Callum Ernest John Irving (born March 16, 1993) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC.

Callum Irving
Irving in 2023
Personal information
Full name Callum Ernest John Irving
Date of birth (1993-03-16) March 16, 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Vancouver FC
Number 1
Youth career
1997–2007 Marpole SC
2007–2009 Vancouver Selects
2007–2012 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Kentucky Wildcats 58 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Whitecaps Residency 11 (0)
2016 Rio Grande Valley Toros 14 (0)
2016Houston Dynamo (loan) 0 (0)
2017–2019 Ottawa Fury 65 (0)
2020–2022 Pacific FC 57 (0)
2023– Vancouver FC 55 (0)
International career
2011 Canada U18 1 (0)
2012 Canada U20 2 (0)
2017– Canada 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 22, 2017

He began his career playing for local clubs in Vancouver before joining the Whitecaps FC Academy in 2007. After attending the University of Kentucky, he went undrafted in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and subsequently joined Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. After a short-term loan spell at Houston Dynamo, Irving joined Ottawa Fury in December 2016.

Irving has won a single cap with the Canada national team.

Club career

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Youth and college

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Irving began playing soccer at the age of four and spent 10 years with Marpole SC. He also played for the Vancouver Selects for two seasons, and represented the British Columbia provincial team at U16 level.[1]

In 2007, he joined the Whitecaps FC Academy and appeared for Premier Development League side Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 in 2010 and 2011.[1]

Irving played four years of college soccer at the University of Kentucky between 2012 and 2015.[2] In his 2014 season, Irving was named NSCAA Third Team All-America, NSCAA First Team All-Southeast Region, Conference USA Player of the Year, Defensive MVP, Golden Glove and First Team All-Conference USA.

In his 2015 season, Irving was named NSCAA First Team All-America, NSCAA First Team All-Southeast Region and Conference USA Player of the Year, Conference USA Defensive MVP, Golden Glove, First Team All-Conference USA and set a Kentucky Wildcats record with 27 shut-outs.[3]

Rio Grande Valley Toros

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On January 13, 2016, Irving signed a contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, where he was expected to go early on in the draft.[4] However, Irving wasn't selected by any MLS team over the four rounds.[5][6] He signed with United Soccer League side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on March 26.[7]

On May 29, Irving made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Saint Louis FC.[8] He went on to make 14 appearances in his inaugural season, conceding nine goals and keeping eight shutouts.[9]

Houston Dynamo (loan)

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On September 16, 2016, Irving was signed on a short-term loan by the Houston Dynamo, an affiliate club of Rio Grande Valley Toros.[10] Injuries to Tyler Deric and Calle Brown meant Irving was called in to act as backup to Joe Willis. On September 17, he was named as an unused substitute in a bloodless 1–0 affair against Real Salt Lake.[11]

Ottawa Fury

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On December 6, 2016, Irving joined Ottawa Fury ahead of their first season in the United Soccer League.[12] He made his debut in a 3–2 defeat to Saint Louis FC on April 1, 2017, and went on to play in every minute of Ottawa's 2017 campaign, including all four Canadian Championship games.[13] In doing so, he set a franchise record for consecutive starts.[14] He was named Newcomer of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year at the end of the season after recording eight shutouts during the season.[15]

In November 2017, Irving re-signed with Ottawa for the 2018 season.[16] On April 14, 2018, his streak of consecutive starts came to an end after 38 games when he was named as an unused substitute in a 1–0 defeat to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[17] Despite reports that Irving would not return after the 2018 season, it was later reported that he had re-signed for the 2019 season.[18] After three seasons with the Fury, the club would cease operations for the 2020 season, making Irving a free agent.[19]

Pacific FC

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Irving in 2021 playing for Pacific FC

On February 19, 2020, Irving signed with Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC.[20] He made his debut for Pacific on August 25, saving a penalty while keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Valour FC.[21] After backstopping Pacific to the 2021 CPL Championship, the club announced Irving would be returning to the team for the 2022 season.[22] In December 2022, Pacific announced Irving was departing the club.[23]

Vancouver FC

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In December 2022, Irving was announced as Vancouver FC's first ever signing.[24] He made his debut in their inaugural match against Pacific FC on April 15, 2023.[25]

International career

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Irving has been called for multiple camps with the Canadian U20 national team.[26] In January 2016, Irving earned his first call up to the Canada national team for a friendly against the United States.[27] He was an unused substitute as Canada suffered a 1–0 defeat.[28] On January 22, 2017, he made his senior international debut in 4–2 win over Bermuda.[29]

Personal life

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Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Irving attended David Lloyd George Elementary School, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School.[1]

Career statistics

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As of match played October 19, 2024[30]
Club League Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros USL 2016 14 0 0 0 14 0
Houston Dynamo (loan) MLS 2016 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ottawa Fury USL 2017 32 0 4 0 36 0
2018 2 0 0 0 2 0
USL Championship 2019 31 0 1 0 4 0 36 0
Total 65 0 1 0 8 0 0 0 74 0
Pacific FC Canadian Premier League 2020 6 0 0 0 6 0
2021 25 0 2 0 3 0 30 0
2022 26 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 33 0
Total 57 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 69 0
Vancouver FC Canadian Premier League 2023 27 0 1 0 28 0
2024 28 0 1 0 29 0
Total 55 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 57 0
Career total 191 0 5 0 14 0 4 0 214 0

Honours

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Pacific FC

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Callum Irving". www.whitecapsfc.com. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Callum Irving". www.ukathletics.com. University of Kentucky. Archived from the original on 2015-08-29. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "Callum Irving". www.mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "Seniors Jonathan Campbell, Kyle Fisher, Todd Wharton and Callum Irving sign contracts ahead of MLS SuperDraft". Major League Soccer. January 13, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Nielsen, Aaron (February 7, 2016). "2016 Top 20 overlooked players by MLS". Red Nation Online. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Parchman, Will (January 19, 2016). "Biggest snubs from the 2016 MLS SuperDraft". Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Rio Grande Valley FC Toros sign six players". Houston Dynamo FC. March 26, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "Saint Louis FC 1–1 Rio Grande Valley FC Toros". www.uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League. May 29, 2016. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "Callum Irving". www.ottawafuryfc.com. Ottawa Fury FC. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Callum Irving to Short Term Agreement". Houston Dynamo FC. September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  11. ^ Panizo, Franco (September 17, 2016). "Real Salt Lake 0–1 Houston Dynamo 1". www.mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "Fury FC Signs Canadian Goalkeeper Irving". United Soccer League. December 6, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  13. ^ "Saint Louis FC 3–2 Ottawa Fury FC". www.uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League. April 1, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  14. ^ Campbell, Don (October 8, 2017). "Irving 'dumbfounded' to explain Fury's season". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  15. ^ "Fury FC players honoured at Annual Awards Gala". Ottawa Fury FC. November 9, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  16. ^ "Fury FC Roster Update". Ottawa Fury FC. November 9, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1–0 Ottawa Fury FC". www.uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League. April 14, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Canadian GK Callum Irving Back With Fury FC". Ottawa Fury FC. March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Fury owners blame 'politics' for decision to suspend operations". CBC Ottawa. November 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "Goalkeeper Callum Irving Signs with Pacific FC". Pacific FC. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Pacific FC shine on a night of many firsts at The Island Games". Canadian Premier League. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  22. ^ "Irving Returning for 2022 Season!". January 17, 2022.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (December 8, 2022). "Callum Irving Departs Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ "Vancouver FC announces goalkeeper Callum Irving as first-ever signing". Canadian Premier League. December 14, 2022.
  25. ^ Vancouver Football Club [@vanfootballclub] (April 15, 2023). "Announcing our first ever @CPLsoccer starting XI against @Pacificfccpl #WeAreVancouverFC #VancouverFC" (Tweet). Retrieved July 1, 2021 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Callum Irving". www.canadasoccer.com. Canada Soccer. May 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  27. ^ "Canadian soccer coach calls up 4 newcomers for U.S. camp". CBC News. January 22, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  28. ^ Echegaray, Luis Miguel (February 6, 2016). "USA 1-0 Canada: International friendly – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  29. ^ "Canada wins 4–2 over Bermuda to kick off 2017 campaign". Canada Soccer. January 22, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  30. ^ Callum Irving at Soccerway
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