timbers.[13]

International

Previously, Larin had never represented Canada at the youth level.[14] However, after his impressive freshman season at the University of Connecticut, he was named as part of the roster for a senior training camp by Benito Floro to be held in Florida in January 2014.[15] In May 2014, Larin was included in the roster for a senior training camp in Austria and friendly matches against Bulgaria and Moldova on May 23 and 27, respectively.[16] Larin was viewed as a potential offensive solution for the team which was experiencing a scoring drought of over 900 minutes and winless streak of 15 games entering the friendlies. Larin made his senior international debut in the match against Bulgaria, coming on as a substitute for Simeon Jackson later in the second half.[17]

Larin was named to the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship squad for Canada on January 5, 2014.[18] On January 10, he made his U20 debut against Haiti's U20 side.[14]

Larin returned to the senior team for friendlies against Guatemala and Puerto Rico in March 2015.[19] He scored his first goal for Canada in the latter match, the third goal in the 3–0 victory over Puerto Rico.[20]

International career statistics

As of match played 30 March 2015[21]
Canada national team
YearAppsGoals
201430
201521
Total51

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.[22]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 30 March 2015 Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico
3–0
3–0
Friendly

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "UConn Bio". University of Connecticut. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Cyle Larin and Kwame Awuah Commit to the University of Connecticut". Sigma FC. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Sulat, Nate. "SuperDraft: Who are the top 10 college players ahead of the 2015 draft?". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Rowaan, Dave. "League 1 Ontario opens play with familiar names and plenty of excitement". Waking the Red. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Scoring Leaders". League 1 Ontario. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Hylton, Kamal. "L1 Cup Final: Vaughan Azzurri 2 - Sigma F.C.". League 1 Ontario. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "MLS on Campus: Top college players who may be available in 2015 MLS SuperDraft". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Orlando City take top picks in 2015 Expansion Draft, MLS SuperDraft; NYCFC atop Allocation Ranking". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Tunstall, Brooke. "MLS Improves Offer, Comes To Terms With Cyle Larin". American Soccer Now. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Major League Soccer announces 2015 Generation adidas class". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "MLS SuperDraft: Canadian international Cyle Larin selected first overall by Orlando City SC". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Orlando City SC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC - MLS MatchCenter".
  13. ↑ Veness, Simon. "Orlando City SC thinking big after win at Portland Timbers: "We can be very good in this league"". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Battle, Craig. "Canadian Larin could go No. 1 in MLS draft". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Squizzato, Daniel. "CanNMT: College sensation Cyle Larin hoping to prove he's Canada's striker of the future". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "[2014-05] Men's International Camp in Austria". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Squizzato, Daniel. "Bulgaria 1, Canada 1". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  18. ↑ Rowaan, Dave (January 5, 2014). "Canada names squad for CONCACAF U20 Championships".
  19. ↑ "Nine MLS Players Named to Canada's Roster for Upcoming Friendlies Versus Guatemala and Puerto Rico". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Squizzato, Daniel. "Puerto Rico 0, Canada 3". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Cyle Larin at National-Football-Teams.com
  22. ↑ Cyle Larin at National-Football-Teams.com

External links