Full name Matias Alejandro Laba Years Team Weight 74 kg Number 15 Height 1.76 m | Role Footballer Name Matias Laba Career start 2010 | |
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Date of birth (1991-12-11) 11 December 1991 (age 24) Profiles | ||
Playing position | ||
24 Under 24: #21 Matias Laba, Toronto FC | 24 under 24
Matías Alejandro Laba (born 11 December 1991) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.
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Club career
Laba started his professional career playing for Argentinos Juniors in the 2011 Clausura, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw with Vélez Sársfield. During his first season with the first team, he played a total 14 league games, plus another 4 in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
After weeks of speculation, it was officially announced on 26 April 2013 that Laba had signed with Toronto FC as a young designated player, the transfer fee was undisclosed but believed to be in the range of $1.5 million. Laba made his debut for Toronto in a 1–0 away loss to Colorado Rapids on 4 May 2013. Laba scored his first goal with Toronto on 4 August 2013, in the second minute of the match against New England Revolution, the match ended in a 1–0 away victory.
After the signings of Designated Players Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, and Gilberto, Toronto was above the league limit of three DPs, and were forced to move Laba. On 25 February 2014, Laba was traded by Toronto to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for future considerations.
Laba scored his first goal for Vancouver in a Voyageurs Cup match vs. FC Edmonton, tucking away the loose ball after a goal mouth scramble. His first MLS goal with Vancouver came against Portland Timbers on 18 July 2015. Collecting the ball from midfield, the defense applied no pressure to Laba, allowing him too fire a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. He also led MLS in successful tackles in the 2014 season.
International career
In July 2011, Laba was selected to represent the Argentina national under-20 football team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.