Full name Mateo Restrepo Mejia Playing position 2013–2015 TFC Academy Position Defender | Place of birth La Ceja, Colombia Number 14 Height 1.78 m | |
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Date of birth (1997-04-29) April 29, 1997 (age 19) Profiles | ||
Mateo Restrepo Mejia (born April 29, 1997) is a Canadian soccer player who is currently with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. He has featured for Canada internationally at the U-17 and U-18 levels.
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Early life and education
Restrepo was born on April 29, 1997, in La Ceja, Colombia, and lived there until the early 2000s. His family moved to Canada to improve their quality of life and the chance at a better education for Restrepo. He joined TFC Academy and played in League1 Ontario. He was the recipient of the league's first ever red card in Toronto FC Academy's first game. After the season, he was named to the 2014 League1 Ontario Top XI at the conclusion of the first year of the league. Restrepo joined German side FC Ingolstadt 04 and played for them in the Under 19 Bundesliga after being noticed with his national team participation.
Restrepo enrolled for college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is listed on the 2016 roster as a student-athlete for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team.
Professional career
Restrepo made his professional debut for Toronto FC II on March 28, 2015, when he was brought on as a substitute in a United Soccer League match against FC Montreal. Despite featuring for Toronto FC II, he was able to maintain his collegiate eligibility by playing under an academy contract.
International career
Restrepo made his debut with the Canadian youth national teams in 2011 at the age of 14. He joined the Canada men's national under-17 soccer team in 2012 for the Torneo della Nazioni. He was elevated to the Canada men's national under-18 soccer team in 2014 and featured for the U-18's for two years.