Caniggia Elva Explained

Caniggia Elva
Fullname:Caniggia Ginola Elva
Birth Date:1996 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia
Height:1.78 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Rot-Weiß Erfurt
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2007–2014
Youthclubs1:Calgary South West United
Youthyears2:2014
Youthclubs2:VfB Stuttgart
Years1:2014–2018
Clubs1:VfB Stuttgart II
Caps1:57
Goals1:7
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Strasbourg (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Würzburger Kickers
Caps3:17
Goals3:4
Years4:2019–2022
Clubs4:FC Ingolstadt 04
Caps4:67
Goals4:8
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Rot-Weiß Erfurt
Caps5:34
Goals5:6
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Canada U23
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:Saint Lucia
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Club-Update:June 23, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:June 23, 2024

Caniggia Ginola Elva (born 14 July 1996) is a Saint Lucian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Regionalliga club Rot-Weiß Erfurt and the Saint Lucia national team.

Early life

Elva was born in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia in Vieux Fort, before moving to Canada at the age of 11.[1] He began playing youth soccer with Calgary South West United. When he was 17, he received a tryout with English club Arsenal. After Arsenal decided not to sign him, he went on trial with German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart in November 2013, joining them for a month, before returning and signing with them officially on his 18th birthday.

Club career

VfB Stuttgart

On 14 July 2014, his 18th birthday, he signed a four-year contract with them after tryouts with other teams, among them English Premier League football club Arsenal, Spanish club FC Barcelona and Portuguese club SL Benfica.[2] [3] However, due to Elva not able gaining Canadian citizenship, he wasn't granted permission to play neither for Stuttgart's reserve team in the 3. Liga nor their youth team in Under 19 Bundesliga. As a result of this he did not gain any match practice as he was not ready for the club's first team.[4]

Loan to Strasbourg

On 2 February 2015, he was loaned to French third-tier club RC Strasbourg until the end of the season.[5]

VfB Stuttgart II

For the 2015–16 season Elva joined the squad of VfB Stuttgart II.[6] He made his debut for VfB II on 29 August 2015 against Rot-Weiß Erfurt.[7] Elva scored his first goal for VfB Stuttgart II on 26 February 2016 against Hallescher FC.[8] After making 57 appearances over three seasons with the second team,[9] he was released by Stuttgart in July 2018.

Würzburger Kickers

Elva signed with 3. Liga club Würzburger Kickers on 4 September 2018.[10] With the Kickers, he won the 2019 Bavarian Cup.[11] Elva would score 4 goals and add 2 assists during an injury plagued 2018–19 season. After the season, he rejected an offer to extend his contract with the club.[12]

FC Ingolstadt 04

After one year with Würzburger Kickers, Elva would sign a two-year contract with fellow 3. Liga side FC Ingolstadt 04.[13]

Rot-Weiß Erfurt

In January 2023, Elva would sign with Regionalliga club Rot-Weiß Erfurt.[14]

International career

Youth

Elva is eligible for St. Lucia, where he was born. He has however indicated that he would like to represent Canada at international level instead, where he was raised.[15] In March 2017 it was announced that Elva was added to the Canadian Under-23 squad for matches against Qatar and Uzbekistan in Qatar later that month.[16] Elva made his U-23 debut and scored against Uzbekistan in a 1–0 victory on 25 March 2017.[17]

Senior

Elva was called up to the Canadian senior team for a friendly against El Salvador on 29 September 2017.[18] In June 2021 Elva was included in Canada's 60-man preliminary roster for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[19]

In October 2023, Elva was called up to the Saint Lucia national team for a set of 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League matches.[20] He scored on his debut, a 2–1 win over Guadeloupe on 12 October 2023.[21]

International goals

Scores and results list the Saint Lucia's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 October 2023 Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia 1–1 2–1 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B
2 6 June 2024 Wildey Turf, Wildey, Barbados 1–0 1–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Last updated 6 June 2024

Personal life

His father, Titus "Titi" Elva, is a former national striker for St. Lucia and his uncle, Olivier Elva, is also a former national defender for St. Lucia.[22] [23] His first and middle names Caniggia and Ginola are homages to former Argentine international player Claudio Caniggia and former French player David Ginola.

Career statistics

Club

[24]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubLeagueSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VfB Stuttgart II3. Liga2015–16211211
Regionalliga2016–17183183
2017–18183183
Total577000000577
Würzburger Kickers3. Liga2018–1917400174
FC Ingolstadt 043. Liga2019–20333102[25] 0363
2020–213451020375
2. Bundesliga2021–2200000000
Total678200040738
Rot-Weiß ErfurtRegionalliga2022–2310000100
2023–2424600246
Total346000000346
Career total1752520004018125

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Calgary-raised forward Caniggia Ginola Elva has the name and the game. 4 October 2017. National Post. Neil. Davidson.
  2. Web site: Arsenal F.C. gives Calgary's Caniggia Elva, 17, a chance. CBC. 27 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Barcelona and Benfica Following Arsenal Trialist Caniggia Elva Amid Stuttgart's Contract Offer. Inside Futbol. 26 February 2014.
  4. Web site: Caniggia Elva darf nur trainieren. Caniggia Elva is only allowed to train. 4 November 2014. 8 March 2015. German. FuPa.
  5. Web site: Transferliste des "Die Liga – Fußballverband e.V." (Ligaverband). https://web.archive.org/web/20150203192043/http://www.bundesliga.de/media/native/transferliste/TL%2057-14-15.pdf. 2 February 2015. 3 February 2015. Transfer list of the "Die Liga - Fußballverband e.V." (League Association). de.
  6. Web site: Großer Umbruch beim VfB II. Great upheaval at VfB II. de. VfB Stuttgart. 27 May 2015. 27 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231600/http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldungen/news/2015/abschied-vfb-ii/page/9803-1-3-.html#. 3 March 2016. dead.
  7. Web site: Official match report: FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt – VfB Stuttgart II. German Football Association. 29 August 2015. 29 August 2015.
  8. Web site: Official match report: VfB Stuttgart II – Hallescher FC. German Football Association. 26 February 2016. 26 February 2016.
  9. Web site: Local Prospects: Calgary players worth a look from Cavalry FC. Scott. Strasser. 30 January 2019. Away From the Numbers.
  10. Web site: Die Kickers nehmen Caniggia Elva unter Vertrag!. 4 September 2018. The Kickers Sign Caniggia Elva!. de. Würzburger Kickers.
  11. Web site: 3:0 in Aschaffenburg: Kickers Feiern Toto-Pokal-Sieg Und DFB-Pokal-Einzug. 3-0 in Aschaffenburg:Kickers Celebrate Toto Cup Victory and DFB-Pokal Entry. de. 25 May 2019. Würzburger Kickers.
  12. Web site: Caniggia Elva Schliesst Sich Den Schanzern An. Caniggia Elva Joins the Schanzer. de. 7 June 2019. Würzburger Kickers.
  13. Web site: Tempo Und Durchschlagskraft: Caniggia Elva Wechselt Zum FCI. Speed and Tempo:Caniggia Elva Changes to FCI. FC Ingolstadt 04. de. 7 June 2019.
  14. Web site: Winterneuzugang Fuer den FC RWE. FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt. January 27, 2023.
  15. Web site: Sport Avis Exclusive: Caniggia Elva. 15 January 2015. Sporte Avis. YouTube.
  16. Web site: Canada U23s Announce Squad for Qatar. United Soccer League. 18 March 2017.
  17. Web site: fr. Canada earns gritty 1–0 win over Uzbekistan in U-23 series. Victoire du Canada 1–0 face à l'Ouzbékistan dans une série U-23. Canadian Soccer Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20191025231915/https://canadasoccer.com/canada-earns-gritty-1-0-win-over-uzbekistan-in-u-23-series-p160677. 25 October 2019. dead.
  18. Web site: Zambrano picks a Canadian side filled with national-team newbies for friendly against El Salvador. Steven. Sandor. 29 September 2017. The 11.
  19. Web site: CONCACAF Gold Cup provisional rosters confirmed. Canadian Soccer Association. 18 June 2021.
  20. Web site: Rot-Weiß-Stürmer Elva im Nationaltrikot auf den Spuren von Vater und Bruder. Axel. Lukacsek. 9 October 2023. thueringer-allgemeine.de.
  21. Web site: Saint Lucia edge Guadeloupe in battle of Group A unbeatens. 30 September 2023. Concacaf.
  22. Web site: A St.Lucian born footballer is pursuing his dreams to play professionally in Germany . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305001503/http://www.caribbeanhotfm.com/news/2523-a-stlucian-born-footballer-is-pursuing-his-dreams-to-play-professionally-in-germany# . 5 March 2014 . dead.
  23. Web site: Prime minister proud of Caniggia Elva. St. Lucia News Online. 26 March 2017. en-us. 1 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20190705022703/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/prime-minister-proud-of-caniggia-elva/. 5 July 2019. dead.
  24. Web site: Caniggia Elva Stats . Soccerway.
  25. Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs