PROFILE
The recipient of the club’s 2015 BMO Registered Education Savings Plan Youth Soccer Player award, Matthew Baldisimo joined Whitecaps FC 2 in February 2016 after spending four years on the Residency teams. The Burnaby, BC native has featured on Canada’s U-15 and U-17 national teams. He joined Fresno FC - the official Whitecaps FC USL affiliate - on December 7, 2017.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2017: Baldisimo made 14 starts in 23 appearances for Whitecaps FC 2, leading the team with 61 tackles and 45 tackles won. 2016: Baldisimo started nine of his 19 regular season appearances in his first professional season, recording one assist in the 2-1 win over Real Monarchs SLC on July 2, setting up Brett Levis' last-minute match-winner. He made his professional debut in the season-opening win at Orange County Blues FC, then made his first pro start in the following week at Timbers 2. Baldisimo also started each of the 'Caps three playoff matches.
FIRST TEAM
2017: Baldisimo was called up to the first team for the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal versus Montreal Impact but did not feature.
UNITED STATES SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
2015-16: Baldisimo started 24 of his 27 appearances with the U-18 Residency team, scoring five goals. 2014-15: Baldisimo was presented the club’s BMO Registered Education Savings Plan Youth Soccer Player award in October 2015 after serving as co-captain on the U-16 Residency team that won the Northwest Division, before topping their playoff group to host a quarter-final match for the first time. 2013-14: Baldisimo started 22 of his 23 appearances for the U-16 team and scored one goal. 2012-13: On his first year in the USSDA, Baldisimo started 20 of his 26 appearances for the U-16 side.
INTERNATIONAL
U-17: Baldisimo served as captain at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship tournament in Honduras, starting four matches and scoring the winning goal in Canada’s opening 3-1 victory over Haiti. U-16: Baldisimo was called up to Canada's U-16 men's national team for the Montaigu tournament in France with games against France, Turkey, and Ivory Coast. U-15: In June 2013, Baldisimo was called up as part of a 30-player group assembled for a three-day prospects evaluation for the U-15 Canadian men’s national team in Montreal, Quebec. He was also named to Canada's U-15 20-man roster for the 2013 Copa Mexico de Naciones in Mexico City.
YOUTH
Before joining Whitecaps FC as part of the Pre-Residency program in 2011, Baldisimo played his entire youth career in his hometown of Burnaby, starting with Wesburn Youth Soccer Club, then South Burnaby Metro Club, and ending with Burnaby Selects, where he served as captain and earned Most Valuable Player honours in the U-14 level. Baldisimo was also a member of the BC Soccer U-13 provincial team, where he served as co-captain.
PERSONAL
Baldisimo is one of three brothers to have played in the Residency program, with older brother Mark graduating in 2014, and younger brother Michael currently playing on the club’s U-16 and U-18 teams.
INTERESTING FACTS
Baldisimo participated in the 2016 Whitecaps FC preseason training camp in Portland, Oregon. His favourite soccer team is European giants FC Barcelona, while his favourite player is their Spanish defender Carles Puyol. The stadium that he would most like to play in is Manchester United's legendary home stadium of Old Trafford.