João Moutinho (footballer, born 1998)

João Gervásio Bragança Moutinho (born 12 January 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Polish club Jagiellonia Białystok, on loan from Spezia. Moutinho usually is employed as a left-back, although he has also been used as a centre-back.

João Moutinho
Personal information
Full name João Gervásio Bragança Moutinho
Date of birth (1998-01-12) 12 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Jagiellonia Białystok
(on loan from Spezia)
Number 44
Youth career
2008–2017 Sporting CP
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Akron Zips 24 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Los Angeles FC 14 (1)
2019–2022 Orlando City SC 72 (2)
2023– Spezia 9 (0)
2024–Jagiellonia Białystok (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 July 2024

Moutinho played one season of college soccer for the Akron Zips men's soccer program during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. He appeared in all 24 matches for the Zips, and was named a first-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches.[2][3][4]

He was the first-overall selection of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, going to expansion club Los Angeles FC. After one season, he was traded to Orlando City SC, where he won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022.

Career

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Youth and college

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Moutinho joined the Sporting CP's Youth Academy in 2008, when he joined the U-10 squad. Moutinho remained with the squad through the U-19's. In 2017, Moutinho signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Akron Zips men's soccer program for the 2017 season.

While at Akron, Moutinho started in all 24 matches, scoring three and dishing out five assists. The season saw the Zips win the 2017 MAC Men's Soccer Tournament, and reach the College Cup (semi-finals) of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. At the end of the season, he earned two national distinctions, being named a first-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches,[2] and earned the National Freshman of the Year Award by TopDrawer Soccer. Conference-wise, Moutinho earned the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, and was named to the All-MAC first team.[4]

At the end of his freshman season, Moutinho signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. There, Moutinho was the first overall selection of the draft, signed by expansion franchise, Los Angeles FC.

Professional career

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Los Angeles FC

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On 8 January 2018, Moutinho was one of six recipients of a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer.[5] Eleven days later at the 2018 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia, he was the first-overall selection, joining expansion team Los Angeles FC.[6][7][3][4]

He made his professional debut on 5 March in LAFC's first MLS game, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win at the Seattle Sounders FC.[8] On 7 April in a 5–0 loss at Atlanta United FC, he was sent off in added time for handling the ball in the penalty area.[9] He scored his first professional goal on 9 June, the winner in a 4–3 victory at fellow Californians the San Jose Earthquakes, in the seventh minute of added time.[10] The new club came third in the Western Conference and were eliminated in the first round of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs 3–2 at home to Real Salt Lake.[11]

Orlando City

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On 11 December 2018 he was traded to Orlando City in exchange for Mohamed El-Monir.[12] He made his debut for the team on 23 March, starting in a 1–0 away win at New York Red Bulls and assisting the only goal by Sacha Kljestan.[13] On 31 July 2020, Moutinho scored his first goal for the club, a 90th-minute equaliser against his former club Los Angeles FC to force a penalty shootout in the MLS is Back Tournament quarter-finals. Orlando won the ensuing shootout.[14]

Moutinho scored his first regular-season goal for Orlando on 2 April 2022 in a 4–2 home loss to Los Angeles.[15] On 7 September, he played in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup Final, a 3–0 win over Sacramento Republic FC.[16]

Spezia

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On 1 December 2022, Moutinho signed a 312-year contract at Italian Serie A club Spezia, effective from the turn of the year.[17] He made his debut on 4 January in a 2–2 home draw with Atalanta as a 67th-minute substitute for Arkadiusz Reca.[18] Twenty-three days later in his fourth game, he suffered a left foot malleolus injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[19]

Loan to Jagiellonia

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On 9 July 2024, Moutinho moved on a season-long loan with an option to buy to Polish defending champions Jagiellonia Białystok.[20] He received a number 44 shirt.[21] He made his Ekstraklasa debut on 19 July 2024 in a 2–0 win over Puszcza Niepołomice, coming off the bench in the 62th minute,[21] replacing Aurélien Nguiamba.[22]

Career statistics

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College

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School Season NCAA Regular Season MAC Tournament NCAA Tournament Total
Division Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
University of Akron 2017 Div. I 18 3 5 2 0 0 4 0 0 22 0 1
NCAA Total 18 3 5 2 0 0 4 0 0 22 3 5

Club

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As of 9 July 2024.[23]
Club Season League Cup Continental Playoffs Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Los Angeles FC 2018 MLS 14 1 1 0 0 0 15 1
Orlando City SC 2019 MLS 16 0 2 0 18 0
2020 MLS 8 0 0 0 4[a] 1 12 1
2021 MLS 20 0 1[b] 0 0 0 21 0
2022 MLS 28 2 5 0 1 0 34 2
Total 72 2 7 0 1 0 1 0 4 1 85 3
Spezia 2022–23 Serie A 4 0 1 0 5 0
2023–24 Serie B 5 0 1 0 6 0
Total 9 0 2 0 11 0
Jagiellonia (loan) 2024–25 Ekstraklasa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career totals 95 3 10 0 1 0 1 0 4 1 111 4
  1. ^ Appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage.
  2. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honours

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Akron Zips
Orlando City

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "João Moutinho" (in Polish). Jagiellonia Białystok. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "NCAA DI Men's All-America Teams Announced by United Soccer Coaches". unitedsoccercoaches.com. Kansas City, Missouri: United Soccer Coaches. 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Slane, Mike (19 January 2018). "Los Angeles FC selects Joao Moutinho with first overall pick in SuperDraft". Goal. Perform Group. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Couch, Ben. "MLS SuperDraft: LAFC select Joao Moutinho No. 1 overall". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Akron's Joao Moutinho Named to 2018 Generation adidas Class". ISN Soccer. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  6. ^ "MLS Draft: University of Akron defender Joao Moutinho chosen first overall by Los Angeles Football Club". Akron Beacon Journal. Black Press. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. ^ "LAFC picks Akron's Joao Moutinho with top pick in MLS SuperDraft". WPVI-TV. ABC Owned Television Stations. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Sounders FC drops 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC in 2018 MLS opener". Seattle Sounders FC. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Miguel Almiron and VAR help Atlanta United rout LAFC". ESPN FC. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ "GOAL: Joao Moutinho fires LAFC ahead at the death". Major League Soccer. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  11. ^ Romero, Jose (2 November 2018). "Los Angeles Football Club 2, Real Salt Lake 3". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  12. ^ Culver, Jordan; USA, Pro Soccer (11 December 2018). "Orlando City trades Mohamed El-Munir to LAFC for João Moutinho". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  13. ^ Butler, Dylan (23 March 2019). "New York Red Bulls 0, Orlando City SC 1". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Orlando City SC 1, Los Angeles FC 1 2020 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
  15. ^ "Ilie Sanchez's goal in the 51st minute helps push LAFC past Orlando City". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  16. ^ Morrissey, John (8 September 2022). "U.S. Open Cup final analysis: how Orlando City finished off underdogs Sacramento Republic". Backheeled. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Calcio: lo Spezia accoglie Joao Moutinho in arrivo dalla Mls" [Football: Spezia welcome João Moutinho on arrival from MLS] (in Italian). ANSA. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  18. ^ Elefante, Andrea (4 January 2023). "Lo Spezia scappa, l'Atalanta si salva coi gol della panchina. Ma niente svolta..." [Spezia escape, Atalanta save themselves with goal from the bench. But no turning point...]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  19. ^ Cozza, Edoardo (3 April 2023). "Spezia, stagione finita per Joao Moutinho: si opererà al malleolo" [Spezia, season over for João Moutinho: he will have a malleolus operation] (in Italian). Telenord. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  20. ^ Janiuk, Adrian (9 July 2024). "Joao Moutinho zawodnikiem Jagiellonii Białystok". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b "João Moutinho". www.90minut.pl. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Jagiellonia Białystok 2-0 Puszcza Niepołomice". www.90minut.pl. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  23. ^ "João Moutinho". uk.soccerway.com.
  24. ^ "Akron Wins Sixth-Straight MAC Tournament Title". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  25. ^ "João Moutinho sorri e Orlando City vence Taça dos Estados Unidos" [João Moutinho smiles and Orlando City win the U.S. Open Cup] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  26. ^ "2017 Men's Division I Postseason Awards" (Web). TopDrawer Soccer. topdrawersoccer.com. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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