Luca Bellisomo

Luca Bellisomo (born 25 October 1986 in Johannesburg) is a South African-born Canadian soccer player who last played for Finnish Veikkausliiga club IFK Mariehamn.

Youth and College

Bellisomo was born in South Africa, and moved with his family to the Greater Vancouver area in 1994. He played youth soccer on Lower Mainland, before moving again with his family, this time to Australia in 2001

In Australia, Bellisomo was student at The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James in the Australian town of Townsville, Queensland, and went on to play for the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Queensland U-17 state team, and the North Queensland schoolboys side. He also played on a couple of senior men’s soccer teams, notably the Brisbane Wolves in the Queensland Soccer Federation XXXX League.

He returned to Canada in 2004 and played four years of college soccer at Simon Fraser University, where he was named an NAIA Third Team All-American in his third yearand First Team All American in his final year. He subsequently joined the Vancouver Whitecaps youth academy, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, and played for the team in the USL Premier Development League in 2008.

Professional

Bellisomo was called up to the senior Vancouver Whitecaps side on 18 August 2008 and played 11 games in the USL First Division. He was signed to a full professional contract by the Whitecaps in February, 2009 and continued to play for the senior team in 2010.

Bellisomo moved to Finland in 2011 when he signed for Veikkausliiga club IFK Mariehamn. He made his debut for Mariehamn on 18 January 2011 in a 4–0 victory over FC Haka in the Finnish League Cup.

International

Bellisomo captained Canada to a fourth-place finish at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand, eventually finishing in fourth place when Canada lost on penalties to hosts Thailand in the bronze medal playoff game.He also played 3 seasons with for Vancouver Columbus FC in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Vancouver Whitecaps

• USL First Division championship (1): 2008

Updated: 20 October 2010.