Joe Gauci

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Joe Gauci
File:Joeg (cropped).jpg
Joe Gauci playing for Adelaide United in 2022
Personal information
Full name Gaucigan Elamparithy[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-04) 4 July 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Adelaide, Australia[1]
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Youth career
Waiheke United
Cumberland United
2011–2015 SA NTC
2015–2017 Cumberland United
2018–2019 Central Coast Mariners
2019–2020 Melbourne City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 West Torrens Birkalla 31 (0)
2018–2019 Central Coast Mariners 0 (0)
2018–2019 CCM Academy 5 (0)
2019 Adelaide City 8 (0)
2019–2020 Melbourne City 0 (0)
2020–2024 Adelaide United 71 (0)
2021 Adelaide United NPL 2 (0)
2024– Aston Villa 0 (0)
International career‡
2022 Australia U23 5 (0)
2023– Australia 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 January 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2022

Joe Anthony Gauci (born 4 July 2000) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Australia national team.[2]

Gauci's career began when he received a scholarship deal with Central Coast Mariners and subsequently joined Adelaide City and Melbourne City before signing a scholarship contract with Adelaide United in 2020. Gauci made his A-League debut in 2021.

Internationally, Gauci received his first call-up to the Australia national team in 2022 as a train-on player and made his debut in a friendly match against Ecuador in 2023.

Early life

Joe Gauci was born on 4 July 2000 in Adelaide, Australia. At the age of four, his family made the move to Waiheke Island in New Zealand after his mother, Donna, was posted in a general manager role at SeaLink and where Gauci spent a significant part of his childhood.[3][4] On the remote island, Gauci developed his passion for football and joined with Waiheke United at youth level. Every second week, he and his brother would travel by ferry to Auckland on the mainland to play football where Gauci initially started playing as a striker.[4][5] It was during a school holiday clinic that he started playing as a goalkeeper. When some older boys took shots on goal, Gauci made an impressive save, capturing the attention of those around him. Encouraged by the boys, he decided to embrace the goalkeeper position.[5][6][7]

After a period of time on Waiheke Island, Gauci's parents made the decision to return to South Australia, deeming it the best move for the family. By this time, at the age of 11, Gauci moved back to his hometown in South Australia and sought opportunities to continue playing football. Gauci decided to trial with Cumberland United U12s, attracted by the fact that some of his schoolmates were also looking to play there.[5]

As Gauci progressed through the ranks at Cumberland United, he received increasingly specialized training. However, he encountered what he considered a major setback in his young career when he failed to make South Australia's State Identification team. Undeterred, Gauci persisted and went through the state selection process once again. This time, his dedication paid off, as he secured a spot in the U14 team.[6] This achievement not only allowed him to represent South Australia in the Nationals held at Coffs Harbour but also led to his selection in the NTC (National Training Centre) team, where he had the privilege of being coached by Carl Veart at the time.[5]

Club career

Early career

At just 16 years old, he caught the attention of scouts while captaining West Torrens Birkalla's U18 side in the National Premier Leagues (NPL). Gauci led his team to the title, triumphing over Adelaide City in the final.[5] In February, Gauci was offered a trial with Central Coast Mariners though he was not offered a contract. However, in May, the club invited him back for another week of training and soon earned himself a two-year scholarship deal with the Mariners on 19 June 2018.[8][9]

After completing his contract and being released by Central Coast Mariners,[10] he signed a contract with Adelaide City for the remainder of the NPL season on 4 June 2019.[11] However, the team faced a challenging start to the NPL season, as they began with a deduction of six points due to sanctions imposed by the Football Federation SA for contract breaches.[12] Despite the team's position near the bottom of the table, Gauci finished the season with 8 league appearances for his side.[13] On 9 September, Gauci signed a scholarship contract with Melbourne City, becoming part of their scholarship program and joining their A-League Youth squad.[14][15]

Adelaide United

2020–2021: Breakthrough season

On 7 October 2020, Gauci returned to his hometown after serving as a backup goalkeeper at Melbourne City, when he signed a scholarship deal with Adelaide United, ahead of the 2020–21 A-League campaign.[16] Due to James Delianov's last-minute fitness test failure, Gauci was handed his A-League debut on 13 March 2021 in an Original Rivalry clash against Melbourne Victory. He helped his team secure a 3–1 victory at Marvel Stadium.[17]

In his third appearance for Adelaide United, Gauci achieved his first clean sheet in the match against Sydney FC which saw Gauci produce a remarkable save in the 89th minute, denying Sydney's Patrick Wood a late equalizer.[18] His crucial contribution ensured a 1–0 victory for United, securing their sixth-straight win of the season – a feat the club hadn't accomplished since the inaugural A-League season in 2005–06.[19][20] Carl Veart, now the head coach of Adelaide United, praised Gauci's performance and recognized his impact on the team's success.[21]

On 13 May, Gauci suffered a thigh injury during a warm-up session before a match against Melbourne City, resulting in him being ruled out for the remainder of the season.[22] However, despite the setback, Gauci's impressive performances in the 10 league appearances he made, which included three clean sheets, resulted in Gauci extending his contract for an additional two years with Adelaide United on 25 May.[23]

2021–2023: Continuing success with Adelaide United

After a seven-month absence from competitive appearances, Joe Gauci had to miss the game against Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium on 1 January 2022. He contracted COVID-19, which prevented him from participating.[24] However, Gauci made a full return to the pitch in a 1–1 Original Rivalry draw against Melbourne Victory the following week.[25] On 26 May, Gauci was sent off in the 27th minute of the match against Central Coast Mariners following VAR intervention when his collision with Marco Ureña led to a red card. Adelaide United ultimately suffered a 3–0 defeat at Gosford.[26][27]

As the 2022–23 A-League season approached, Gauci played a significant role in the Australia Cup quarter-final match against his former club, Adelaide City, on 17 August. Adelaide United emerged victorious in a penalty shootout, prevailing 4–1 after the scores were level at 2–2 at the end of extra time. Gauci made two crucial saves in the shootout, denying Jai King-Byrne and Zak Waters of Adelaide City before Ben Halloran's successful spot kick sealed Adelaide United's progression to the Round of 16.[28]

During the league season, Gauci made his 50th appearance for Adelaide United in a 2–1 league victory against Brisbane Roar on 4 February 2023.[29] Additionally, he celebrated his 50th A-League appearance on 26 February in another 1–1 Original Rivalry draw against Melbourne Victory.[30] On 13 April, Gauci signed a three-year contract extension, solidifying his commitment to the club until 2026.[31] In the A-League Finals series, Gauci played a pivotal role in Adelaide United's 2–0 win over Wellington Phoenix on 5 May.[32] This victory marked the end of his 13-game streak without a clean sheet,[33] with his previous clean sheet coming on 20 January in a Man of the match display against Macarthur FC in a 1–0 victory.[34]

Aston Villa

On 1 February 2024, Gauci signed for English Premier League club Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.[35] The fee was reported to be around $2.5m (around £1.29m). It was confirmed that the player would join up with his new club after the end of Australia's involvement in the ongoing Asian Cup.[36]

International career

In March 2022, Joe Gauci received his first call-up to the Australia national team as a train-on player for the first week of camp, in preparation for the World Cup qualification matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Gauci's inclusion in the squad aimed to provide assistance to the Socceroos during training sessions and contribute to his own professional development.[37]

Building upon his initial involvement, Gauci's progression continued at club level, and in March 2023, he received his first official call-up to the Australia national team ahead of two friendly matches against Ecuador.[38] During the second friendly match on 28 March, Gauci earned his first international appearance, starting in Australia's 2–1 defeat at Marvel Stadium. Despite this, Gauci showcased his skills and made three remarkable saves in the first half of the game.[39][40] His performance drew praise from the national team coach, Graham Arnold, who commended Gauci's outstanding debut, acknowledging his exceptional contributions despite the two goals conceded.[41]

On January 2024, Gauci was called up to the Australia National Team for the 2023 Asian Cup.[42]

Player profile

Style of play and reception

Joe Gauci's style of play has garnered praise and admiration from analysts and fans alike. With his exceptional handling, clever game awareness, and strong shot-stopping abilities, Gauci has displayed the qualities of a top-tier international goalkeeper. His standout attribute, however, is his remarkable composure and control, which sets him apart at the highest level.[43] Paramount+ analyst Daniel McBreen highlighted the various facets of Gauci's game, noting that there are no apparent weaknesses in his repertoire. McBreen commended Gauci's proficiency with the ball at his feet, his commanding presence in aerial challenges, and his ability to make crucial reflex saves. In particular, he lauded Gauci's remarkable first save, diving to his right, as a testament to his phenomenal shot-stopping skills during a game against Macarthur. McBreen further praised Gauci's consistency and impact throughout the match.[44]

Gauci was given the moniker "Great Wall of Gauci," a nickname bestowed upon him by pundits and fans who recognised his immense talent and performances since his breakthrough season at Adelaide.[44] The growing consensus positions him as the future first-choice goalkeeper for the Australian national team.[45][46]

Outside of football

In April 2022, Gauci, acting as a representative of Adelaide United, became an ambassador for the Childhood Cancer Association (CCA) in supporting local children with cancer, and their families.[47][48] To show his commitment and generosity, Gauci vowed to contribute a sum of $20 for every save he made throughout an entire season. As of May 2023, Gauci donated an amount of $1,920 to the association.[49]

Personal life

Gauci – who has Maltese roots – spent most of his childhood on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, before eventually returning to the city of his birth – Adelaide. Meaning besides Australia, Gauci is also eligible to represent trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and European nation Malta at international level.[50] His brother, Jed, who is four years younger, plays for The Cove in SA State League 2. The two played against each other for the first time on 18 July 2023 where Adelaide United won 8–1.[51]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 December 2023[52]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Central Coast Mariners 2018-19 A-League 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Melbourne City 2019-20 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Adelaide United 2020–21 10 0 0 0 0 0 – 10 0
2021–22 19 0 3 0 3 0 – 25 0
2022–23 26 0 2 0 3 0 – 31 0
2023–24 10 0 0 0 0 0 – 10 0
Total 65 0 5 0 6 0 — 76 0
Aston Villa 2023–24 Premier League 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
Career total 65 0 5 0 6 0 0 0 76 0
  1. ↑ Includes Australia Cup
  2. ↑ Includes A-League Men finals series

International

As of 6 January 2024[53]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Australia 2023 1 0
2024 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Joe Gauci at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ Includes Emperor's Cup, Belgian Cup & FA Cup
  3. ↑ Includes J. League Cup & EFL Cup
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  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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