Gabriel Bitar
The player smiling during a goal celebration
Bitar with FC Edmonton in 2022
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Walid Bitar[1]
Date of birth (1998-08-23) August 23, 1998
Place of birth Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver FC
Number 11
Youth career
Ottawa Internationals SC
Ottawa Fury
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Carleton Ravens 51 (40)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Ottawa Fury FC Academy 21 (9)
2017 Ottawa South United 13 (6)
2019 Cavalry FC 1 (0)
2020 Ottawa South United 7 (4)
2021 Ansar 0 (0)
2022 FC Edmonton 21 (5)
2023– Vancouver FC 25 (6)
International career‡
2022– Lebanon 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 12, 2024

Gabriel Walid Bitar (Arabic: غبريال وليد بيطار; born August 23, 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Canadian club Vancouver FC. Born in Canada, he plays for the Lebanon national team.

Early life

Bitar began playing soccer with the Ottawa Internationals at age four.[3] He later joined the Ottawa Fury Academy.[4]

University career

In 2017, Bitar began attending Carleton University playing for the men's soccer team. In his first year, he was the top scorer in the country with 16 goals, as he won the OUA East Division Rookie of the Year, OUA East Division MVP, and U Sports Rookie of the Year awards and was named a First Team All-Canadian and First-Team OUA East All-Star,[5][6] helping the Ravens to an OUA silver medal,[7] scoring an additional four goals during the national tournament.[8]

In 2018, he finished third in the OUA in goals with 13 and added another 5 in the national tournament, while being named a Second Team All-Canadian and First Team OUA All-Star,[9] as the Ravens won the bronze medal at the national championship.[10] In 2019, Bitar was a First Team OUA All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian.[11][12]

After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bitar returned for 2021, helping the Ravens win a silver medal at the national championships, while being named a Tournament All-Star[13] as well as an OUA East All-Star during the season.[14]

Club career

Early career

Bitar was part of the Ottawa Fury FC Academy and played for their Première ligue de soccer du Québec team in 2015 and 2016.[15] In 2017, Bitar played for League1 Ontario side Ottawa South United, scoring six goals in thirteen league appearances,[16] and playing once in the L1O Cup.[17]

Cavalry FC

Bitar was the first overall draft pick in the inaugural CPL–U Sports Draft, where he was picked by Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League on November 12, 2018.[18][19] He signed with the club on April 24, 2019.[20][21] He made his debut for Cavalry against Pacific FC in a Canadian Championship match on May 16.[22] In August 2019, Cavalry announced that Bitar would return to Carleton University for the 2019 USports season.[23][24] He was picked again by Cavalry in the 2019 CPL–U Sports Draft, this time sixth overall,[25] but he did not join them for the 2020 season.[26]

Ottawa South United

In 2020, he returned to Ottawa South United, who moved from League1 Ontario to the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec,[27] where he previously played when he was a member of the Ottawa Fury Academy.[28]

Ansar

On July 4, 2021, Bitar moved to Ansar in the Lebanese Premier League on trial for the 2021 Lebanese Elite Cup.[29] He made his debut on July 12, scoring a brace against Akhaa Ahli Aley in the group stage.[30] Bitar scored his third goal against Ahed on July 16.[31] Despite scoring three goals in two games, Bitar decided not to sign a contract with Ansar, due to the economic situation in Lebanon.[32]

FC Edmonton

On March 28, 2022, Bitar returned to the Canadian Premier League, signing with FC Edmonton.[33] With Edmonton, he switched positions from his typical forward role to being deployed primarily as a midfielder.[34] He scored his first goal on June 27, in a 3–1 defeat to former club Cavalry FC.[35]

Vancouver FC

In January 2023, Bitar signed with expansion side Vancouver FC.[36] He scored his first goal for the club on July 7, in a 2–1 victory over the HFX Wanderers.[37][38] On August 19, Bitar scored a brace to help Vancouver win 3–2 against Pacific FC.[39]

International career

Bitar is eligible to represent Canada, through birth, and Lebanon through descent, as both his parents are from the capital Beirut.[3][40]

Canada

In September 2015, Bitar participated in an identification camp for the Canada national under-20 team.[3]

Lebanon

In December 2022, Bitar accepted a call-up to the Lebanon national team for a friendly game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[41] He made his debut on December 30 as a substitute in the match, in an eventual 1–0 defeat.[42][43]

In December 2023, Bitar was included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[44][45]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 6, 2023[46]
Club statistics
Club Season League Domestic cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ottawa Fury FC Academy 2015[47] Première Ligue de soccer du Québec 63—00—63
2016[48] Première Ligue de soccer du Québec 156—10—166
Total 219001000229
Ottawa South United 2017[16] League1 Ontario 136—10—146
Cavalry FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 1020——30
Ottawa South United 2020[49] Première Ligue de soccer du Québec 74———74
Ansar 2021–22[50][lower-alpha 3] Lebanese Premier League 0000230023
FC Edmonton 2022 Canadian Premier League 21510——225
Vancouver FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 25610——266
Career total 88304043009633
  1. ↑ Includes Canadian Championship, Lebanese FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Coupe PLSQ, L1O Cup, Lebanese Elite Cup
  3. ↑ Trial only

International

As of match played January 12, 2024[50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Lebanon 202210
202310
202420
Total 40

Honours

Individual

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Tied with Fadel Antar

References

  1. 1 2 "Gabriel Bitar". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar Squad Lists" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. p. 13. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Gabriel Bitar at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. ↑ Lemoine, Josh (November 26, 2018). "Ottawa's Gabriel Bitar picked #1 in the inaugural CPL Draft". Apt 613.
  5. ↑ "Gabriel Bitar named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Canadian". Carleton University. November 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ravens rookie leads nation's capital's men's soccer award winners". Ottawa Sportspages. November 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ Skorzewska, Kassia (November 8, 2017). "Men's soccer takes home OUA silver". The Charlatan.
  8. ↑ Bedakian, Armen (November 14, 2018). "'Best moment in my life': Jubilant Bitar credits work ethic after going first in CPL-U SPORTS Draft". Canadian Premier League.
  9. ↑ "Bitar taken 1st overall in CPL U SPORTS draft". Carleton Ravens. November 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Emily (November 15, 2018). "Ravens win bronze at U Sports Nationals". The Charlatan.
  11. ↑ "Ravens Conte, Gryphons Zis highlight multiple 2019 award wins for respective schools". Ontario University Athletics. October 31, 2019.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Emily (November 25, 2019). "Inside the Ravens' race for gold at nationals". The Charlatan.
  13. ↑ "Montreal wins U SPORTS men's soccer champions in epic final". U Sports. November 21, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Top divisional players Doros, Kovacevic, Yuma headline 2021 award winners and all-stars". Ontario University Athletics. November 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Guide de Presse 2016 de la Première ligue de soccer du Québec" [Press Guide 2016 of the Premier league of soccer of Quebec]. PLSQ (in French).
  16. 1 2 "Gabriel Bitar". League1 Ontario. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Durham United FA at Ottawa South United". League1 Ontario. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  18. ↑ Carlucci, Mario (November 17, 2019). "Carleton soccer star caps winning week with historic draft selection". CBC.
  19. ↑ "'He scores goals': Wheeldon Jr. makes 'dynamic' forward Gabriel Bitar the 1st U SPORTS pick in CPL history". Canadian Premier League. November 13, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Cavalry FC Signs U Sport Pick Gabriel Bitar". Cavalry FC. April 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019.
  21. ↑ Jacques, John (April 24, 2019). "Gabriel Bitar Signs with Cavalry FC, Club Fills Roster". Northern Tribune.
  22. ↑ "Cavalry FC open the 2019 Canadian Championship with 0:2 away win over Pacific FC". Canadian Soccer Association. May 16, 2019. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Cavalry FC announces Gabriel Bitar will be returning to Carleton University". Cavalry FC. August 12, 2019. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (August 13, 2019). "Cavalry FC Player Gabriel Bitar Returning To Carleton University". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ "TRACKER: All 14 picks from the 2019 CPL-U Sports Draft". Canadian Premier League. November 11, 2019.
  26. ↑ Steiner, Benjamin (August 14, 2020). "CanPL Notebook #3: Who are the OUA alumni this season?". 49 Sport.
  27. ↑ "Ottawa South United Se Joint à La PLSQ" [Ottawa South United Joins the PLSQ]. Première Ligue de soccer du Québec. January 30, 2020.
  28. ↑ Jacques, John (July 13, 2021). "Gabriel Bitar Off To Hot Start In Lebanon". Northern Tribune.
  29. ↑ Khaled, Nasser (July 4, 2021). الأنصار يختبر ثلاثة لبنانيين في كأس النخبة [Ansar tests three Lebanese [players] in the Elite Cup]. Kooora (in Arabic). Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  30. ↑ Khaled, Nasser (July 12, 2021). الأنصار يهزم الإخاء برباعية [Ansar defeats Akhaa by four]. Kooora (in Arabic). Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Ansar vs Ahed". FA Lebanon. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  32. ↑ أفضل من معتوق".. صفقة بيطار إلى الأنصار تفشل" ["Better than Maatouk" .. Bitar deal to Ansar fails]. Lebanon Football Guide. July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  33. ↑ "FC Edmonton signs forward Gaby Bitar". FC Edmonton. March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  34. ↑ Hills, Jason (August 9, 2022). "Eddies midfielder Gabriel Bitar blossoming in his second opportunity in the CPL". FC Edmonton.
  35. ↑ Saelhof, Todd (June 26, 2022). "Cavalry unlocks Edmonton defence to continue footie dominance over provincial rivals". Calgary Sun. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  36. ↑ Jacques, John (January 18, 2023). "Gabriel Bitar Makes CPL Return With Vancouver FC". Northern Tribune.
  37. ↑ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (July 8, 2023). "Recap: Vancouver FC 2-1 Halifax Wanderers — CPL Match #52". Canadian Premier League.
  38. ↑ Nava, David (August 31, 2023). "#11 Bitar finds renewed confidence in recent performances". Vancouver FC.
  39. ↑ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (August 19, 2023). "Match Analysis: Late Bitar brace helps Vancouver FC claim first Salish Sea Derby win in dramatic fashion". Canadian Premier League.
  40. ↑ Steiner, Ben (November 2, 2019). "Gabriel Bitar, Cavalry's First Overall Pick Reflects on CPL Experience". Between The Sticks. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  41. ↑ Jacques, John (December 24, 2022). "Gabriel Bitar Earns Lebanese Call-Up". Northern Tribune.
  42. ↑ "UAE 1–0 Lebanon". FA Lebanon. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  43. ↑ Jacques, John (December 31, 2022). "Bitar Makes Lebanon Debut". Northern Tribune.
  44. ↑ "منتخب لبنان يعلن تشكيلته إلى كأس آسيا" [The Lebanon national team announces its squad for the Asian Cup] (in Arabic). Lebanese Football Association. December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  45. ↑ Jacques, John (December 31, 2023). "Lebanon Calls Up Bitar For AFC Asian Cup". Northern Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  46. ↑ Gabriel Bitar at Soccerway. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  47. ↑ "PTS-Ligue Archive" (in French). TSI Sports. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Buteurs" [Scorers]. PLSQ (in French).
  49. ↑ "Calendrier et Stats" [Calendar and Stats]. PLSQ (in French). Archived from the original on September 30, 2020.
  50. 1 2 "Gabriel Bitar". FA Lebanon. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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