Tony Mikhael
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.jpg) Mikhael in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Elias Camille Mikhael[1] | ||
| Date of birth | March 1, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1] | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Nepean Hotspurs SC | |||
| 2014–2017 | Ottawa South United | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Carleton Ravens | 25 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2019 | Ottawa South United | 11 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Valour FC | 17 | (0) |
| Total | 28 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 2021 | Lebanon U22 | 2 | (0) |
| 2021 | Lebanon U23 | 5 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Anthony Elias Camille Mikhael (Arabic: انطوني إلياس كميل مخائيل; born 1 March 2000) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender. A versatile defender, Mikhael played as both a centre-back and a full-back.[3] Born in Canada, Mikhael represented Lebanon at youth level. He also won gold with Team Ontario at the Canada Games.
Mikhael was born on 1 March 2000, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Lebanese parents Camille and Helena.[4] He studied at St. Pius X High School.[3]
Mikhael began playing at the youth level with Nepean Hotspurs SC, later moving to Ottawa South United when he was 14.[5][3] He won an OYSL League Championship (2014),[3] an Ontario Cup (2015),[3] and a Quebec-Ontario Cup (2014).[6] Mikhael also represented Team Ontario at the 2017 Canada Summer Games,[7] helping them win the gold medal,[3] and was awarded player of the match in the final.[8]
University career
On 12 April 2018, Mikhael joined Carleton University's soccer side Carleton Ravens.[3] In 2018–19, he won the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East,[9] and won bronze at the U Sports championship.[10] In 2019–20 Mikhael won the OUA East for the second time,[11] as well as the play-offs,[12] and finished in fourth place at the U Sports championship.[13] He also won the 2019–20 RSEQ Indoor Winter League.[14]
Club career
While at Carleton, he also played with Ottawa South United in League1 Ontario from 2017 to 2019.[15] He made his debut on 9 September 2017, against Master's FA.[16] He didn't return in 2020, due to him suffering a fracture in his foot and undergoing surgery in March.[17]
On 29 January 2021, Mikhael was selected by Canadian Premier League side Valour FC in the 2021 CPL–U Sports Draft,[18][19] and invited to the team's preseason training camp to compete for a roster spot.[20] He signed a developmental contract on 11 June allowing him to retain his university eligibility,[21][22] although in September, he announced that he had decided to forgo his remaining university sports eligibility to remain with Valour,[23] and completing his degree after the season.[24] On 30 June 2021, Mikhael made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 win over HFX Wanderers.[25] His debut from the first minute came on 4 July, helping Valour FC win 2–0 against Atlético Ottawa.[26] In January 2022, Mikhael re-signed with Valour ahead of the upcoming season.[27] His contract expired after the end of the 2022 season.[28]
International career
Born in Canada, Mikhael is also eligible to represent Lebanon through his parents.[29] In 2015, Mikhael attended a training camp with the Canada national under-15 team.[30]
In late 2020, Mikhael was identified by Lebanon U23 head coach Jamal Al Haj; Mikhael's Ottawa-based personal trainer had trained Al Haj's son in Beirut, Lebanon.[4] In November 2020, he played for the U22 team in three unofficial friendlies against Lebanese Premier League sides, scoring a penalty goal against Ahed.[18] In March 2021, he made his official U22 debut in two friendly matches against Bahrain U22.[4][31][32]
In 2021, Mikhael represented the under-23 team in the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship,[33] and the qualifiers for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[1]
Personal life
Mikhael's favorite national team is Brazil, while his favorite club is Spanish side Barcelona.[3] He has described defenders Paolo Maldini and Sergio Ramos as points of reference.[3] Mikhael enjoys fishing in the summer and studying Arabic, and has volunteered at the St. Elias Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.[3]
While playing for the Carleton Ravens, Mikhael studied finance at Carleton University.[3] He is the cousin of Canada women's national team player Clarissa Larisey.[34]
