As the Callum Irving era closes in the Pacific FC goalkeeper’s box, it may have opened for understudy Emil Gazdov. The veteran Irving, a 29-year-old free agent, is moving from PFC to expansion Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC as the first signing in franchise history.
“Callum Irving was a big piece of our culture and our championship team [of 2021] but this is an opportunity for Callum to go back to his hometown,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“Now we will challenge Emil [Gazdov] to be motivated and hungry to take that starting position. He has learned a lot as back-up to Callum.”
The age difference between the two is a decade.
“[Gazdov] is only 19 but has already been a pro for three seasons, beginning on loan in Germany,” said Merriman.
“If you’re ready, age is only a number. Emil Gazdov has great size, distribution ability, confidence and is ambitious and motivated. He has tremendous potential. This is what the CPL is all about.”
The six-foot-three Gazdov made two CPL starts for PFC in 2022 and showed well in a 2-1 victory over Valour FC of Winnipeg and a 1-0 loss to the HFX Wanderers of Halifax. The native of North Vancouver was on the bench as Irving’s back-up in 24 other PFC games last season. Gazdov came out of the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy and played on loan for two seasons with the U-19 team of FC Nurnberg of 2.Bundesliga.
Irving leaves PFC tied with former Tridents forward Terran Campbell as the all-time games leader for PFC with 69 appearances across all competitions over the past three seasons. Irving had 22 clean sheets with the Tridents, easily the franchise record, and a single-season record of 12 clean sheets across all competitions in 2022. Irving also wore the captain’s armband on several occasions for the Tridents and was a finalist for the CPL Golden Glove award in two of his three seasons with PFC. The graduate of the NCAA Div. 1 University of Kentucky Wildcats is from Vancouver and expressed a desire to play in his hometown, where he began his elite career with six years in the Whitecaps Academy.
“I have played across North America and am overjoyed by this opportunity to represent my hometown at the professional level,” said Irving, in a statement.
“I look forward to playing my part in introducing the Lower Mainland to the Canadian Premier League.”
Irving’s Lower Mainland connections are important, said Vancouver FC CEO Rob Friend, former CEO of PFC:
“Callum understands the local soccer community and believes in that mission [and that] made him the right person to introduce as our first signing.”
CORNER KICKS: The annual CPL-U Sports draft will be held today with Pacific FC selecting sixth overall in the first round. Expansion Vancouver FC will get the first two picks with the remaining selections going in reverse order of last season’s standings. Vancouver FC will not get a selection in the second round, in which PFC will pick fourth.
Under a special provision, drafted U Sports players can take part in training camps and play in the pro CPL during the spring and summer months without losing their university eligibility for the coming September. That agreement is seen as being important for the development of Canadian soccer talent.
