Tomás Luciano Espinoza Estay (born 27 May 2001) is a Chilean footballer, currently playing as a midfielder for Colina.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tomás Luciano Espinoza Estay[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 May 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Quilpué, Chile[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Colina | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2015 | Santiago Wanderers | ||
| 2015–2019 | Rosario Central | ||
| 2019–2020 | Soledade | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Colchagua | ||
| 2023– | Colina | ||
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Chile U17 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 October 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editBorn in Quilpué, Chile, Espinoza started his career with Santiago Wanderers, joining at the age of nine, before a move to Argentina with Rosario Central at the age of thirteen.[2][3] Due to intervention by FIFA, he was unable to play for a year.[4] In October 2018, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2001 worldwide.[2][5]
Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, he left Rosario Central in controversial circumstances to pursue a career in Brazil, with the Argentinian club claiming he "went on vacation and never came back".[4] According to Espionza, he received threats from fans for the move.[2] While in Brazil, he trained with a subsidiary of Grêmio named Soledade, eventually signing a two-year deal.[2]
He returned to Chile in 2020, training with former club Rosario Central.[2][6] However, after he was unable to secure a contract, he went on to train with Deportes La Serena in late 2020.[2]
In 2022, he signed with Chilean Third Division side Colchagua. However, after fans and players clashed during a match against Rancagua Sur, both clubs were suspended from all competitions for eighteen months.[2] Following his release from Colchagua, he worked as a labourer for his uncle, transporting jerky.[7]
He returned to football in March 2023, playing in Deportes Colina's 3–0 Copa Chile win over Municipal Puente Alto.
International career
editEspinoza has represented Chile at under-17 level.[1]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 11 March 2023.[8]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Deportes Colina | 2023 | Tercera A | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Chile
References
edit- ^ a b c Tomás Espinoza at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e f g "Next Generation 2018: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Fuentealba Aguilera, Rodrigo (6 February 2017). "Tomás Espinoza, la vertiginosa historia de la estrella de la selección Sub 17" [Tomás Espinoza, the dizzying story of the star of the Under 17 team]. economiaynegocios.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ a b Huerta, Rodrigo (26 April 2019). "El talento chileno que dejó Rosario Central para irse a Brasil" [The Chilean talent who left Rosario Central to go to Brazil]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "Espinoza, el pibe del que hablan todos" [Espinoza, the kid everyone is talking about]. lacapital.com.ar (in Spanish). 12 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Dvoretzky, Tomás (5 February 2020). "Un juvenil se suma a Rosario Central" [A juvenile joins Rosario Central]. lavozderosario.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Vega, Diego (10 February 2023). "Era uno de los 60 talentos del futuro, pasó por la Roja y busca club: "Trabajo en camiones"" [He was one of the 60 talents of the future, he went through the Red and is looking for a club: "I work in trucks"]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ Tomás Espinoza at Soccerway