Graeme Torrilla
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graeme Lee Torrilla | ||
| Date of birth | 3 September 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Gibraltar | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Mons Calpe[1] | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lincoln Red Imps | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2016 | Red Imps | ||
| 2016–2017 | Lions Gibraltar | 26 | (0) |
| 2017– | Mons Calpe | 26 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2015 | Gibraltar U-19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017– | Gibraltar U-21 | 9 | (1) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 October 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 September 2018 | |||
Graeme Lee Torrilla (born 3 September 1997) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays for Mons Calpe in the Gibraltar Premier Division, and the Gibraltar national under-21 football team. He made headlines in 2017 for being the first Gibraltarian to score a winning goal for Gibraltar in a competitive game at any level, since the territory joined UEFA in 2013. He is the younger brother of fomer Gibraltar Phoenix midfielder Dean Torrilla.
Club career
A product of the prestigious Lincoln Red Imps youth system in Gibraltar, Torrilla began his senior football career at feeder club Red Imps in the Gibraltar Second Division.[2] In 2016, Red Imps folded as the Gibraltar Football Association no longer allowed feeder clubs to play in the senior leagues, so Torrilla signed for Lions Gibraltar. Under the management of Rafael Bado, Torrilla was an ever-present in the Lions side that narrowly avoided relegation, missing only one of their 27 league games.
In summer 2017, he signed for Mons Calpe as part of a rebuild of the side under new coach Albert Ferri. While again being a regular feature in the side, inconsistent results saw Ferri sacked in mid-season. With new manager Luis Manuel Blanco at the helm, Torrilla scored his first goal for the Calpeans in a 5–0 victory over Lynx on 14 February 2018.
International career
Torrilla made his debut for the Gibraltar national under-19 football team in November 2015 for the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification tournament under manager Terrence Jolley. He played all three games, including the 1-1 draw against Liechtenstein U-19 in a rare point for Gibraltar.[3]
When the Gibraltar national under-21 football team was established in 2017, Torrilla was called up to the inaugural squad to face Austria U-21.[4] Soon after, he was appointed captain by manager Aaron Asquez . He scored his first international goal on 10 October 2017 against Macedonia U-21.[5] This also proved to be Gibraltar's first victory at any level in a competitive game since joining UEFA in 2013.[6]
In September 2018, Torrilla received his first call-up to the senior team, under new national coach Julio César Ribas.[7]
References
- ↑
- ↑ Second Division Weekly Review, 21st December 2015 Gibraltar FA
- ↑ Match Report: Liechtenstein U19 vs Gibraltar U19 UEFA.com
- ↑ Torrilla: We are excited but at the same time feeling nervous Football Gibraltar
- ↑ Torrilla: The feeling is incredible Football Gibraltar
- ↑ RECORD BREAKERS: Torrilla's side will be remembered through history Gibraltar Olive Press
- ↑ TORRILLA: “RIBAS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MOST PASSIONATE AND DETERMINED MANAGERS THERE IS” Football Gibraltar. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.