Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues

Gabriel Edward Sloane-Rodrigues (born 3 July 2007) is a New Zealand footballer who currently plays as a forward for Wellington Phoenix. He is the current youngest player in Wellington Phoenix history, making his debut against Melbourne City on 9 March 2024 at the age of 16 years and 250 days.[1]

Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Edward Sloane-Rodrigues
Date of birth (2007-07-03) 3 July 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Hong Kong
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Wellington Phoenix
Number 17
Youth career
East Coast Bays
2020–2021 Auckland United
2022–2024 Wellington Phoenix
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Wellington Phoenix Reserves 7 (0)
2024– Wellington Phoenix 1 (0)
International career
2023– New Zealand U17 7 (2)
2024– New Zealand U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2024

Club career

edit

Born in Hong Kong to a Brazilian father and New Zealand mother, Sloane-Rodrigues moved to Auckland as a child and began his career in the youth systems of East Coast Bays and Auckland United. In 2022, aged 14, Sloane-Rodrigues moved to Wellington to link up with the academy of A-League Men side Wellington Phoenix.[2][3] After initially appearing for their age-group sides, Sloane-Rodrigues made his first appearance for the Wellington Phoenix reserve team on 26 August 2023, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 Central League win over Western Suburbs.

Sloane-Rodrigues made his professional debut for Wellington Phoenix as a late substitute in a 1–0 loss against Melbourne City on 9 March 2024, and in the process became the Wellington Phoenix's youngest ever footballer at the age of 16 years and 250 days.[4]

Honours

edit

New Zealand

Personal life

edit

Sloane-Rodrigues' father is former Corinthians footballer Jorginho. Jorginho moved to Hong Kong as a player in 2005, where Sloane-Rodrigues was eventually born.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ^ friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj (15 March 2024). "Wellington Phoenix offer record-breaking teenager his first pro contract". Friends of Football. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ sachapisani (16 April 2024). "How 16-year-old A-Leagues wonderkid was discovered 'by accident'". A-Leagues. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
edit