Alfie Cicale

Alfie Cicale
Personal information
Full name Alfie Theodore Cicale
Date of birth (2002-04-19) 19 April 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth England
Position(s) Wing-back, left-back
Team information
Current team
VPS
Number 7
Youth career
2014–2017 Norwich City
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Oxford Jesus College
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– VPS 19 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2024

Alfie Cicale (born 19 April 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a wing back for Veikkausliiga club VPS.

Early career

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Cicale joined the Norwich City youth academy when he was aged 12.[1] Cicale played with Norwich for three years until he resigned from the academy and continued to study and play football in a small local club with his friends.[1] In 2020, Cicale started studying history in Oxford and playing in Oxford Jesus College university team.[2][3][4] During his time at Oxford, his other sport was sprinting. He graduated in 2023 with "a first-class history degree".[5][1]

Club career

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After graduating, Cicale trialled with Northampton Town and Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax, but was not able to get a contract due to his lack of competitive playing experience and due to visa difficulties.[1] He also spent time with Finnish second-tier club TPS, but could not be registered as the transfer window had already closed.[5][1]

VPS

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In March 2024, Cicale was invited for a trial to Finnish top-tier Veikkausliiga club Vaasan Palloseura (VPS). On 21 March 2024, he signed a two-year deal with the club, his first professional contract after playing college football in England.[6][7] He debuted with his new club on 7 April 2024, in the opening game of the 2024 Veikkausliiga season against Haka, helping his side to get a 2–1 away victory.[8] On 27 April 2024, Cicale scored his first professional senior goal, a winning goal in a 2–1 league victory over AC Oulu.[9][10][11][12][13] He also made an appearance for VPS in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers against Žalgiris, but was forced to miss the 2nd leg due to a delay in Lithuanian visa process.[14]

Personal life

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Born in England to an English mother and an Italian father, Cicale grew up in North London.[5][6] He is a Tottenham supporter.

Career statistics

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As of 23 October 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
VPS 2024 Veikkausliiga 19 1 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 20 1
Career total 19 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 20 1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "England's rare trip to Finland, where Britons are thriving". BBC Sport. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  2. ^ Eliittiyliopistosta suomalaiseen takatalveen – VPS-laituri Alfie Cicalen vauhti on riittänyt myös pikajuoksukisoissa, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 4 April 2024
  3. ^ VPS hankki nopeutta laidalleen, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 21 March 2024
  4. ^ Oxford deal double Varsity defeat to Cambridge after winning 137th Men's Football Match, varsity.co.uk, 13 March 2022
  5. ^ a b c Eliittiyliopistossa opiskelleella Alfiella oli salainen unelma – nyt hän elää sitä todeksi Vaasassa: "Voisi tehdä Lontoossa ihan toisenlaista uraa", mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 7 May 2024
  6. ^ a b Tervetuloa Vaasan Palloseuraan Alfie Cicale!, vepsu.fi, 21 March 2024
  7. ^ Veikkausliigassa säväyttää pelaaja, josta edes internet ei tiedä juuri mitään: "Hämmentävän hyvä", Yle, 23 April 2024
  8. ^ Otteluraportti: FC Haka - VPS | Veikkausliiga, vepsu.fi, 7 April 2024
  9. ^ Sensaatiopelaaja teki sen taas Veikkausliigassa, Iltalehti, 27 April 2024
  10. ^ VPS har hittat en guldklimp från ingenstans – doldisvärvningen Alfie Cicale bakom båda målen i "bortasegern" över AC Oulu, Svenska Yle, 27 April 2024
  11. ^ Bolltrollaren Alfie Cicale hyllas – avgjorde matchen mot AC Oulu: "Vi förtjänade segern helt", Vasabladet, 27 April 2024
  12. ^ Kommentti: Yksi jalkapalloliigan kuumimmista nimistä löytyy VPS:n riveistä – Eikä häntä tunne edes verkon tilastoraamattu, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 29 April 2024
  13. ^ "Joukkueen henki on loistava" - VPS:n Alfie Cicale luottavaisena FC Lahtea vastaan, veikkausliiga.com, 3 May 2024
  14. ^ Alfie Cicale on poissa kokoonpanosta FK Žalgiris - VPS -ottelussa, vepsu.fi, 18 July 2024
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