Midfielder Matias Laba has become one of Carl Robinson's first names down on his Vancouver Whitecaps FC team sheet each week. The reliable Argentine has been a core element of the 'Caps defensive spine the past two seasons and the Designated Player was signed to a multi-year contract extension in November.
After finding himself surplus to requirements, and cap restraints, on a big-spending Toronto FC side, Laba moved west in time for the 2014 MLS season and has proved to be one of Robinson's shrewdest signings.
The man behind the player is perhaps not that well known throughout the rest of MLS. We aim to change that with the following 10 things about Laba:
JUNIOR MINUTES
Like so many South and Central American players, Laba's interest in the game started from an early age and was initially honed playing in the streets of his hometown of Villa Raffo in Argentina. Laba's first senior club was Argentinos Juniors. He joined them as a 16-year-old, coming through their youth system before making his first-team debut for them in 2011. He's still an avid fan of the club and tries to follow their games as much as he can in Vancouver, but Whitecaps FC scheduling and kickoff times make that difficult on occasion.
LEGEND LOVE
Laba's favourite player of all time is another who came through the Argentinos Juniors system, retired Argentine international midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.
"I like him because he's a very good player," Laba said. "Technically he's the best. He played different from every player. I followed him when I was young and when I was growing up I watched him playing with Villarreal and Boca Juniors."
MASCHERANO'S THE MODEL
Although Riquelme is the player Laba looks up to most, it's another, more defensive-minded player famous Argentine that Laba's modeled his game on, Barcelona's Javier Mascherano.
Laba described Mascherano as "intelligent, smart" and "the best defensive midfielder for me."
HE'S PLAYED AT A WORLD CUP
Laba hasn't been capped at senior level for Argentina, but the midfielder was part of his country's squad for the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in the summer of 2011, making five appearance for Argentina, who reached the quarter-finals. He was also part of the team that finished runners-up at the 2011 Pan-Am games.
"It was a nice experience," said Laba. "I can't forget this time as it was the first time I wore the Argentina jersey, so for me, it was an amazing experience."
FIFA FANATIC
Another FIFA game that Laba enjoys is the computer game variety. He's a keen player of the EA Sports FIFA series on his XBox, so much so that he's set up a very competitive online league with fellow 'Caps Cristian Techera, Nicolas Mezquida and former player Diego Rodriguez.
They play online with microphones so they are all "talking all the time," no matter which two players are playing a game at that moment. They play as random teams and in tournaments with the Ultimate Teams.
Laba says the key to success in the game is "practice" and putting together a team that has good "chemistry" and players of the same nationality. Sounds like the key to success is the same in video games as in real life!
AN EYE FOR THE CRUCIAL GOAL
Laba's defensive work and midfield engine are among the best of players at his position in MLS. Goals don't come often for him, but when they do they seem to be when it really matters and with some nice long range strikes.
Laba has scored two goals for Vancouver, the first coming in stoppage time in a crucial second-leg win over FC Edmonton in the Canadian Championship in May. That goal took Vancouver through to the final against Montreal, where they lifted their first ever Voyageurs Cup in August.
"It was my first goal so it was very important but it was most important after we won the Canada Cup, so I feel that it was more important than before because with this goal we beat Edmonton."
But his first, and so far only, MLS goal for Vancouver, against Portland on July 18th last year, was also important as it meant a lot personally for Laba.
"My parents were there, so I ran the length of the pitch after [I scored] to give them the goal."
INKED IN ARABIC
Laba is one of several Whitecaps FC players with tattoos.He has one on his right forearm that reads, "Claudia, I love you."
"It means that I'm grateful for my mom and that I always think of her," Laba told whitecapsfc.com.
As for why the text is in Arabic, Laba said he simply likes the font.
BUDDING JOURNALIST
Laba says that if he wasn't a footballer, a soccer journalist may have been his chosen career path. He got a taste of what it was like down in Tucson with the 'Caps for preseason where he did a hilarious interview piece with his teammates for CTV Vancouver.
"I enjoyed it very much. It was my first time. It was fun because it was with players, like Nico Mezquida, who is a lot of fun, so it was an amazing experience."
NEW DAD
Laba just became a father for the first time with his wife Camila. His son Bautista Laba Freijomil was born on February 22nd in Buenos Aires, with Laba saying "It will change everything in my life. A baby is amazing."
'Caps coach Carl Robinson let Laba miss the last week of Vancouver's preseason camp to be present for the birth.
PUPPY LOVE
Laba's other love, and other member of his family, is his beloved dog Luli, a four-year-old Poodle/Bichon mix.
Luli goes everywhere with the Labas, so much so that Matias even drove down to Portland with her and Camila last May for a match against the Timbers that he was suspended for.
"For Camila, it's very important, so we travel all the time with the dog. She's part of the family."
Whitecaps FC visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium (7 p.m. PT on TSN1).
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are on sale from $39/month all in. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
