Emilio Estevez (footballer)
Taiwanese footballer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emilio Estevez Tsai (Chinese: 蔡立靖; pinyin: Tsai Li-ching; born 10 August 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Tanjong Pagar United. Born in Canada, he plays for the Chinese Taipei national team.
.jpg)
|
Estevez with York9 in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emilio Estevez Tsai | ||
| Date of birth | 10 August 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tanjong Pagar United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Etobicoke Energy | |||
| 2013–2016 | Clarkson SC | ||
| 2016–2017 | Levante | ||
| 2020–2021 | ADO Den Haag | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | Sheridan Bruins | 7 | (1) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | North Mississauga SC | 8 | (0) |
| 2018 | SC Waterloo Region | 5 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | York9 | 18 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | ADO Den Haag | 0 | (0) |
| 2021 | Ourense CF | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Eastern | 13 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Rangers (HKG) | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Tai Po (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Hang Yuan | 4 | (1) |
| 2025– | Tanjong Pagar United | 16 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019– | Chinese Taipei | 16 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 March 2025 | |||
Early life
Estevez began playing youth soccer with the Etobicoke Energy before switching to Clarkson SC in Mississauga as well as playing futsal.[1] In 2016, when he was 18, he spent a year training with the lower teams of La Liga club Levante.[2][3] He then spent a week on trial with Queen's Park Rangers before returning to Canada.[4]
In 2017, he attended Sheridan College, making seven appearances and scoring one goal for the Bruins.[5]
Club career
Early career
In 2018, Estevez played for League1 Ontario side North Mississauga SC, making eight appearances in league play.[6] He also played in the Canadian Soccer League with SC Waterloo Region.[7]
In October 2018, Estevez participated in the Canadian Premier League Open Trials in Toronto, where he was highly rated by scouts.[8][9] On 8 February 2019, Estevez signed with CPL side York9.[9] On 4 May 2019, he made his professional debut as a starter in a match against Cavalry FC and assisted York's lone goal in a 2–1 loss.[10] Estevez scored his first goal for York on 27 July against HFX Wanderers, netting the final goal in a 6–2 victory.[11] On 10 December 2019, it was announced that Estevez had re-signed for the upcoming season.[12]
ADO Den Haag
On 12 May 2020, he moved to Dutch Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag in a transfer for an initial fee in the range of $100,000 CAD, plus add-ons and a sell on clause.[13] He agreed to a one-year contract with the club, with an option to extend for a further year.[14] Estevez became the first player to move from the Canadian Premier League to a top-flight club in Europe,[15] and was to be the first ever Taiwanese player to ply his trade in the Dutch Eredivisie, and the third overall to play in a top European League.[16][17] He made his first appearance in a pre-season friendly against Almere City on 8 August, playing the second half.[18][19] Initially joining the first team, he was moved to begin the season with the U21 side.[20] On 29 January 2021, he and the club agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent, after he appeared in only two substitute appearances for the U21 side.[21][22]
Ourense CF
In 2021, he joined Ourense CF, playing in the Spanish fourth tier Tercera División.[23][24] After departing Spain, he returned to Canada and trained (but did not sign) with his former club York United FC (who had since changed their name from York9 FC).[25]
Guangxi Pingguo
In the summer of 2022, he trained with China League One side Guangxi Pingguo.[26]
Eastern SC
In October 2022, Estevez signed a contract with Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern.[27][28] He made his debut on 16 October 2022 against Resources Capital.[29] He scored his first goal on 23 October 2022 in a 3–1 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield match, also against Resources Capital.[30][31] He scored his first league goal in a match against Sham Shui Po on 29 October 2022.[32] In the summer of 2023, the club announced his departure.[33]
Rangers (HKG)
On 24 August 2023, Estevez joined league rivals Rangers.[34]
Tai Po
Immediately after on 25 August 2023, it was announced that he was loaned to Tai Po for a season.[35] Following his departure from the Hong Kong circuit, he joined Hang Yuan in the Taiwan Football Premier League in July 2024.[36][37]
Tanjong Pagar United
In July 2025, he signed with Singapore Premier League club Tanjong Pagar United,[38] becoming the first Taiwanese player to play in the league.[citation needed]
International career
Born in Toronto to a Spanish father and a Taiwanese Hakka mother, Estevez was eligible to represent Canada, Chinese Taipei, or Spain internationally.[1]
In 2018, Estevez was invited to train with the Chinese Taipei national team.[39] In February 2019, shortly after signing for York9, Estevez received another call-up from Chinese Taipei for a friendly against the Solomon Islands, but did not appear in the match due to injury.[39][40][41] He made his debut as a starter in their loss to Australia during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification on 15 October 2019.[42]
He returned to the national team program in the summer of 2023, to face Thailand in a friendly match.[43]
Personal life
Despite the similarity in name to actor Emilio Estevez, he was actually named after former Real Madrid player Emilio Butragueño.[4][44]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 26 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| North Mississauga SC | 2018[6] | League1 Ontario | 8 | 0 | — | ? | ? | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| SC Waterloo Region | 2018 | Canadian Soccer League | 5 | 1 | — | — | ? | ? | 5 | 1 | ||
| York9 FC | 2019[45] | Canadian Premier League | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| ADO Den Haag | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ourense CF | 2020–21[46] | Tercera División | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Eastern | 2022–23[45] | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| Tai Po | 2023–24[45] | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Career totals | 54 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 79 | 6 | ||
- Appearance(s) in the Canadian Championship and Hong Kong FA Cup
- Appearance(s) in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
- Appearance(s) in the Hong Kong Sapling Cup