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{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rocco Vata
| name = Rocco Vata
| image = Rocco Vata with a fan.jpg
| image = Rocco Vata with a fan (cropped).jpg
| caption = Vata in 2024
| fullname = Rocco Vata
| fullname = Rocco Vata
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|4|18|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|4|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland<ref name=wf>{{WorldFootball.net|rocco-vata}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland<ref name=wf>{{WorldFootball.net|rocco-vata}}</ref>
| height = 1.75 m<ref name=wf/>
| height = 1.75 m<ref name=wf/>
| currentclub = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| currentclub = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| clubnumber = 39
| clubnumber = 11
| position = [[Right Midfielder]]
| position = [[Right Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 2012–2021
| youthyears1 = 2012–2021
| youthclubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| years1 = 2021–
| years1 = 2021–2024
| clubs1 = [[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|Celtic B]]
| clubs1 = [[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|Celtic B]]
| caps1 = 55
| caps1 = 55
| goals1 = 28
| goals1 = 28
| years2 = 2022–
| years2 = 2022–2024
| clubs2 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| clubs2 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| caps2 = 5
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-15 football team|Republic of Ireland U15]]
| nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-15 football team|Republic of Ireland U15]]
Line 32: Line 38:
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2022–
| nationalyears4 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam4 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team|Republic of Ireland U19]]
| nationalteam4 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team|Republic of Ireland U19]]
| nationalcaps4 = 8
| nationalcaps4 = 8
Line 38: Line 44:
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]]
| nationalteam5 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]]
| nationalcaps5 = 2
| nationalcaps5 = 7
| nationalgoals5 = 5
| nationalgoals5 = 6
| club-update = 19:43, 3 February 2024 (UTC)
| club-update = 4 January 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:03, 22 March 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 21:14, 17 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
}}


'''Rocco Vata''' (born 18 April 2005) is a professional [[Association football|footballer]] currently playing as a [[midfielder]] for [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. Born in [[Scotland]], of [[Albania|Albanian]] origin, he is a youth international for [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]].
'''Rocco Vata''' (born 18 April 2005) is a professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]] for {{English football updater|Watford}} club [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]. Born in Scotland, he is a youth international for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]].


==Club career==
==Club career==

⚫
=== Celtic ===
Born in [[Glasgow]], Vata followed in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] player [[Rudi Vata]] by joining Celtic at the age of seven.<ref name=dr>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-rocco-vata-celtic-starlet-26449653|title=Who is Rocco Vata? Celtic starlet with a famous father and his 'killer attitude' that sounds oven ready for Angeball|first=Steven|last=Mair|date=12 March 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=dailyrecord.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.celticfc.com/players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata/|title=Rocco Vata|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=celticfc.com}}</ref> He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-son-celtic-cult-21008984|title=Rocco Vata - son of Celtic cult hero Rudi - signs first professional deal for the Hoops|first=Daniel|last=Caw|date=9 July 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>
Born in [[Glasgow]], Vata followed in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] player [[Rudi Vata]] by joining Celtic at the age of seven.<ref name=dr>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-rocco-vata-celtic-starlet-26449653|title=Who is Rocco Vata? Celtic starlet with a famous father and his 'killer attitude' that sounds oven ready for Angeball|first=Steven|last=Mair|date=12 March 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=dailyrecord.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.celticfc.com/players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata/|title=Rocco Vata|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=celticfc.com}}</ref> He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-son-celtic-cult-21008984|title=Rocco Vata - son of Celtic cult hero Rudi - signs first professional deal for the Hoops|first=Daniel|last=Caw|date=9 July 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>


He was included in pre-season training with the Celtic first team ahead of the [[2022–23 Celtic F.C. season|2022–23 season]], but was assigned to the club's [[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|B team]] in 2022, making his debut in the [[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]] the same year.<ref name=dr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/20287974.rocco-vata-given-looks-ready-celtic-assessment-veteran-coos-starlets-quality/|title=Rocco Vata given 'looks ready' Celtic assessment as veteran coos over starlet's quality|first=James|last=McLaughlin|date=18 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=heraldscotland.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/europe-biggest-interested-rocco-vata-529334|title=Report: Europe's Biggest Clubs Lining Up To Sign Ireland Youth Star|first=Gary|last=Connaughton|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=balls.ie}}</ref> Following impressive performances for Celtic's youth and B teams, he is seen as one of Celtic and Ireland's most promising players, and was linked with Italian clubs [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] and [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], as well as English sides [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/he-could-become-the-ronaldo-of-ireland-high-hopes-for-talented-16-year-old-41028718.html|title='He could become the Ronaldo of Ireland' – High hopes for talented 16-year-old|first=Aidan|last=Fitzmaurice|date=8 November 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=independent.ie}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/tmw-celtic-tutti-pazzi-per-rocco-vata-classe-2005-e-seguito-da-juventus-e-milan-1745726|title=Celtic, tutti pazzi per Rocco Vata: classe 2005, è seguito da Juventus e Milan|trans-title=Celtic, all crazy for Rocco Vata: born in 2005, followed by Juventus and Milan|first=Andrea|last=Losapio|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=tuttomercatoweb.com|language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-celtic-exit-talk-25329085|title=Rocco Vata Celtic exit talk addressed by Postecoglou with Callum McGregor example after 'valuation'|first=Ben|last=Banks|date=22 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>
He was included in pre-season training with the Celtic first team ahead of the [[2022–23 Celtic F.C. season|2022–23 season]], but was assigned to the club's [[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|B team]] in 2022, making his debut in the [[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]] the same year.<ref name=dr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/20287974.rocco-vata-given-looks-ready-celtic-assessment-veteran-coos-starlets-quality/|title=Rocco Vata given 'looks ready' Celtic assessment as veteran coos over starlet's quality|first=James|last=McLaughlin|date=18 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=heraldscotland.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/europe-biggest-interested-rocco-vata-529334|title=Report: Europe's Biggest Clubs Lining Up To Sign Ireland Youth Star|first=Gary|last=Connaughton|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=balls.ie}}</ref> Following impressive performances for Celtic's youth and B teams, he is seen as one of Celtic and Ireland's most promising players, and was linked with Italian clubs [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] and [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], as well as English sides [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/he-could-become-the-ronaldo-of-ireland-high-hopes-for-talented-16-year-old-41028718.html|title='He could become the Ronaldo of Ireland' – High hopes for talented 16-year-old|first=Aidan|last=Fitzmaurice|date=8 November 2021|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=independent.ie}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/tmw-celtic-tutti-pazzi-per-rocco-vata-classe-2005-e-seguito-da-juventus-e-milan-1745726|title=Celtic, tutti pazzi per Rocco Vata: classe 2005, è seguito da Juventus e Milan|trans-title=Celtic, all crazy for Rocco Vata: born in 2005, followed by Juventus and Milan|first=Andrea|last=Losapio|date=20 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=tuttomercatoweb.com|language=Italian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rocco-vata-celtic-exit-talk-25329085|title=Rocco Vata Celtic exit talk addressed by Postecoglou with Callum McGregor example after 'valuation'|first=Ben|last=Banks|date=22 October 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}</ref>


Vata made his first team debut for Celtic on 28 December 2022, coming on as a substitute for [[Matt O'Riley]] as Celtic beat [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] 4–0 away at [[Easter Road]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scots Prem (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/hibernian-vs-celtic/teams/465128?authId=1%2A104er5v%2A_a%2AcmVHOXFFN1U0UC1xV0pLTGFqZXV2LWVwbWhUQVFQZnZycmhOWGpER3ozYWVSUk9zQU0yNV9sYTV4Tk5pb3oxUg.. |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> He scored his first senior goal in a 5–0 rout of [[Buckie Thistle]] on 21 January 2024 in the [[2023–24 Scottish Cup]].
Vata made his first team debut for Celtic on 28 December 2022, coming on as a substitute for [[Matt O'Riley]] as Celtic beat [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] 4–0 away at [[Easter Road]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scots Prem (Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/hibernian-vs-celtic/teams/465128?authId=1%2A104er5v%2A_a%2AcmVHOXFFN1U0UC1xV0pLTGFqZXV2LWVwbWhUQVFQZnZycmhOWGpER3ozYWVSUk9zQU0yNV9sYTV4Tk5pb3oxUg.. |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> He scored his first senior goal in a 5–0 rout of [[Buckie Thistle]] on 21 January 2024 in the [[2023–24 Scottish Cup]].


==Personal Life==
=== Watford ===
On 5 July 2024, Vata signed for [[EFL Championship]] club [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] on a four-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Rocco Vata: Watford sign Celtic teenager on four-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgr5d69z68lo |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Personal life==


Rocco is the son of former footballer [[Rudi Vata]].
Rocco is the son of former footballer [[Rudi Vata]].


==International career==
==International career==
Vata is eligible to represent [[Albania national football team|Albania]] through his father (who played for the Albania national team), the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] through his grandmother on his mother's side, [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] through his mother and by virtue of being born there, and [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]].<ref name=dr/>
Vata is eligible to represent [[Albania national football team|Albania]] through his father (who played for the Albania national team), the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] through his grandmother on his mother's side, [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] through his mother and by virtue of being born there, and [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]].<ref name=dr/>


On 31 August 2023, Vata received his first call up to the [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]] squad for their [[2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification]] fixtures against [[Turkey national under-21 football team|Turkey U21]] and [[San Marino national under-21 football team|San Marino U21]] on 8 and 12 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/crawford-names-u21-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-in-cork|title=Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork &#124; Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}</ref> He made his U21 debut in the San Marino game, scoring twice in a 3–0 win at [[Turners Cross (stadium)|Turners Cross]].<ref>https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u21s-san-marino-6167053-Sep2023/</ref> On 22 March 2024, he scored a hat-trick on his second appearance for the side, in a 7–0 win away to [[San Marino national under-21 football team|San Marino U21]].<ref>https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/rocco-vata-bags-hat-trick-and-sinclair-armstrong-on-the-double-as-ireland-hammer-san-marino-as-it-happened/a1163053254.html</ref>
On 31 August 2023, Vata received his first call up to the [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]] squad for their [[2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification]] fixtures against [[Turkey national under-21 football team|Turkey U21]] and [[San Marino national under-21 football team|San Marino U21]] on 8 and 12 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/crawford-names-u21-squad-for-euro-qualifiers-in-cork|title=Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork &#124; Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}}</ref> He made his U21 debut in the San Marino game, scoring twice in a 3–0 win at [[Turners Cross (stadium)|Turners Cross]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u21s-san-marino-6167053-Sep2023/|title=Perfect start for the Irish U21s as they cruise to routine win over San Marino|first=Gavin|last=Cooney|date=12 September 2023|website=The 42}}</ref> On 22 March 2024, he scored a hat-trick on his second appearance for the side, in a 7–0 win away to [[San Marino national under-21 football team|San Marino U21]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/rocco-vata-bags-hat-trick-and-sinclair-armstrong-on-the-double-as-ireland-hammer-san-marino-as-it-happened/a1163053254.html|title=Rocco Vata bags hat-trick and Sinclair Armstrong on the double as Ireland hammer San Marino: As it happened|date=22 March 2024|website=Irish Independent}}</ref>


==Honours==
⚫
==Career statistics==


⚫
'''Celtic'''
⚫
===Club===
*[[Scottish Premiership]]: [[2022–23 Scottish Premiership|2022–23]], [[2023–24 Scottish Premiership|2023–24]]{{cn|date=January 2025}}
⚫
{{updated|matches played 3 February 2024}}<ref>{{Soccerway|rocco-vata/757878}}</ref>
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[2023–24 Scottish Cup|2023–24]]{{cn|date=January 2025}}

⚫
==Career statistics==
⚫
{{updated|matches played 9 January 2025}}<ref>{{Soccerway|rocco-vata/757878}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Line 73: Line 88:
!rowspan=2|Season
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=3|League
!colspan=3|League
!colspan=2|National Cup
!colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish Cup]], [[FA Cup]]}}
!colspan=2|League Cup
!colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes [[EFL Cup]]}}
!colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Total
!colspan=2|Total
Line 82: Line 97:
|rowspan=4|[[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|Celtic B]]
|rowspan=4|[[Celtic F.C. B Team and Academy|Celtic B]]
|[[2021–22 Lowland Football League|2021–22]]
|[[2021–22 Lowland Football League|2021–22]]
|rowspan=3|[[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]]
|[[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]]
|24||7||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||24||7
|24||7||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||24||7
|-
|-
|[[2022–23 Lowland Football League|2022–23]]
|[[2022–23 Lowland Football League|2022–23]]
|Lowland League
|16||9||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=statsSCC|Appearance(s) in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]}}||1||18||10
|16||9||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=statsSCC|Appearance(s) in the [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]}}||1||18||10
|-
|-
|[[2023–24 Lowland Football League|2023–24]]
|[[2023–24 Lowland Football League|2023–24]]
|Lowland League
|15||12||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=statsSCC}}||1||16||13
|15||12||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=statsSCC}}||1||16||13
|-
|-
Line 96: Line 113:
|rowspan=3|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|rowspan=3|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|[[2022–23 Celtic F.C. season|2022–23]]
|[[2022–23 Celtic F.C. season|2022–23]]
|rowspan=2|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|[[Scottish Premiership]]
|4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|-
|[[2023–24 Celtic F.C. season|2023–24]]
|[[2023–24 Celtic F.C. season|2023–24]]
|Scottish Premiership
|1||0||1||1||0||0||0||0||2||1
|1||0||1||1||0||0||0||0||2||1
|-
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!colspan=2|Total
!5!!0!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!6!!1
!5!!0!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!6!!1
|-
|[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|[[2024–25 Watford F.C. season|2024–25]]
|[[EFL Championship]]
|15||2||1||1||3||0||colspan=2|—||19||3
|-
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!colspan=3|Career total
!60!!28!!1!!1!!0!!0!!3!!2!!64!!31
!75!!30!!2!!2!!3!!0!!3!!2!!83!!34
|}
|}
⚫
'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}
{{notelist}}


Line 117: Line 139:
* {{CelticFC|players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata}}
* {{CelticFC|players/celtic-b/Rocco-Vata}}


{{Celtic F.C. squad}}
{{Watford F.C. squad}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Vata, Rocco}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vata, Rocco}}
Line 135: Line 157:
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League players]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Watford F.C. players]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]]
[[Category:Irish people of Scottish descent]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 10 January 2025

Rocco Vata
Vata in 2024
Personal information
Full name Rocco Vata
Date of birth (2005-04-18) 18 April 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland[1]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Right Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Watford
Number 11
Youth career
2012–2021 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Celtic B 55 (28)
2022–2024 Celtic 5 (0)
2024– Watford 15 (2)
International career‡
2019–2020 Republic of Ireland U15 3 (0)
2021–2022 Republic of Ireland U17 8 (3)
2021 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
2022–2023 Republic of Ireland U19 8 (0)
2023– Republic of Ireland U21 7 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 January 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:14, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Rocco Vata (born 18 April 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Watford. Born in Scotland, he is a youth international for the Republic of Ireland.

Club career

[edit]

Celtic

[edit]

Born in Glasgow, Vata followed in the footsteps of his father, former professional footballer and Celtic player Rudi Vata by joining Celtic at the age of seven.[2][3] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.[4]

He was included in pre-season training with the Celtic first team ahead of the 2022–23 season, but was assigned to the club's B team in 2022, making his debut in the Lowland League the same year.[2][5][6] Following impressive performances for Celtic's youth and B teams, he is seen as one of Celtic and Ireland's most promising players, and was linked with Italian clubs Juventus, Roma and AC Milan, as well as English sides Arsenal and Manchester City in October 2022.[7][8][9]

Vata made his first team debut for Celtic on 28 December 2022, coming on as a substitute for Matt O'Riley as Celtic beat Hibernian 4–0 away at Easter Road.[10] He scored his first senior goal in a 5–0 rout of Buckie Thistle on 21 January 2024 in the 2023–24 Scottish Cup.

Watford

[edit]

On 5 July 2024, Vata signed for EFL Championship club Watford on a four-year contract.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Rocco is the son of former footballer Rudi Vata.

International career

[edit]

Vata is eligible to represent Albania through his father (who played for the Albania national team), the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother on his mother's side, Scotland through his mother and by virtue of being born there, and Montenegro.[2]

On 31 August 2023, Vata received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification fixtures against Turkey U21 and San Marino U21 on 8 and 12 September 2023.[12] He made his U21 debut in the San Marino game, scoring twice in a 3–0 win at Turners Cross.[13] On 22 March 2024, he scored a hat-trick on his second appearance for the side, in a 7–0 win away to San Marino U21.[14]

Honours

[edit]

Celtic

Career statistics

[edit]
As of matches played 9 January 2025[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic B 2021–22 Lowland League 24 7 — — 0 0 24 7
2022–23 Lowland League 16 9 — — 2[c] 1 18 10
2023–24 Lowland League 15 12 — — 1[c] 1 16 13
Total 55 28 — — 3 2 58 30
Celtic 2022–23 Scottish Premiership 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2023–24 Scottish Premiership 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Total 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
Watford 2024–25 EFL Championship 15 2 1 1 3 0 — 19 3
Career total 75 30 2 2 3 0 3 2 83 34
  1. ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Rocco Vata at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b c Mair, Steven (12 March 2022). "Who is Rocco Vata? Celtic starlet with a famous father and his 'killer attitude' that sounds oven ready for Angeball". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Rocco Vata". celticfc.com. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  4. ^ Caw, Daniel (9 July 2021). "Rocco Vata - son of Celtic cult hero Rudi - signs first professional deal for the Hoops". glasgowlive.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ McLaughlin, James (18 July 2022). "Rocco Vata given 'looks ready' Celtic assessment as veteran coos over starlet's quality". heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ^ Connaughton, Gary (20 October 2022). "Report: Europe's Biggest Clubs Lining Up To Sign Ireland Youth Star". balls.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (8 November 2021). "'He could become the Ronaldo of Ireland' – High hopes for talented 16-year-old". independent.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2022. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Losapio, Andrea (20 October 2022). "Celtic, tutti pazzi per Rocco Vata: classe 2005, è seguito da Juventus e Milan" [Celtic, all crazy for Rocco Vata: born in 2005, followed by Juventus and Milan]. tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. ^ Banks, Ben (22 October 2022). "Rocco Vata Celtic exit talk addressed by Postecoglou with Callum McGregor example after 'valuation'". glasgowlive.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Scots Prem (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Rocco Vata: Watford sign Celtic teenager on four-year deal". BBC Sport. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Crawford names U21 squad for EURO qualifiers in Cork | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  13. ^ Cooney, Gavin (12 September 2023). "Perfect start for the Irish U21s as they cruise to routine win over San Marino". The 42.
  14. ^ "Rocco Vata bags hat-trick and Sinclair Armstrong on the double as Ireland hammer San Marino: As it happened". Irish Independent. 22 March 2024.
  15. ^ Rocco Vata at Soccerway
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