Nicolás Ignacio Ovalle Raffo (born April 12, 2000) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays for MLS Next Pro club Real Monarchs.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicolás Ignacio Ovalle Raffo | ||
| Date of birth | April 12, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Providencia, Chile | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Real Monarchs | ||
| Number | 74 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| La Roca FC | |||
| 2015–2017 | Real Salt Lake Arizona | ||
| 2018–2019 | Unión Española | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Toronto FC II | 3 | (0) |
| 2022 | Salt City SC | 5 | (3) |
| 2023 | Andratx | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | Real Monarchs | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 13, 2024 | |||
Early career
editOvalle Raffo began playing with La Roca Futbol Club in South Weber, Utah when he was seven.[1] Afterwards he joined Real Salt Lake Arizona, a satellite team of the Real Salt Lake Academy.[2] In 2018, he moved to the youth system of Chilean club Unión Española.[3] In December 2019, after being told he wouldn't be extended with Unión Española, he returned home to his family in the United States, and was soon invited to try out with Toronto FC II in the new year, where his brother played.[4]
Club career
editOn July 6, 2020, he signed a professional contract with Toronto FC II of USL League One.[2][5] He was unable to appear for the team in 2020, as the club withdrew from the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although the club picked up his option for the 2021 season.[6] He made his debut on July 23, 2021 in a substitute appearance against New England Revolution II.[7][8]
In 2022, he played with Salt City SC in USL League Two.[9]
In late 2022, he began training with Spanish club CD Atlético Baleares, but was unable to sign due to a quota issue, but was invited to train with the team for the next six months, with the aim of signing with the club in January.[10] In February 2023, he signed with Andratx in the Tercera Federación.[11] He made his debut on February 12 against Constància.[12]
In late July 2024, he signed with the Real Monarchs of MLS Next Pro, after having trained with the club for the prior couple of months.[13] He made his debut on September 13 against the Tacoma Defiance.[14]
International career
editOvalle Raffo is of Chilean and Italian descent and also holds a US Green Card.[15] He has represented Chile at the youth level and was named to the preliminary roster for the Chile U17 national team for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[2]
Personal
editHe is the son of former footballer Adolfo Ovalle and the younger brother of footballer Adolfo Ovalle.[5][16]
Career statistics
edit- As of September 13, 2024[17]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Toronto FC II | 2021 | USL League One | 3 | 0 | — | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| Salt City SC | 2022[9] | USL League Two | 5 | 3 | — | – | – | 5 | 3 | |||
| Andratx | 2022–23 | Tercera Federación | 6 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | ||
| Real Monarchs | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | — | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
References
edit- ^ "La Roca Propels More Players to the Pros". La Roca FC. September 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Toronto FC II Sign Nicolas Ovalle". Toronto FC. July 6, 2020.
- ^ Salas, Cristian (July 7, 2020). "El futbolista chileno que deja Unión y se va a jugar a EEUU" [The Chilean footballer who leaves Unión and goes to play in the US]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
- ^ Salas, Cristian (July 7, 2020). ""Será lindo jugar con mi hermano": las confesiones del chileno que llegó a EEUU" ["It will be nice to play with my brother": the confessions of the Chilean who came to the US]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
- ^ a b Rhodes, Benedict (July 6, 2020). "Nicolas Ovalle and brother 'Fito' to join forces on Toronto FC II this season". Waking the Red.
- ^ Rhodes, Benedict (December 23, 2020). "Toronto FC II announce series of roster moves". Waking the Red.
- ^ "Recap - Revolution II Edges Toronto FC II, 1-0". New England Revolution. July 23, 2021.
- ^ How he made his way into a USL team and you can too!. Train Effective. YouTube. March 8, 2022.
- ^ a b "Nico Ovalle 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
- ^ Salas, Cristian (December 8, 2022). "Nicolás Ovalle: "Quiero firmar luego en España, jugar bien y volver a la Roja"" [Nicolás Ovalle: "I want to sign later in Spain, play well and return to the Red"]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
- ^ Vallés, Jaume (February 9, 2023). "El chileno Nico Ovalle refuerza al líder Andratx" [The Chilean Nico Ovalle reinforces the leader Andratx]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish).
- ^ Martín, Alejandro (February 12, 2023). "Crónica 3ª RFEF: Constancia 1 – 0 Andratx" [Chronicle 3rd RFEF: Constancy 1 – 0 Andratx]. Futbol Balear.
- ^ "Real Monarchs Sign Chilean Midfielder". Real Salt Lake. 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Real Monarchs Draw 1-1 at Tacoma Defiance". Real Salt Lake. September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Nicolas Ovalle". 90 Degree Soccer. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021.
- ^ Ortega, Pablo (December 19, 2015). "El ex zaguero chileno con su propio club en Estados Unidos" [The former Chilean defender with his own club in the United States]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
- ^ Nicolás Ovalle Raffo at Soccerway
External links
edit- Nicolás Ovalle Raffo at Soccerway
- Nicolás Ovalle at La Preferente