Matías Laba

Matías Alejandro Laba (born 11 December 1991) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a midfielder for Defensa y Justicia.

Matías Laba
Laba with Unión La Calera in 2019
Personal information
Full name Matías Alejandro Laba
Date of birth (1991-12-11) 11 December 1991
Place of birth Villa Raffo, Argentina
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Defensa y Justicia
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Argentinos Juniors 62 (0)
2013 Toronto FC 17 (1)
2014–2017 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 113 (3)
2018 Estudiantes 1 (0)
2019–2020 Unión La Calera 23 (1)
2020– Defensa y Justicia 1 (0)
National team‡
2011 Argentina U20 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 April 2017

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.[1] During his first season with the first team, he played a total 14 league games,[2] 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.[3] Laba made his debut for Toronto in a 1–0 away loss to Colorado Rapids on 4 May 2013.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

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. In April 2017, Laba gave Vancouver Whitecaps a 4–2 victory over LA Galaxy after scoring the last two goals of the match.[7]

On 26 January 2018, Laba signed with Argentine Primera División side Estudiantes.[8]

International career

In July 2011, Laba was selected to represent the Argentina national under-20 football team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[9]

Honours
Argentinos Juniors
Argentina
Vancouver Whitecaps FC

References
  1. "Match report". Argentine Soccer. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  2. "Closing '11 statistics". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. "Reds Sign midfield Matías Laba". Toronto FC. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  4. "Toronto FC newcomer shines in MLS debut". Major League Soccer.
  5. "Toronto Downs New England". Toronto FC.
  6. "Whitecaps FC acquire midfielder Matías Laba | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. 11 December 1991. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. "Whitecaps' second-half rally sinks healthy Galaxy, 4-2". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 2017.
  8. "Matías Laba firmó contrato y es nuevo refuerzo". Estudiantes de la Plata. 26 January 2018.
  9. "Squad list". FIFA. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
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